3N / 4D
4N / 5D
Heritage & Rock-Cut Art
Maharashtra
Ajanta & Ellora Caves
Package ID: TG-IN-001303
Aurangabad · Ellora · Ajanta — Two of the supreme achievements of world art in one easy circuit from Aurangabad — the painted Buddhist caves of Ajanta and the vast rock-cut temples of Ellora, both UNESCO sites, with the Mughal-era monuments of the city itself as a bonus. Ellora's Kailasa temple, carved top-down from a single hillside, is arguably the most astonishing man-made object in India; Ajanta's 2,000-year-old murals are the finest surviving ancient painting in the country. We pace it so each site gets an unhurried half-day rather than a rushed dash. A genuine art pilgrimage.
Package IDTG-IN-001303
Duration4N / 5D
StartsAurangabad (Chh. Sambhajinagar)
EndsAurangabad
Best seasonOctober to March
Ideal forArt & heritage lovers · history buffs · couples
- Duration
- 4N / 5D
- Cities
- Aurangabad, Ellora, Ajanta
- States
- Maharashtra
- Distance
- ~350 km overland
- Start → End
- Aurangabad (Chh. Sambhajinagar) → Aurangabad
- Transport
- Private air-conditioned car
- Hotels
- 3★ / 4★ hotels
- Meals
- Daily breakfast
- Best season
- October to March
- Ideal for
- Art & heritage lovers · history buffs · couples
Day by day
Complete itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Drive distances and times are realistic approximations, stated up front and traffic-dependent — never hidden.
Day 1 Arrive AurangabadAirport → City monuments
- Transfer & hotel check-in
- Bibi ka Maqbara — the "mini Taj"
- Panchakki water-mill & the old city
Aurangabad, once a Mughal capital, is the base. The Bibi ka Maqbara, built in imitation of the Taj Mahal for Aurangzeb's wife, is the city's landmark; the 17th-century Panchakki water-mill shows the era's engineering. A gentle first evening before the great caves.
✓ Bibi ka Maqbara✓ Panchakki✓ Old city
🛏 Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 2 Ellora CavesEllora → Daulatabad
- Route
- Aurangabad → Ellora
- Distance
- ~30 km
- Travel time
- ~45 mins (approx.)
- Mode
- Private car
- Depart
- 08:30 AM
- Arrive
- 09:15 AM
- Alternative
- Daulatabad Fort & Grishneshwar en route
- Drive to Ellora
- Ellora Caves — Buddhist, Hindu & Jain, led by Kailasa
- Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
- Daulatabad Fort on the way back
Ellora's thirty-four caves span Buddhist, Hindu and Jain worship carved side by side over centuries — a rare monument to coexistence. The Kailasa temple (Cave 16), hewn top-down from the living rock as a full-scale temple, is simply one of the wonders of the world. The hilltop Daulatabad fort caps the day.
✓ Kailasa temple✓ Ellora caves✓ Daulatabad Fort
🛏 Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 3 Ajanta CavesAjanta day trip
- Route
- Aurangabad → Ajanta
- Distance
- ~100 km
- Travel time
- ~2h30m (approx.)
- Mode
- Private car + shuttle bus to the caves
- Depart
- 08:00 AM
- Arrive
- 10:30 AM
- Alternative
- Caves closed on Mondays
- Drive to Ajanta
- Shuttle to the caves & the viewpoint over the gorge
- The painted Buddhist caves — murals & sculpture
- Return drive to Aurangabad
Ajanta's thirty caves curve around a horseshoe gorge, cut and painted by Buddhist monks from the 2nd century BCE. The murals — serene Bodhisattvas, court scenes, Jataka tales — are the finest ancient painting to survive in India. Note the caves are closed on Mondays and reached by an eco-shuttle from the car park; we plan around both.
✓ Ajanta murals✓ Buddhist caves✓ Gorge viewpoint
🛏 Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 4 Aurangabad at leisureCaves / city
- Aurangabad Caves (Buddhist, above the city)
- Himroe & Paithani weaving workshops
- Leisure / optional Shirdi day trip
A lighter day — the lesser-known Aurangabad Caves above the city, and the workshops where the region's famous Paithani silk and Himroe brocade are woven. For pilgrims, Shirdi (the shrine of Sai Baba) is a feasible day trip; we'll build it in if you wish.
✓ Aurangabad Caves✓ Paithani weaving✓ Shirdi (optional)
🛏 Overnight: Aurangabad
Day 5 DepartureHotel → Airport
- Route
- Aurangabad → Aurangabad Airport (IXU)
- Distance
- ~10 km
- Travel time
- ~25 mins
- Mode
- Private car
- Depart
- As per flight
- Arrive
- —
- At the hotel
- Transfer to the airport for your onward flight
An easy transfer to Aurangabad airport, ending a compact circuit around two of the greatest sites in Indian art.
✓ Airport transfer
Where you stay
Hotels
| Destination | Nights | Category | Meal plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurangabad | 4 | 3★ / 4★ | Breakfast |
Specific hotels are confirmed against your dates and budget at quotation — we never claim a named property is included unless your package explicitly specifies it.
Meals
What's included, day by day
| Day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 · Arrive Aurangabad | — | Optional | Optional |
| Day 2 · Ellora Caves | ✓ | Optional | Optional |
| Day 3 · Ajanta Caves | ✓ | Optional | Optional |
| Day 4 · Aurangabad at leisure | ✓ | Optional | Optional |
| Day 5 · Departure | ✓ | Optional | Optional |
✓ Included · Optional add-on · — not included. Meal plan (CP / MAP / AP) is configurable per booking.
Inclusions
What's in the price
- ✓Accommodation on twin sharing
- ✓Daily breakfast
- ✓All transfers & sightseeing by private air-conditioned car
- ✓Ajanta & Ellora touring
- ✓Applicable taxes (GST)
Exclusions
Not included
- ✕Flights & train fares
- ✕Monument entry, guide & shuttle-bus fees
- ✕Lunch & dinner unless specified
- ✕Personal expenses
- ✕Travel insurance
- ✕Anything not listed under inclusions
Good to know
Important information
- •Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays and Ellora Caves on Tuesdays — we sequence your dates around both automatically.
- •Ajanta is reached by a compulsory eco-shuttle from the car park; expect some walking and steps at both sites.
- •A licensed guide genuinely enriches the caves' art and history; we can arrange one.
- •October–March is the comfortable window; summers here are very hot.
- •Carry water, a hat and comfortable shoes — the sites involve open walking and climbing.
Who is this for
Ideal travellers
👨👩👧Family
💑Honeymoon
👴Seniors
👥Friends
🏢Corporate
🧳Solo
Itinerary
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Pricing
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| Occupancy | Price / person |
|---|---|
| Single occupancy | — |
| Double / twin sharing (per person) | — |
| Triple sharing (per person) | — |
| Child with bed | — |
| Child without bed | — |
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Questions
Package FAQs
Can we see both Ajanta and Ellora in one day?
We strongly advise against it — they are in different directions and each deserves an unhurried half to full day. This itinerary gives each its own day, which is how the art is best appreciated.
Which is more impressive?
Different pleasures: Ellora for monumental rock-cut architecture (the Kailasa temple especially), Ajanta for ancient painting. Most art lovers wouldn't miss either — which is why we include both.
Are the caves suitable for older travellers?
Largely yes, though both involve walking and some steps, and Ajanta a shuttle plus a climb to the viewpoint. We keep the pace gentle and can arrange assistance.
Can we add Shirdi?
Yes — the Sai Baba shrine at Shirdi is a feasible day trip or an add-on night from Aurangabad. We'll fold it in for pilgrims.
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