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Ajanta and Ellora caves from Aurangabad

Private tour

Tour packageAjanta & Ellora Caves

Ajanta and Ellora are two separate UNESCO World Heritage cave complexes near Aurangabad in Maharashtra — Ajanta, around 100km away, is a set of Buddhist rock-cut caves famous for their painted murals; Ellora, around 30km away, is a larger complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain rock-cut temples including the extraordinary Kailasa Temple, carved top-down from a single rock face. Both reward a full day, so we generally plan them as two separate days rather than one rushed combination.

Reviewed by Experience My India Editorial Team · Updated 13 Sept 2026

Government-approved operatorApproved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • RouteAjanta & Ellora Caves
  • Best seasonOctober to March
  • IncludedTransfers and sightseeing
  • Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm ISTA named specialist, the same person from first reply to departure.
  • No payment to start planningYou receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

Itinerary

  1. Day one: Ellora

    Step 1

    • The closer of the two, around 30km from Aurangabad, with a full day exploring the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves including the Kailasa Temple.

  2. Day two: Ajanta

    Step 2

    • A longer drive of around 100km, with a full day among the painted Buddhist caves.

  3. Guided throughout

    Step 3

    • A knowledgeable guide is essential at both sites to make sense of the carvings, murals and their history.
Discover the intricate rock-cut architecture of the ancient Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, IndiaStep 1 · Day one: Ellora
Discover the intricate rock-cut architecture of the ancient Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, India

For reference only. The final plan is confirmed in your written quote.

Highlights

  • Serious heritage and architecture travellers with at least two days to give the region.
  • Ajanta's roughly 30 caves, carved between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, are best known for their Buddhist murals and sculpture, remarkably preserved inside cool rock-cut chambers.
  • Both sites are large enough that a rushed half-day at each does them a disservice; we plan them as separate full days wherever your schedule allows it.
  • Both sites involve significant walking and, at Ajanta, a climb up to the cave entrances; comfortable footwear matters.

Full description

Ajanta's roughly 30 caves, carved between the 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, are best known for their Buddhist murals and sculpture, remarkably preserved inside cool rock-cut chambers. Ellora's 34 caves, carved later and closer to Aurangabad, include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples side by side — the standout is the Kailasa Temple, an entire temple carved downward out of a single hillside, one of the most ambitious rock-cut structures anywhere.

Both sites are large enough that a rushed half-day at each does them a disservice; we plan them as separate full days wherever your schedule allows it.

Includes

  • Private guide and vehicle for both days
  • Driver throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa fees
  • Monument entry tickets
  • Personal expenses

Price

Experience My India quotes this trip in INR after confirming your dates, hotel category and group size. The written quote names every hotel and inclusion, and nothing is charged until you approve it.

Important information

Ajanta & Ellora Caves

Know before you go

  • Both sites involve significant walking and, at Ajanta, a climb up to the cave entrances; comfortable footwear matters.
  • Photography rules vary by cave and site; your guide advises on the current restrictions.

Duration and season

Two full days is the realistic minimum to see both sites properly; a single very long day covering both is possible but rushed and not recommended. Best October to March; summer heat and monsoon rain both make the longer Ajanta drive less comfortable.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start

  • Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.

Who it suits

  • Serious heritage and architecture travellers with at least two days to give the region. It is less suited to a tight one-day stopover, where you would have to choose one site over the other or see both too quickly to appreciate them.

Honest cautions

  • Ellora's caves are typically closed on Tuesdays and Ajanta's on Mondays — we plan your two days around this.

How booking works

  1. Send an enquiry

    Dates, who is travelling and how you like to travel. Two fields to start.

  2. We check availability

    Hotels, guides and permits for your dates, with honest alternatives if something is full.

  3. Price and hotels named

    Every hotel and inclusion is named before you pay anything.

  4. Written quote in INR

    One document, no hidden lines, valid for the dates it quotes.

  5. You approve

    Change anything you like. Nothing is charged until you say yes.

  6. A named specialist runs it

    The same person from first reply to departure, Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST.

Your trip designer

Gurudutt Kaushal

Founder, Experience My India · IIT Jodhpur

Gurudutt Kaushal founded Experience My India and set the two rules every trip here runs on: hotels and guides are named before you pay, and a human replies within four hours. Your itinerary is designed by one of the 35+ destination specialists on his team and checked against our vetting standard.

About GuruduttMeet our founderHow we vet

Trust and protection

  • Ministry of Tourism approved

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • Registered business

    GSTIN 09BZFPM8067A1Z9

  • 4.3 / 5 on Tripadvisor

    Independent guest reviews

  • No payment to start

    A written quote first; charged in INR only after you approve.

Why book with Experience My India

  • Government-approved operator

    Approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India

  • 500+ vetted local guides

    35+ destination specialists plan every trip by hand.

  • Human help, every day

    Mon–Sun, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM IST · +91 73022 65809

  • No payment until you approve

    You receive a written quote first; nothing is charged to start planning.

How we vet every guide, stay and routeIndia e-Visa: who needs one and how to applyHave a specialist design this trip

Frequently asked questions

Can I see both Ajanta and Ellora in one day?

It is physically possible but not advisable — both sites are large and reward a full day each. Two separate days gives a far better visit.

Which is more impressive, Ajanta or Ellora?

They are different rather than comparable: Ajanta is prized for its painted murals, Ellora for the sheer scale and variety of its rock-cut temples, especially the Kailasa Temple. Most travellers who can manage it see both.

How do I get to Aurangabad?

By flight or train from Mumbai or other major cities; we arrange the onward transfers and both days' sightseeing once you are there.

Who is this best suited to?

Serious heritage and architecture travellers with at least two days to give the region. It is less suited to a tight one-day stopover, where you would have to choose one site over the other or see both too quickly to appreciate them.

Request a quote

Tell us how many days you can give Aurangabad and we will plan Ajanta and Ellora properly rather than rushing both into one.

Ask on WhatsApp
  • Private guide and vehicle
  • Reply within four hours, 9am–9pm IST
  • No payment to start planning

Customer reviews

No reviews for this experience yet — we publish guest reviews after each trip.

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