Ajanta and ellora caves
The rock-cut caves of India
Ajanta and Ellora Caves Tourism
Beautifully carved into the massive hillside rocks, Ajanta and Ellora Caves gracefully represent the art, history and culture of a bygone era. Today, Ajanta and Ellora caves are UNESCO World heritage sites with 64 rock-cut caves located in close proximity to the city of Aurangabad. Ajanta and Ellora caves in Aurangabad is well-known all over the world for the art and skill of Indian craftsmen.
Ajanta: Carved straight out flood basalt rock of cliffs, lays a spectacular jewel of Indian art, history and culture, the Ajanta caves. Located at a distance of 101 kms from Aurangabad, cut into the face of a mountain, form a horseshoe shape around the Wangorah River. The Ajanta caves depict as extensive exquisite craftsmanship of ancient times. Effortlessly they unfold the stories of forgone times in front of the onlooker.
Ellora Caves: One of the largest, ancient rock cut temple complexes of the world and one of the most visited UNESCO World heritage site in the country, Ellora caves are located at a distance of 29 kms the city of Aurangabad. Over 100 caves at the site, all excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills, featuring Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monuments, and artwork, dating from the 600-1000 CE period, 34 of which are open to the public. The coexistence of structures from three different religions serve as a splendid visual representation of the prevalent religious harmony of ancient India.
Top things do in Ajanta and Ellora Caves
1. Khuldabad
81 kilometres from city centre2. Kailasanatha and other temples, Ellora
80 kilometres from city centre3. Jain Caves, Ellora
80 kilometres from city centre4. Bibi Ka Makbara, Aurangabad
80 kilometres from city centre5. Panchakki, Aurangabad
80 kilometres from city centre6. Grishneshwar Temple, Ellora
80 kilometres from city centre7. Aurangabad shopping spots
80 kilometres from city centre8. Aurangabad caves, Aurangabad
80 kilometres from city centre11. Ajanta Caves
12. Daualatabad fort, Daulatabad
85 kilometres from city centre
How to reach
Aurangabad can be easily accessed by road, rail or air. Ajanta and Ellora caves can be accessed by road.
How to Reach by Flight
The nearest airport is the Aurangabad airport, which is about 99 km from Ajanta and 30 km from Ellora, can be reached directly from Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur airports.
How to Reach by Train
Aurangabad is well-connected to Mumbai and Pune by rail. The Jalgaon Station is the closest rail head to Ellora.
How to Reach by Bus
There are numerous bus services are running to Ellora from Aurangabad Central Bus Station including the Maharashtra State Tourism Corporation (MTDC) Bus Services.
How to Reach by Road
Ajanta Caves are connected to a network of excellent roadways with Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Nasik, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Indore, Bijapur, and Aurangabad.
How to travel within
You can explore the city by auto-rickshaw, but cars on hire and local taxis are also available to travel within the city and to its surrounding areas.
Local cuisine:
Ruled by both the Mughals of the North and the Nizams of Hyderabad, Aurangabad has a versatile and exquisite cuisine. Being a Muslim predominated area, this place is a gourmand's delight, especially for non-vegetarians.
- NaanKhaliya: A simple dish of Sheermal or the naan bread cooked in a tandoor served with Khaliya, a spicy red mutton curry, the NaanKhaliya is a must try once you are in Aurangabad.
- Kebabs are yet another speciality of the place. The tender, mouth-watering beef kebabs in Buddi Galli and Roshan Gate are a must try.
- Once you are in Aurangabad during Ramadan, Haleem is a must try.
- Mawa Jalebis are thicker, brown in colour, made from condensed milk and taste more like Gulab Jamun. The freshly made jalebi’s tastes best at Shahganj near Roshan Gate.
Some of the best restaurants in Aurangabad include:
- Green Leaf Veg cuisine (Chinese, Indian)
- Swad (Indian)
- Great Sagar Restaurant (Indian, Asian)
- Indian Asian (Indian, Asian)
- Rama International (Indian, Asian)
- Citrus Café (Italian, Chinese, Indian)
Ajanta and Ellora Caves Itinerary
Day1: Reach Aurangabad in the morning. After the breakfast head out to Ellora Caves. After exploring the caves, stop for lunch. After lunch, you can move toward Khuldabad and explore the small town. Return and after the dinner, retire for the night.
Day2: After an early breakfast head to Ajanta caves. Spent the day at the caves. You can go out shopping in the plaza in the evening. Spend the night.
Day3: After an early breakfast, head toward the Daulatabad Fort. Return to the city for a sumptuous meal. Later head toward Bibi Ka maqbara and Panchakki. Spent the night and head back the next morning.