Ajanta range
{{Short description|Mountain range in Maharashtra, India}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Ajanta Range
| photo = File:Green valley KILLE ANTUR.jpg
| photo_caption = Part of Ajanta range around Antur fort
| country = India
| state = Maharashtra
| district = Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Buldhana
| elevation_m = 500-700
| map = India Maharashtra
| map_caption = Ajanta range
| map_size = 300
| location = Ajanta Range
| coordinates = {{coord|20.34|75.16|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| label_position = right
| type =
| geology =
}}
The Ajanta range ({{langx|mr|अजिंठा पर्वतरांगा}}) is a mountain range in the state of Maharashtra in Central India. The range forms northern wall of the Deccan plateau and acts as a watershed between tributaries of the Godavari and Tapi rivers.{{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=William Wilson |title=The Imperial Gazetteer of India |date=1881 |publisher=Trubner & Co. |location=London |page=88 |isbn=978-81-7019-101-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUkcAQAAIAAJ&dq=Ajanta%20Hills&pg=PA88 |access-date=18 November 2023}}
Geography
{{Unsourced section|date=December 2023}}
Starting from around the east of Nandgaon in Nashik district, the range follows a generally westward course towards the southern parts of Jalgaon district, the north part of Aurangabad district, and the south of Buldhana district. The range peaks around 500-700 metres and acts as a dividing ridge between the Godavari and Tapi-Purna river basins. The rivers Dnyanganga, Vishwaganga, and Nalganga begin from the northern slopes of the range and form tributaries of the Tapi-Purna river system. The rivers Khadakpurna and Painganga originate from the southern slope and form part of the Godavari basin.
Wildlife
The hills consist largely of basaltic lava trap soil and are covered with tropical dry deciduous forest.{{Cn|date=December 2023}} The Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in the eastern part and the Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary is in the western part of the range. Leopards, sloth bears, jackals, deer, etc. are found in protected areas of the sanctuaries.{{cite web |title=Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary |url=http://mahaecotourism.gov.in/ecotourism/sites/default/files/inline-files/DnyanGanga_0.pdf |website=Maharashtra Eco Tourism |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=18 November 2023}} The forests were home to a significant number of tigers until the 19th century; however, the tiger population significantly decreased and tigers are now a rarity in the ranges.{{cite web |last1=Suryawanshi |first1=Kulbhushansingh |title=The last tiger of Ajanta |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2020/04/commentary-the-last-tiger-of-ajanta/ |website=Mongabay |access-date=18 November 2023}}
History
The range is the site of and gives its name to the Ajanta caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web |title=Ajanta Caves |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/242/ |website=UNESCO World Heritage Convention |access-date=18 November 2023}} Daulatabad fort and Antur fort, both protected historical sites, are located in the Ajanta hills.{{Cn|date=December 2023}}
References
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