Aurangabad

About Aurangabad — Gateway to Ajanta-Ellora

Aurangabad is the launchpad for two of India’s most spectacular UNESCO sites — the painted Ajanta Caves (200 BC – 600 AD) and the colossal Ellora rock-cut temples (600–1000 AD). Both were carved into living rock over centuries by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks. Add the Bibi ka Maqbara (often called the “mini Taj”), the impressive Daulatabad Fort, and the city’s Mughal heritage as Aurangzeb’s capital — and Aurangabad becomes one of central India’s most rewarding 2-day stops.

Best Time to Visit

• October – March — perfect (15–28 °C). Peak season.
• April – June — extremely hot (40+ °C); cave interiors are cool but the climbs are exhausting.
• July – September — monsoon. The Ajanta valley is gorgeously green but slippery.

Top Attractions

Ajanta Caves (UNESCO)

105 km from Aurangabad. 30 Buddhist rock-cut caves carved into a horseshoe-shaped basalt cliff above the Waghora river — between 200 BC and 600 AD. Famous for their exquisite mural paintings depicting the Jataka tales (lives of Buddha) — among the finest surviving ancient frescoes in the world. Closed Mondays.

• Caves 1, 2, 16, 17 have the best surviving paintings
• Caves 9, 10, 19, 26 are the major chaityas (prayer halls)
• Photography permitted but no flash
• Allow 4–5 hours minimum + 3 hr drive each way

Ellora Caves (UNESCO)

30 km from Aurangabad. 34 caves carved between 600 and 1000 AD by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks side-by-side — proof of India’s ancient religious harmony. The crown jewel is Cave 16, the Kailash Temple — the largest single rock-cut monument in the world, carved top-down from a single basalt cliff over 200,000 tons of rock. Closed Tuesdays.

Bibi ka Maqbara

The “Taj of the Deccan” — built in 1660 by Aurangzeb’s son Azam Shah for his mother Dilras Banu Begum. A marble-and-plaster mausoleum modelled on the Taj Mahal but built at one-tenth the cost. Beautiful, especially at sunrise.

Daulatabad Fort

13 km from town — one of the most powerful fortresses ever built in India (12th century). The fort’s defensive engineering is legendary: a moat filled with crocodiles, a maze tunnel, and a hill so steep that armies surrendered. 700+ steps to the top — but views are spectacular.

Aurangabad Caves

9 small Buddhist caves on a hill overlooking the city — far less visited than Ajanta-Ellora but architecturally interesting. Excellent for sunset.

Panchakki (Water Mill)

17th-century water-powered mill that grinds grain for the Sufi shrine. Engineering marvel — water travels 8 km from a hill, drops 20 ft to spin the mill.

Pithalkhora & Lonar Crater (day trips)

Pithalkhora is a smaller, less-visited cave complex 80 km away. Lonar Crater (140 km) — the only major meteor crater in basaltic rock in the world (formed 50,000 years ago). Lake at the bottom is alkaline.

Things to Do

• Full-day Ajanta caves tour (start 6 AM, return 6 PM)
• Full-day Ellora + Daulatabad + Bibi ka Maqbara loop
• Buy Paithani silk saree from Paithan (60 km) — Maharashtra’s most famous textile
• Visit the Aurangabad caves at sunset
• Explore Khuldabad (Aurangzeb’s tomb, simple white marble grave)
• Jungle hike around Lonar Crater
• Workshop visits — Himroo weaving (lost-wax silk-cotton brocade)

Local Food

• Naan Khaliya — Aurangabad’s signature mutton-and-naan dish
• Tahri, Biryani, Mughlai kebabs — Mughal heritage cuisine
• Maharashtrian thali at Bhoj Restaurant, Tarakaratna
• Best restaurants: Tandoor Restaurant, Bhoj, Madhuban, Latitude (at Vivanta Taj)
• Don’t miss Aurangabadi pulao & kheema

How to Reach

By Air

Aurangabad Airport (IXU) — direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad. The airport is 10 km from the city.

By Rail

Aurangabad Junction (AWB) — direct trains from Mumbai (7 hr by Tapovan Express), Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Nagpur.

By Road

Mumbai 350 km (7 hr by NH160 / Samruddhi Mahamarg), Pune 230 km (5 hr), Nashik 200 km (4 hr). Often visited as a 2-day extension from Mumbai. See our fleet.

Travel Tips

• 2 nights minimum — Day 1: Ellora + Daulatabad + Bibi ka Maqbara. Day 2: Ajanta (full day).
• Stay at Vivanta Taj or Lemon Tree for comfort; or budget at Hotel Manor
• Hire a guide at the cave entrances — the stories are everything
• Carry water, hat, comfortable shoes — caves involve much walking
• Ajanta is closed Mondays; Ellora closed Tuesdays — plan accordingly
• Photography flash is banned at Ajanta — bring a fast-aperture lens or high ISO
• Best to fly Mumbai → Aurangabad to save time

Ready for two of India’s most extraordinary UNESCO sites? Use the booking card or message Prithvi on WhatsApp — we’ll arrange your Mumbai-Aurangabad-Ajanta-Ellora trip with an expert archaeology guide.