Cave VIII. is probably the oldest excavation at Ajanta. The front has fallen away, and very little architecture remains by which its age can be discovered; but its position, which is the lowest on the rock, is an almost certain indication of its antiquity. It consists of a small vihara, with a hall 32 feet 4 inches wide, 17 feet deep, and 10 feet high. There are two cells at each end, and two on either side of the antechamber to the shrine. The sanctuary is entered by a low door, and contains only a stone bench at the back.
