The Ajanta and Ellora caves are UNESCO World Heritage sites that were cut out of single mountains with a hammer and chisel. There are a total of 64 caves in this complex, with some in Ellora and the rest in Ajanta. Though Ellora has always gotten a lot of attention, the Ajanta caves were overlooked for a long time until they were rediscovered by a British officer in 1819.



Ellora is about an hour’s drive from Aurangabad city, while Ajanta is 3-4 hours, depending on your mode of transportation. The city itself has a plethora of options near Kranti Chowk, where you can stay in a backpacker hostel or a hotel with a pool, such as the Taj Vivanta.



How do you get to Aurangabad?


Flying into Aurangabad airport, which is connected to major Indian cities, is the quickest choice. The other choice is to travel by car or bus, which takes about 8 hours. If you are low on time, I would recommend traveling at night, so you can start touring the next day.



Aurangabad also has a railway station, but train services might be disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so it would be right to check before you leave. The stations are 10 minutes from the city center, regardless of whether you take the bus or train.


When is the best time to visit Ajanta and Ellora?

From mid-June to February, the perfect time to visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves is when the weather is normally cool in the mornings and evenings. It gets unbearably hot in the afternoons, so bring plenty of water to keep cool. Regardless of your plans, allow at least 4-5 days to explore the caves as well as the other attractions Aurangabad has to offer. To have the best experience, plan it out like this:

Ellora Caves: 1 Full day

Ajanta Caves: 1 Full day90[ ‘

One break day

One day for local sightseeing/ food tours