Ajanta Ellora Caves: Travel Guide to India’s Ancient Cave Temples
Welcome to our guide to the Ajanta Ellora Caves. Near Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) in Maharashtra, these two groups of rock-cut caves are among the greatest works of ancient Indian art. Ajanta is known for its Buddhist paintings, and Ellora for the huge Kailasa Temple and its Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves. Both have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1983. This guide tells you what to see, when to go, how to get there and how to plan your visit.
Ajanta Ellora Caves at a Glance
- State: Maharashtra, West India
- Base town: Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
- Distance from Aurangabad: Ajanta about 100 km, Ellora about 30 km
- Closed: Ajanta on Mondays, Ellora on Tuesdays
- Time needed: two to three days
- Best time: October to March
The Ajanta Caves: Buddhist Paintings and Prayer Halls
About 30 caves are cut into a horseshoe-shaped cliff above the Waghora river. They were made in two phases, from about the 2nd century BCE and again in the 5th century CE, as prayer halls (chaityas) and monasteries (viharas) for Buddhist monks. Forgotten for centuries, they were found again in 1819 by a British officer on a tiger hunt.
What to See at Ajanta
- Cave 1: the famous painting of the Bodhisattva Padmapani, holding a lotus, and a large seated Buddha.
- Caves 2, 16 and 17: wall paintings of the Jataka tales, stories of the Buddha’s past lives.
- Caves 19 and 26: carved prayer halls, with a large reclining Buddha in Cave 26.
- The viewpoint: the view of the whole horseshoe of caves from across the river.
The Ellora Caves: Three Faiths in Stone
Ellora has 34 caves made between about the 6th and 10th centuries CE: Buddhist caves (1 to 12), Hindu caves (13 to 29) and Jain caves (30 to 34). Here the three faiths stand side by side.
What to See at Ellora
- Kailasa Temple (Cave 16): a complete temple to Lord Shiva, cut from the top down out of a single rock, the largest monolithic rock-cut temple in the world. Carvings show scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
- Cave 10: a Buddhist prayer hall known as the Carpenter’s Cave, for its rock “wooden” beams.
- Cave 32: the Jain Indra Sabha, with fine carved pillars.
Places to Visit near Ajanta and Ellora
- Grishneshwar temple: one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, about 1 km from Ellora.
- Daulatabad Fort: a hilltop fort on the way to Ellora.
- Bibi Ka Maqbara: a Mughal tomb in Aurangabad, known as the Mini Taj.
- Aurangabad Caves and Panchakki: smaller Buddhist caves and an old water mill.
A Three-Day Plan
- Day 1: Ellora, the Grishneshwar temple and Daulatabad Fort.
- Day 2: a full day at Ajanta.
- Day 3: Bibi Ka Maqbara and the Aurangabad Caves.
Best Time to Visit the Ajanta Ellora Caves
- October to March: cool and dry, the best time.
- July to September: monsoon rain, green hills and the Ajanta waterfall, but wet paths.
- April to June: very hot. Visit early in the morning.
How to Reach the Ajanta Ellora Caves
- By air: Aurangabad airport has flights from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities.
- By train: Aurangabad station has trains from Mumbai, about six to seven hours.
- By road: about 335 km from Mumbai. Jalgaon station, about 60 km from Ajanta, is another option.
Travel Tips for the Ajanta Ellora Caves
- Never try both sites in one day; they are in different directions from Aurangabad.
- Check the closed days: Ajanta on Mondays, Ellora on Tuesdays.
- At Ajanta, park at the visitor centre and take the shuttle bus to the caves.
- No flash photography inside the painted caves.
- Wear comfortable shoes and carry water and a hat. Read our Shamrock India Travel Tips before you go.
Ready-Made Ajanta Ellora Tours
If you want us to plan everything, these private tours include Ajanta and Ellora. See all our Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages.
- 4-day Ajanta Ellora tour: Ajanta, Ellora and Aurangabad, with a full day at each cave site.
- 7-day Ajanta Ellora Mumbai tour: the caves, then Mumbai with Elephanta Caves, Marine Drive and a Bollywood tour.
- 8-day Ajanta Ellora Taj Mahal tour: the caves, then Delhi, Agra and the Taj Mahal at sunrise.
Ajanta Ellora Caves FAQ
What is the difference between Ajanta and Ellora?
Ajanta is older and fully Buddhist, famous for its paintings. Ellora is later, with Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, famous for its carving and the Kailasa Temple.
Which days are the caves closed?
Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays.
How many days are enough?
Two to three days, with one full day for each site.
Are the Ajanta Ellora Caves good for families?
Yes. There are shuttle buses at Ajanta and wide, open paths at Ellora.
What should I wear?
Light, modest clothes and shoes you can slip off at some caves.
Plan Your Trip
We hope this guide to the Ajanta Ellora Caves helps you plan. Shamrock Journeys has planned heritage tours of India since 2002. See our Ajanta Ellora Caves tour packages, our Golden Triangle tour and our cultural tours of India. Request your free quote
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