Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad — Complete UNESCO Heritage Travel Guide

Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad is one of Maharashtra’s most popular UNESCO heritage tours. These historic rock-cut caves attract thousands of visitors every year who want to explore ancient Buddhist paintings, magnificent temple architecture, and the world-famous Kailasa Temple near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Tourists visiting Maharashtra often choose Aurangabad as a convenient and well-connected starting point for exploring both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and this guide to travelling from Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves covers everything from distance and timings to booking transport for both.

Ajanta Caves Overview

Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their ancient Buddhist rock-cut caves and world-famous paintings. These caves date back to the 2nd century BCE and showcase stunning murals, sculptures, and monasteries. Distance from Aurangabad: approximately 105 km. If you’re planning the journey from Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves, Ajanta’s paintings depict stories from the Jataka tales and the life of Lord Buddha, considered among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art.

Ajanta’s 29 caves fall into two broad categories — chaitya halls (prayer halls) with vaulted ceilings and a central stupa, and vihara caves (monasteries) with residential cells arranged around a central space. The site’s horseshoe-shaped layout, curving along a cliff above the Waghur River, means most visitors walk a continuous route through the complex rather than backtracking between individual caves.

Many travelers prefer booking a private cab for Ajanta and Ellora caves from Aurangabad to enjoy flexible timing, comfortable travel, and convenient hotel pickup and drop services rather than relying on limited public transport options. Given the round-trip distance involved, most visitors plan Ajanta as a dedicated full-day outing rather than combining it with other Aurangabad attractions on the same day.

Ellora Caves Overview

Ellora Caves are located just 30 km from Aurangabad and are famous for the magnificent Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) — the world’s largest monolithic rock-cut temple. Ellora represents a blend of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain caves, showcasing India’s religious harmony and incredible architectural brilliance across 34 caves total. For those tracing the route from Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves, Ellora’s shorter distance from the city makes it the natural starting point for most itineraries.

Unlike Ajanta’s painting-focused reputation, Ellora’s fame rests on architectural scale and engineering ambition. The Kailasa Temple alone involved removing an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock, carved from the top down as a single continuous excavation rather than an assembled structure — a feat that took well over a century and multiple generations of craftsmen to complete.

Many travelers prefer covering Ellora in the morning and Ajanta the next day for a relaxed experience, given the difference in distance and the time each site deserves. Ellora’s shorter distance from Aurangabad also makes it a practical half-day option for visitors with limited time who can’t fit both sites into their itinerary.

Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves — Distance & Route

Planning the journey from Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves? The two sites are roughly 100 km apart by road, connected via Aurangabad — most visitors travel from one to the other through the city rather than a direct route between them, since Aurangabad sits roughly midway and offers the only practical stopping point for fuel, food, or an overnight stay if needed.

Because of this distance, most travellers treat Ajanta and Ellora as two separate day trips out of Aurangabad rather than attempting to travel directly from one site to the other in a single continuous journey. The road connecting the region runs through varied terrain, and while both routes are well-maintained, a driver familiar with the area makes a noticeable difference in timing accuracy, particularly during monsoon season when conditions can slow travel.

Booking a single operator for the full Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves circuit also means consistent vehicle quality and driver familiarity across both legs of the trip, rather than switching providers between destinations. For exact distance figures, see our Aurangabad to Ajanta and Ellora Caves distance guide, or our Ajanta Ellora caves tour package for a fully planned itinerary.

Where Are Ajanta and Ellora Caves Located

Both Ajanta and Ellora caves are located in Maharashtra, India, in the Aurangabad district (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). Ellora sits roughly 30 km from Aurangabad city, while Ajanta is roughly 100 km away — a key fact for anyone planning the Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves route. If you’re wondering Ajanta and Ellora caves are located in which state — the answer is Maharashtra, specifically within a couple of hours’ drive of each other via Aurangabad.

Aurangabad itself sits centrally enough in the region to serve as the natural base for visiting both sites, with its airport and railway station providing the main entry points for travellers arriving from further afield before continuing on to either cave complex. This central location is precisely why virtually every organised Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad tour uses the city as its starting and ending point, rather than attempting to base travellers closer to either individual site.

Ajanta & Ellora Caves Timings

For quick reference, Ajanta and Ellora caves timings differ slightly: Ellora is open 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily except Tuesdays, while Ajanta is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily except Mondays — worth noting if you’re planning the Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves circuit across a short trip, since their weekly closing days don’t overlap.

Last entry at both sites is typically permitted roughly 30 minutes before closing, so plan your arrival time accordingly if you’re hoping to see the full complex rather than rushing through in the final hour. Entry fees at both sites are set by the Archaeological Survey of India and revised periodically, with separate rates for Indian and foreign nationals.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves — Quick Information

Before planning your Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves trip, here’s what to know:

• Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra, India
• Ellora has 34 caves (Buddhist, Hindu, Jain); Ajanta has 29 caves (entirely Buddhist)
• Ellora is known for the Kailasa Temple; Ajanta is known for its painted murals
• Both require private taxi or organised tour transport from Aurangabad, given limited public transit to either site

Beyond these headline facts, the two sites also differ in construction period — Ajanta’s earliest caves date to roughly the 2nd century BCE, while Ellora was constructed mainly between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. This chronological gap is part of why the two sites feel so distinct in person: Ajanta represents an earlier tradition centred on narrative painting, while Ellora represents where that broader tradition eventually led in terms of architectural scale.

