Things to Do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — Complete Guide

Wondering about the best things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar? This city, still widely known by its former name Aurangabad, serves as the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage cave sites, a Mughal-era marble mausoleum, a dramatic hill fort, and one of Maharashtra’s twelve Jyotirlinga temples — making it one of India’s richest heritage circuits packed into a single, compact region. Whether you search for things to do in Aurangabad using the city’s older, still widely-used name, or as things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar under its official renamed title, the same core list of attractions applies below.

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves, roughly 30 km from the city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising 34 rock-cut caves spanning Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions carved between the 6th and 10th centuries CE. The highlight is the Kailasa Temple, the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world, carved from a single basalt rock.

Given its relative proximity to the city and manageable half-day visiting time, Ellora is often the first stop for visitors exploring the top things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, particularly since it can be combined with Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga and Daulatabad Fort in a single day.

The site’s blend of three religious traditions within one complex is genuinely rare, offering visitors a compressed look at centuries of Deccan religious and artistic history without needing to travel between separate locations.

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves, about 100 km from the city, is famous for its ancient Buddhist paintings and murals dating back to the 2nd century BCE, offering a completely different artistic experience from Ellora’s architectural monuments. Given the distance, most visitors plan Ajanta as a separate day trip or an overnight stay near the site.

The caves are only accessible via eco-friendly shuttle buses from a designated junction point, since private vehicles aren’t permitted all the way to the site itself — a detail worth planning around given the roughly 3-hour drive each way from the city.

A short hike from the nearby viewpoint down to the caves offers dramatic panoramic views of the horseshoe-shaped gorge before entering, adding a scenic natural element to what is otherwise primarily a historical and artistic visit.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Bibi Ka Maqbara, often called the “Taj of the Deccan,” is a Mughal-era marble mausoleum built in 1679 for Rabia Durrani, wife of Emperor Aurangzeb, constructed to resemble the original Taj Mahal in Agra at roughly half its scale. For complete details, see our dedicated Bibi Ka Maqbara tourism guide.

Located within the city itself, this monument is one of the more accessible things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, requiring no extended travel time compared to the outlying heritage sites.

Daulatabad Fort

Daulatabad Fort, roughly 15 km from the city, is a formidable hilltop fortress with over 800 years of history spanning the Yadava dynasty, the Delhi Sultanate, and Mughal rule, including a dramatic maze-like passage built to disorient attacking enemies. For the full history, see our Daulatabad Fort history guide.

The fort’s strategic hilltop position offers panoramic views of the surrounding Marathwada countryside, making the climb worthwhile even beyond the historical interest of the site itself.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, located near Ellora Caves, is one of Maharashtra’s twelve Jyotirlinga temples and a significant pilgrimage destination for devotees. For complete details on distance, timings, and travel options, see our Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga complete guide, or explore our 3 Jyotirlinga tour package from Aurangabad if you’re planning a broader pilgrimage circuit.

Other Temples

Beyond Grishneshwar, the city and surrounding areas include several other notable temples, including Bhadra Maruti Temple in Khuldabad — one of only three temples in India with a reclining Hanuman idol — and Khandoba Temple within the city itself. See our complete temples in Aurangabad guide for the full list.

Salim Ali Lake

For a quieter, nature-focused stop, Salim Ali Lake near Delhi Gate offers a scenic bird sanctuary setting named after India’s pioneering ornithologist. See our Salim Ali Lake guide for current visiting conditions and tips.

This is one of the lesser-known things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, offering a peaceful counterpoint to the busier heritage sites for visitors wanting a slower-paced afternoon.

Historical Gates

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar carries the nickname “City of Gates,” having once had 52 fortified gates built under Aurangzeb’s rule, of which around 13 survive today, including Bhadkal Gate — the largest and oldest — and Roshan Gate. See our Aurangabad Roshan Gate guide for more on this history.

Local Food to Try

The city’s Marathwada cuisine is distinctive, with Naan Qalia — a slow-cooked mutton dish unique to the region — standing out as a local speciality worth seeking out, alongside Puran Poli and Pithla-Bhakri commonly served at heritage sites and local restaurants.

Trying the local cuisine is genuinely one of the more underrated things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — many visitors focus entirely on the monuments and miss the distinctive Marathwada flavours the region is known for among food enthusiasts.

Suggested Itinerary

Most visitors plan 2-3 days to comfortably cover the major sites:

• Day 1 — Ellora Caves, Daulatabad Fort, Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
• Day 2 — Ajanta Caves (full day, given the distance)
• Day 3 — Bibi Ka Maqbara, city temples, Salim Ali Lake, and historical gates

Travellers with less time can compress this into two days by prioritising Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara over the full Ajanta day trip, though this means missing one of the region’s most celebrated heritage sites.

Whichever pace you choose, booking a single taxi operator across the full duration of your stay tends to work out more efficient than arranging separate transport for each attraction, given how many of these things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar sit along overlapping routes.

How to Reach Each Site

Given how spread out these attractions are — from the city itself to sites 100 km away — a private taxi remains the most practical way to cover the full circuit. Siya Travels offers taxi service across all these routes — see our Aurangabad taxi service page for local sightseeing, our Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad guide for the cave circuit specifically, our CIDCO Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar taxi service page for local pickup options, our Aurangabad airport taxi page if you’re arriving by flight, or our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport taxi and hotels guide if you’re planning where to stay near the airport.

Things to Do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — FAQs

1. What are the best things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga are the top attractions, alongside the city’s historical gates and temples.

2. How many days do I need to cover the main things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Most visitors plan 2-3 days, given the distances involved, particularly to Ajanta Caves.

3. Is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar the same as Aurangabad?

Yes, the city was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, though the older name Aurangabad remains in wide use, including in the names of many local monuments.

4. What food should I try in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Naan Qalia, a slow-cooked mutton dish unique to the Marathwada region, is a local speciality worth trying, alongside Puran Poli and Pithla-Bhakri.

5. Can I cover both Ellora and Ajanta in one day?

It’s possible but rushed, given Ajanta’s distance of roughly 100 km — most visitors prefer splitting them across two days for a more relaxed visit.

6. What are some free or low-cost things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Walking through the city’s historical gates, visiting Salim Ali Lake, and exploring local markets offer budget-friendly ways to experience the city beyond the major paid attractions.

7. Is Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar good for a family trip?

Yes, the mix of historical monuments, temples, and nature spots offers a good balance for families, though the travel distances between sites are worth planning around in advance.

8. Is it safe to travel to the outlying sites like Ajanta and Ellora?

Yes, these are well-established tourist routes with regular taxi and tour traffic, generally considered safe for visitors including families and solo travellers.

9. Do I need a guide to fully appreciate the things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?

Not strictly necessary, though a local guide or driver familiar with the sites can add valuable historical context, particularly at Ellora and Ajanta where the artwork and architecture carry deep symbolic meaning.

10. Is “things to do in Aurangabad” the same as “things to do in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar”?

Yes — Aurangabad was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, so both searches refer to the exact same city and the same list of attractions covered in this guide.