Two UNESCO rock-cut cave groups near Aurangabad: Buddhist murals at Ajanta, Kailasa Temple at Ellora.
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Ajanta has about 30 Buddhist caves with wall paintings that go back to the 2nd century BCE. Ellora has 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, including the Kailasa Temple, which was cut downwards out of a single rock. The two sites are about 100 km apart in opposite directions from the city, so the trip suits people who like history and art and can give it at least two full days.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
The horseshoe cliff of AjantaThe colonnaded hall and stupa of Cave 26, AjantaThe Padmapani mural in Cave 1, AjantaThe Kailasa temple at Ellora
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to March
Cool and dry, with city temperatures of about 10 to 25 C in winter. This is the main season; late December and January are the most crowded weeks.
April to June
Very hot, with daytime highs of about 35 to 40 C. Walking between caves in the middle of the day is tiring, so most guides advise avoiding May and June.
July to September
Monsoon. The hills turn green and there are fewer visitors, but the steps are slippery and the Ajanta murals are harder to see in dull light.
Sights and activities
1
Ajanta Caves
About 30 Buddhist caves cut into a horseshoe-shaped cliff between the 2nd century BCE and the 6th century CE. Caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 hold the best paintings and Cave 26 has a large reclining Buddha.
Distance
About 100 to 105 km north-east of the city, 2.5 to 3 hours by road. Private vehicles stop at the Fardapur parking and a shuttle bus covers the last 4 km.
Entry
Rs 40 for Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors (Rs 35 online), Rs 600 for foreigners (Rs 550 online), free under 15 years. Shuttle bus about Rs 25 to 40 each way.
34 caves spread over about 2 km: Buddhist caves 1 to 12, Hindu caves 13 to 29 and Jain caves 30 to 34, made between the 6th and 10th centuries. Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple, is a whole temple carved from one rock; Cave 10 and Cave 32 are the other highlights.
Distance
About 30 km north-west of the city, 45 minutes to 1 hour by road
Entry
Rs 40 for Indian and SAARC visitors, Rs 600 for foreigners, free under 15 years. One ticket covers all the caves. Electric cart inside about Rs 20 per person.
Timings
6:00 am to 6:00 pm (some guides say 9:00 am to 5:30 pm), closed on Tuesdays
One of the twelve Shiva jyotirlinga shrines, rebuilt in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar. Men must remove their shirts to enter the inner sanctum, and phones, cameras and belts are not allowed inside.
Distance
About 1 to 2 km from the Ellora Caves entrance, about 30 km from the city
Entry
Free
Timings
About 5:30 am to 9:00 or 9:30 pm daily; longer hours in the month of Shravan
A hill fort, also called Devgiri, on a conical hill about 200 m high, known for its layered defences including a narrow bridge and a dark passage. The climb to the top is about 750 steps.
Distance
About 15 to 16 km from the city, on the road to Ellora
Entry
Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners, as listed on travel sites (may be out of date)
Twelve rock-cut Buddhist caves in three groups on a hillside behind the city, looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India. They are quiet and give a wide view over the city.
Distance
About 6 to 8 km from the city centre
Entry
Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 100 for foreigners, as listed on a travel site (may be out of date)
Many buses run to the city from Mumbai (about 335 km, 8 to 9 hours), Pune (about 235 km, 5 to 6 hours) and Hyderabad (about 540 km, about 11 hours). From the city, ordinary buses go to Ellora and to Ajanta.
By train
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) station is the railhead for Ellora (about 30 km) and the usual base for both sites; trains from Mumbai take about 6 to 8 hours. Jalgaon station is nearer to Ajanta, about 56 to 60 km away.
By air
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) airport at Chikalthana is about 10 km from the city centre, with flights from Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. It is about 35 km from Ellora and about 100 km from Ajanta.
Where to base yourself
Stay in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) city, which is the only practical base for both cave groups; MTDC also has resorts at Ellora and at Fardapur near Ajanta.
