The world famous Ajanta caves are located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of Indian rock cut cave heritage. The Ajanta caves are world famous Buddhist rock cut caves containing murals and sculptures, and they are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Identifying the state in which Ajanta is located is a basic but important general knowledge fact, especially for questions on Indian art, history, and tourism.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The site mentioned is the Ajanta caves.
• We must identify the Indian state where these caves are situated.
• Options include Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and None of the above.
• Only one state is correct.

Concept / Approach:
The Ajanta caves are located near Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. They form a horseshoe shaped cliff along the Waghora river and contain some of the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian paintings and sculptures. While Odisha and Madhya Pradesh have other famous ancient sites, Ajanta itself belongs to Maharashtra. Therefore, the approach is to recall this standard pairing from map based heritage questions.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Ajanta and Ellora are often mentioned together and both are near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Step 2: Confirm that Ajanta caves are part of this cluster in Maharashtra, not in neighbouring states. Step 3: Examine Odisha, which is well known for the Konark Sun Temple and Puri Jagannath Temple, not for Ajanta. Step 4: Consider Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, which have their own cave complexes but not the Ajanta murals. Step 5: Select Maharashtra as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tourism and heritage lists consistently group Ajanta and Ellora as major attractions of Maharashtra. Travel routes to Ajanta typically start from Aurangabad or other cities within Maharashtra. Official UNESCO documentation also identifies Ajanta Caves as being in Maharashtra. Given this repeated geographic association, it is clear that Maharashtra is the right state to choose.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Odisha: Contains important temple sites like Konark and Puri but not Ajanta. Karnataka: Home to sites such as Hampi and Badami caves, not Ajanta. Madhya Pradesh: Known for Sanchi and Khajuraho, but Ajanta is not located here. None of the above: Incorrect because Maharashtra accurately fits the location.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up Ajanta with other Buddhist cave complexes such as those in Odisha or central India. Another pitfall is confusion between Ajanta and Konark or Khajuraho, all of which are World Heritage Sites but in different states. A simple memory aid is to remember the phrase Ajanta and Ellora near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, which clearly anchors both sites to the correct state.

Final Answer:
The world famous Ajanta caves are located in Maharashtra.