Ajanta & Ellora Cave Trail

Two UNESCO cave sites with a heritage guide, Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga.

Your route

1. 1 Aurangabad 3 nights

1. Day 1 Aurangabad

   Arrive, Bibi ka Maqbara and Panchakki.

   Arrive at Aurangabad, now officially called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, by air or train. Our driver meets you and takes you to your 3-star hotel. After freshening up, visit Bibi ka Maqbara, the tomb built by Emperor Aurangzeb's son for his mother, often called the Taj of the Deccan for its likeness to the Taj Mahal. If time permits, see Panchakki, a seventeenth-century water mill powered by an underground channel. Return to the hotel for dinner and an early night before the caves. Overnight in Aurangabad.

2. Day 2 Ajanta

   Day trip to the Ajanta caves with a guide.

   After breakfast, drive about 100 km to the Ajanta Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site cut into a horseshoe-shaped gorge of the Waghur river. With a local heritage guide, explore around thirty Buddhist caves dating back as far as the second century BCE, with wall paintings that tell the Jataka tales of the Buddha's past lives. A shuttle bus runs from the parking to the caves, and there are steps to climb. Ajanta is closed on Mondays. Carry water and a torch. Return for dinner. Overnight in Aurangabad.

3. Day 3 Ellora

   Ellora caves, Daulatabad Fort, Grishneshwar.

   Visit the Ellora Caves, about 30 km away, with your heritage guide. Thirty-four caves were carved here by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain communities side by side. The highlight is Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, carved downwards from a single rock, the largest monolithic structure in the world. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. Then climb Daulatabad Fort, a hilltop fortress with clever defences, and visit Grishneshwar, the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas, if time allows. Wear comfortable shoes, carry water and allow at least four hours for the main caves. Overnight in Aurangabad.

4. Day 4 Aurangabad

   Shopping and departure.

   After breakfast, enjoy some free time before your departure. Aurangabad is known for Paithani silk sarees and Himroo shawls, both woven by hand, and for its local sweets, so it is a good place for gifts. Our driver then transfers you to Aurangabad airport or railway station for your journey home. Please allow enough time, as the drive into the city can be busy. Your journey through two of India's greatest cave sites ends here, with memories of ancient paintings and sculpture.

What's included

Good to know