Getting around
Ordinary buses from the city to Ellora cost about Rs 40 one way and take about 1 hour.
Ordinary buses from the city to Ajanta cost about Rs 120 one way and take 2 to 3 hours.
A day taxi from the city to Ellora with stops costs about Rs 1,600 for a sedan and Rs 2,000 for an Innova; parking is about Rs 40.
A day taxi from the city to Ajanta and back costs about Rs 1,600 to 1,800 for a sedan and Rs 2,400 for an Innova; other guides quote Rs 2,800 to 5,000.
At Ajanta, a shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes or so over the last 4 km from the Fardapur parking, for about Rs 25 to 40 per person each way.
Inside the city, autorickshaws, taxis and municipal buses are available; airport transfers by car cost about Rs 400 to 800.
Approved guides at each cave site charge about Rs 1,800 to 2,500 for a group.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Hostels, guesthouses and simple city hotels, including the MTDC property
₹900 to ₹1,900
Mid-range
3-star and 4-star city hotels
₹2,500 to ₹6,000
Luxury
5-star hotels in the city
₹6,750 to ₹27,000
Food
City food mixes Mughlai, Hyderabadi and Maharashtrian cooking. Kebabs and other street food are sold in markets such as Gul Mandi and Connaught Market. Travel guides put a day's meals at about Rs 400 to 700 on a budget.
Try these
Naan qalia (mutton curry eaten with tandoor bread)
Biryani and pulao (Mughlai and Hyderabadi style rice dishes)
Tahri (spiced rice dish)
Thalipeeth (Maharashtrian multigrain flatbread)
Bajrichi bhakari (pearl millet flatbread)
Gavran chicken (country chicken curry)
Maharashtrian vegetarian food such as thalipeeth and bhakari is common.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,200
₹500
₹240 per person
Mid-range
₹4,000
₹850
₹1,700 per vehicle
Luxury
₹8,000
₹1,500
₹2,400 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed. Buy the ASI ticket at each site or online; foreign visitors pay a higher rate and should carry their passport.
Safety
By day
Both sites are busy, ticketed monuments. Carry water and a hat, as there is a lot of walking and climbing in the open; a torch helps in the darker Ajanta caves.
At night
The caves close by evening. At Ajanta, leave the caves by about 4 pm to be sure of a shuttle back to the parking, and plan to be back in the city before late night.
Solo women
No specific warnings were found online. The sites are crowded by day; it is sensible to use a pre-booked taxi or the bus and return to the city before dark.
Roads
The Ajanta road takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way and older reports describe rough stretches. Steps at both sites and at Daulatabad Fort are slippery in the monsoon.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are available in the city. Carry cash in small notes for tickets, shuttle buses and parking at the caves.
Fuel
There are several petrol pumps in and around town. Fill up in the city before the Ajanta drive.
Medical
Hospitals are easy to find across the city. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states. The city is the nearest place with full hospital services.
Both sites involve steps and long walks. Ajanta has palanquin (doli) carriers for about Rs 2,000, and Ellora has an electric cart for about Rs 20 per person. The 750-step climb at Daulatabad Fort can be skipped.
Children
Children under 15 enter both cave sites free. The Ajanta day is long, with 5 to 6 hours of road travel, so carry snacks and water.
Wheelchair users
Many caves are reached by steps, so expect only partial access.
Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Culture and responsible travel
Wear footwear that slips off easily, as shoes come off at several caves and at the temple.
At Grishneshwar Temple, men enter the inner sanctum bare-chested, and phones, cameras and belts stay outside.
Do not touch the murals or carvings; the Ajanta paintings are fragile.
Check the closed days before planning: Ajanta shuts on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays.
Start early, around opening time, to avoid the 11 am to 3 pm crowds and weekend rush.
What to pack
Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
Some cash in small notes for autos, stalls and tips
Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts
Multi-stop trips that include Ajanta and Ellora Caves
