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 Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad 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.

Jalgaon to Ajanta Caves Distance — Quick Reference

The Jalgaon to Ajanta Caves distance is approximately 55–60 km, typically covered in 1 to 1.5 hours by road. Ajanta village sits directly on the road between Jalgaon and Aurangabad, on the Aurangabad/Jalgaon district border, making Jalgaon actually the closer major town to the caves compared to Aurangabad city (which sits roughly 105–110 km away).

Given the shorter Jalgaon to Ajanta Caves distance, travellers arriving via Jalgaon railway station (a major stop on the Mumbai-Howrah and Mumbai-Delhi rail lines) often find this the more convenient gateway for a focused Ajanta visit, compared to routing through Aurangabad first.

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 and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad — Distance & Route

Wondering how to reach Ajanta Ellora? Planning your trip for Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad starts with understanding the layout: 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 From Aurangabad — Quick Information

Before planning your trip, here’s what to know about Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad:

• 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 Ajanta and Ellora Caves 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 Ajanta and Ellora Caves From Aurangabad

Booking a reliable taxi for Ajanta and Ellora Caves 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. See our taxi for Ajanta Ellora Caves from Aurangabad page for direct booking, or our how to visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad guide for a detailed itinerary.

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 exploring Ajanta and Ellora Caves 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.

Verul Ajanta Leni — Marathi Terminology

Marathi speakers often search for this same combined circuit as Verul Ajanta Leni or Ajanta Verul Leni — “Verul” being the local Marathi name for the village where Ellora Caves are located, and “Leni” meaning caves. So Verul Ajanta Leni refers to exactly the same two UNESCO sites covered throughout this guide: Ellora Caves (in Verul village) and Ajanta Caves, roughly 100 km apart and both reachable via Aurangabad. The same circuit is also searched as Ajanta Verul Aurangabad, combining all three place names — Ajanta, Verul (Ellora’s village), and the city of Aurangabad — into a single search for this exact heritage route. In English rather than Marathi, the same search often appears as Verul Ajanta Caves, referring to the identical pair of sites.

Ajanta Ellora Caves From Pune

Planning your visit for Ajanta Ellora Caves from Pune? The two sites sit considerably further from Pune than from Aurangabad, so the distances and travel planning look quite different. The Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Pune distances are approximately 250–260 km to Ellora and 330–340 km to Ajanta, both typically routed via Ahmednagar and Aurangabad. Whether you search this as Ajanta Ellora from Pune or with “Caves” included, the same distances and route apply.

Given these longer distances compared to an Aurangabad-based trip, most Pune travellers plan Ajanta Ellora Caves from Pune as a 2 to 3 day trip rather than a single-day outing, using Aurangabad as a base for the final legs to each site. See our Pune to Ajanta Ellora Caves taxi service page for direct booking, or our Pune to Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga distance guide if you’re also covering Maharashtra’s Jyotirlinga circuit from Pune.

Ajanta Ellora Temple — What People Usually Mean

Searchers looking for Ajanta Ellora temple information are usually referring to one of two things: the temple architecture found specifically at Ellora, or using “temple” loosely to describe both cave complexes together. It’s worth being precise here — Ajanta’s caves are almost entirely Buddhist monasteries (viharas) and prayer halls (chaityas), not temples in the traditional Hindu sense. Ellora, by contrast, includes genuine temple architecture among its 34 caves, most notably the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), alongside several other Hindu shrines within its Hindu cave group (Caves 13–29).

So if you’re specifically searching for temple architecture as part of an Ajanta Ellora trip, Ellora is where you’ll find it — see our Ellora Caves guide for full details on the Kailasa Temple and Ellora’s other Hindu shrines. Ajanta remains worth visiting for an entirely different reason: its painted murals and sculptural work within Buddhist monastic architecture, covered in our Ajanta Caves guide.

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 far is Jalgaon from Ajanta Caves?

Approximately 55–60 km, typically covered in 1 to 1.5 hours by road, making Jalgaon actually closer to Ajanta than Aurangabad city.

3. 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.

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

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

5. 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.

6. Can I visit both in one day?

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Is Ajanta a temple complex?

Not in the traditional sense — Ajanta’s caves are Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls, not Hindu-style temples. For actual temple architecture in this region, Ellora’s Kailasa Temple and other Hindu caves are the more accurate match.

11. Which site has the famous Ajanta Ellora temple people search for?

That’s almost always Ellora’s Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) — the site’s centrepiece and the most commonly referenced “temple” when people search for Ajanta Ellora temple information.

12. What does Verul Ajanta Leni mean?

Verul Ajanta Leni is the Marathi name for the same Ajanta and Ellora Caves circuit covered in this guide — “Verul” is the local name for Ellora’s village, and “Leni” means caves in Marathi.

13. Is “Ajanta Ellora Caves from Aurangabad” the same as this guide?

Yes — whether searched as Ajanta Ellora Caves from Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora Caves Aurangabad, or Ajanta Ellora Caves Aurangabad, all these phrasings refer to the exact same UNESCO heritage circuit and the same travel guide covered here.

14. How to reach Ajanta Ellora from Mumbai or Pune?

Most travellers from Mumbai or Pune reach Ajanta Ellora by first arriving in Aurangabad — by road, train, or flight — and then continuing to either site by private taxi, since Aurangabad serves as the practical base for both.

15. What does Ajanta Verul Aurangabad refer to?

Ajanta Verul Aurangabad refers to the same combined heritage circuit covered throughout this guide — Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves (located in Verul village), and Aurangabad as the connecting base city between them.

16. How far are Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Pune?

From Pune, Ellora Caves are approximately 250–260 km away, while Ajanta Caves are approximately 330–340 km away, both typically routed via Ahmednagar and Aurangabad.

17. What is the best way to plan Ajanta Ellora from Pune?

Given the distances involved, most Pune travellers plan Ajanta Ellora from Pune as a 2 to 3 day trip, using Aurangabad as a base for the final legs to each site rather than attempting same-day round trips from Pune itself.

18. What does Verul Ajanta Caves refer to?

Verul Ajanta Caves refers to the same combined circuit covered throughout this guide — Ellora Caves (located in Verul village) and Ajanta Caves, roughly 100 km apart and both reachable via 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.