Travel India Info

Ajanta and Ellora Caves Located about 250 kilometers from the Indian state is Aurangabad a city named after the sixth Mughal emperor of India, Aurangzeb. These caves were discovered early in the 19th century. The famous Ajanta and Ellora caves are in Aurangabad. Ajanta caves dates from 100 B.C. The Ellora caves are said to be younger by about 600 years. These rock-cut caves have carvings and paintings that provide an insight of life in ancient India and are a source of all kinds of information such as the skill of ancient sculptors, customs, styles, ornaments etc. There are about 30 caves at Ajanta dating back to between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD. Take plenty to water to drink with you, A hat and if you are sensitive, sunscreen will help. Wear comfortable shoes as there is quite a bit of walking involved if you really want to see most of these caves. When entering the temples you will be asked to take off your shoes, so be prepared.   The chances are that most people will visit about ten caves and then start finding a few similarities and their eagerness to see the other caves starts waning. However, each cave is different and has its own uniqueness. These caves are protected monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India and have been listed in the World Heritage list of monuments. The caves at Ajanta are all Buddhist, while the Ellora Caves feature man-made caves, made by cutting into solid rock, carvings showing worship of three different religions Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. The Hindu temple to Shiva is a must-see at Ellora. The distance between Ajanta and Ellora caves is about 100 kilometers.  Visiting hours for Ajanta - Ellora caves The Caves are open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. The Ajanta Caves remain closed on all Monday’s. The Ellora caves are closed on Tuesdays. Both, Ajanta and Ellora caves are open on national holidays.

Entry Fee to caves

The admission fee for foreign tourists it is approximately US$ 10. A additional fee of Rs.25 is charged if you are taking a video camera with you. Children below the age of 15 years are permitted free of charge. The entry is free on all Friday’s and this is the day you probably should stay away.

How to get to Ajanta & Ellora caves

By Air: Aurangabad is connected by Air and flights are available from most major cities of India. By Rail: Aurangabad is directly connected by rail with the rest of India. From Delhi the rail distance is 1397 Kilometers. There is a direct train from Delhi to Aurangabad. Train number 12716, Train name ASR NED EXPRESS runs seven days a week. This train leaves New Delhi railway station at 1:25 pm and arrives in Aurangabad the next morning at 11:30 am. The cost of a second class air-conditioned sleeper seat for this train (year 2012) is Rupees 1120 one way. Distance between Ajanta and Ellora caves is 100 kilometers and can be done by car in about two hours. There are many taxis available at the Aurangabad station for such trips. By Road: Cars, Buses and private taxis also are available in many nearby cities for visiting Ajanta and Ellora caves. Some tour organizers offer special rates from Mumbai to see the caves. The distance from Mumbai to see the caves is about 392 Kilometers.