Suggested Itinerary

The most comfortable and flexible way to explore the Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves circuit from Aurangabad is by private cab service. Most travellers dedicate one full day to each site — starting with Ellora given its shorter distance, then Ajanta on a separate day with an early departure to account for the longer round trip.

👉 Many travelers prefer covering Ellora in the morning and Ajanta the next day for a relaxed experience, rather than attempting both in a single rushed day.

A typical two-day itinerary looks like this: Day 1 covers Ellora Caves along with nearby Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Daulatabad Fort, all reachable within a similar radius of Aurangabad. Day 2 is dedicated entirely to Ajanta, starting early in the morning to make the most of the longer drive and leave adequate time for a thorough visit before the return journey.

Booking a Taxi for Both Sites

Booking a reliable taxi for the Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves journey from Aurangabad ensures a comfortable journey, flexible timing, and hassle-free travel between both sites. We provide Sedan, SUV, Innova Crysta, and Tempo Traveller options for family and group tours.

Since neither site has direct public transport connecting it to Aurangabad, a pre-arranged taxi also removes the uncertainty of finding reliable transport on short notice for your Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves trip, particularly useful for early morning departures or if you’re arriving in Aurangabad by an overnight train and heading straight to sightseeing.

For a full head-to-head comparison of the two sites, see our Ajanta vs Ellora Caves guide. For individual deep-dives, see our Ellora Caves guide and our Ajanta Caves guide.

Best Time to Visit

October to March offers the most comfortable weather for the Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves circuit from Aurangabad, with cooler temperatures making both the travel and the walking within each site considerably more pleasant. Summer months (April–June) bring high temperatures across the region, particularly taxing on the longer Ajanta drive, though both caves’ interiors stay relatively cool given their rock construction. Monsoon season (July–September) adds scenic greenery to the surrounding landscape but can occasionally slow travel on approach roads.

Weekday visits to either site also tend to see noticeably lighter crowds than weekends, especially during the October–March peak season when domestic tourist groups and school trips are most common.

Nearby Attractions

If you have extra time built into your Ajanta and Ellora caves from Aurangabad trip, a few nearby sites pair well with the itinerary: Bibi Ka Maqbara and Panchakki within Aurangabad city itself, Daulatabad Fort roughly midway toward Ellora, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga just a short drive from Ellora. Most visitors combine Ellora with Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar on the same day, since all three sit along a similar road corridor out of Aurangabad.

Building these stops into your overall Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves plan makes efficient use of a single outstation booking rather than arranging separate trips for each attraction. See our Ajanta and Ellora Caves tour page for tour-specific options.

Planning Your Ajanta Ellora Trip

Planning an Ajanta Ellora trip from Aurangabad? Both Ajanta and Ellora — often searched together simply as Ajanta Ellora or in Hindi as Ajanta Ellora ki gufa (Ajanta Ellora caves) — are UNESCO World Heritage rock-cut cave complexes located in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district.

Ajanta Ellora Location

The Ajanta Ellora location places both sites within the same general region of Maharashtra, though not adjacent to each other — Ellora sits roughly 30 km from Aurangabad, while Ajanta is roughly 100 km away, connected via Aurangabad city.

Ajanta Ellora Distance

The Ajanta Ellora distance between the two sites themselves is approximately 100 km, which is why most travellers visit them as two separate day trips from Aurangabad rather than attempting to travel directly between the two caves in a single outing.

Ajanta Ellora Gufa — Quick Information

For those searching in Hindi for Ajanta Ellora gufa information: Ellora has 34 caves spanning Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, while Ajanta has 29 caves, entirely Buddhist, famous for painted murals rather than architecture. Together, a complete Ajanta Ellora trip typically requires 2 to 3 days from Aurangabad to properly cover both sites without rushing.

Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad — FAQs

1. How far is it from Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves?

Roughly 100 km, connected via Aurangabad rather than a direct route.

2. How many days does a complete Ajanta Ellora trip take?

A complete Ajanta Ellora trip typically requires 2 to 3 days from Aurangabad to properly cover both sites without rushing, given the distance between them.

2. Which state are Ajanta and Ellora caves located in?

Both are located in Maharashtra, India, in the Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) district.

3. What are the Ajanta and Ellora caves timings?

Ellora: 9:00 AM–5:30 PM, closed Tuesdays. Ajanta: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed Mondays.

4. Can I visit both in one day?

Technically possible but not recommended given the combined distance and time needed to properly explore each site.

5. Do I need a taxi to visit both sites?

Yes, effectively — neither site has direct public transport from Aurangabad, so a private taxi or organised tour is the practical option.

6. What is the best time of year to visit Ajanta and Ellora?

October to March offers the most comfortable weather, with cooler temperatures for both travel and on-site walking.

7. Can I combine this trip with other Aurangabad attractions?

Yes, Ellora pairs well with Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga on the same day, since all three sit along a similar road corridor out of Aurangabad.

Whether this is your first visit to the region or you’re planning a return trip to see what you missed, a well-organised Ajanta Caves to Ellora Caves itinerary from Aurangabad comes down to the same basics — realistic time budgeting for the distances involved, a driver who knows both routes, and enough flexibility in your schedule to actually enjoy each site rather than rushing through it.