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Maharashtra

Ajanta-Ellora

2,000-year-old rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves

HeritageCulture

Best time to visit Ajanta-Ellora

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and June to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to May

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Ajanta-Ellora season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Cool enough to spend a full day walking both cave complexes comfortably.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Marathwada plains heat turns brutal by midday, the walk between caves is punishing.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Moderate rainfall here (not the Western Ghats) - the hills turn green and a waterfall appears at Ellora.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Comfortable temperatures return, one of the better times before winter's peak crowds.

What Ajanta-Ellora is actually like

History-focused travellers and tour groups - easy to go solo, more awe than nightlife

Things to do in Ajanta-Ellora

The local places worth your time in and around Ajanta-Ellora, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

    Heritage · in town

    One rock cut top down into a whole temple at Ellora; take the north path up the cliff for the view into the courtyard

  • Grishneshwar Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Jyotirlinga a kilometre from the Ellora gate; men enter the sanctum bare chested, phones and cameras stay outside

  • Daulatabad Fort

    Fort · 14 km out

    Devagiri's hill fort with a pitch dark spiral tunnel to the top; carry a torch, allow 2 to 3 h, almost no shade

  • Khuldabad

    Heritage · 4 km out

    Walled dargah town where Aurangzeb lies in a plain open grave; free, quiet, ten minutes off the Ellora road

  • Bhadra Maruti Temple

    Temple · 4 km out

    Rare reclining Hanuman idol at Khuldabad; packed on Saturdays, so pair it with the tombs on any other morning

  • Pitalkhora Caves

    Heritage · 42 km out

    Early Buddhist caves in a hidden ravine reached across a stream; hardly any visitors, only worth it in the dry months

Getting to Ajanta-Ellora

Fly/train to Aurangabad, taxi (Ellora 30km, Ajanta 100km)

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
600 m
State
Maharashtra
Coordinates
20.0258, 75.1780

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Ajanta-Ellora?

November to February is peak season in Ajanta-Ellora. March and June to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to May. Comfortable temperatures return, one of the better times before winter's peak crowds.

How many days do you need in Ajanta-Ellora?

2 days is the usual stay. History-focused travellers and tour groups - easy to go solo, more awe than nightlife.

How do you get to Ajanta-Ellora?

Fly/train to Aurangabad, taxi (Ellora 30km, Ajanta 100km). Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Ajanta-Ellora expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Ajanta-Ellora?

Feb: Ellora Ajanta International Festival (classical music and dance). Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Ajanta-Ellora?

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, Khuldabad, Bhadra Maruti Temple and Pitalkhora Caves. One rock cut top down into a whole temple at Ellora; take the north path up the cliff for the view into the courtyard.

Nearby, and where to go next

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