The rock-cut architecture is a defining feature of both Ajanta, famous for its Buddhist cave monuments depicting Jataka tales, and Mahabalipuram, known for its monolithic rathas and sculptural panels associated with Hinduism. While Ajanta's construction spans from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE, Mahabalipuram's primary phase of construction occurred during the Pallava dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries CE, indicating they were not built in the same period. Furthermore, Ajanta is predominantly Buddhist, whereas Mahabalipuram has significant Hindu iconography, negating the claim of belonging to the same religious denomination.