Editing History of India (section)

==== Vakataka Empire ====
{{Main|Vakataka Empire}}
The Vākāṭaka Empire originated from the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] in the mid-third century CE. Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of [[Malwa]] and [[Gujarat]] in the north to the [[Tungabhadra River]] in the south as well as from the [[Arabian Sea]] in the western to the edges of [[Chhattisgarh]] in the east. They were the most important successors of the [[Satavahanas]] in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], contemporaneous with the [[Gupta Empire|Guptas]] in northern India and succeeded by the [[Vishnukundina dynasty]].

The Vakatakas are noted for having been patrons of the arts, architecture and literature. The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of [[Ajanta Caves]] (a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]) were built under the patronage of Vakataka emperor, [[Harishena]].<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year=1990|page=[https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/173 173]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref><ref>The precise number varies according to whether or not some barely started excavations, such as cave 15A, are counted. [http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_ajanta.asp The ASI say] "In all, total 30 excavations were hewn out of rock which also include an unfinished one", UNESCO and Spink "about 30". The controversies over the end date of excavation is covered below.</ref>

{{Gallery|align=center
|width=180|File:AJANTA CAVES - C.SHELARE (2).jpg|[[Ajanta Caves]], 30 [[rock cut architecture|rock-cut]] Buddhist cave monument built under the [[Vakatakas]].
|File:Ajanta Cave 26 Dagoba with praying monks.jpg|Buddhist monks praying in front of the Dagoba of Chaitya Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.
|File:Cave 26, Ajanta.jpg|Buddhist "Chaitya Griha" or prayer hall, with a seated Buddha, Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.
|File:Ajanta Cave 17 frescoe.jpg|Many foreign ambassadors, representatives, and travelers are included as devotees attending the Buddha's descent from Trayastrimsa Heaven; painting from Cave 17 of the Ajanta Caves.
}}