Ajanta and Ellora Caves
★ 4.8🇮🇳 AurangabadSuggested visit 2 daysBest season October to March, when it is cooler
World HeritageArchaeological siteReligious site
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves cut into basalt cliffs, with world-class murals and colossal rock-cut sculpture.
Overview
About 100 kilometres from Aurangabad, the 30 Ajanta caves are famed for Buddhist murals from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD, depicting Jataka tales and courtly life. The 34 Ellora caves lie about 30 kilometres from the city and span Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions; cave 16, the Kailasa temple, was carved from the rock as a single monumental whole. Both are World Heritage Sites.
History
Ajanta was cut between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD and was rediscovered by chance by a British officer in 1819; Ellora dates from the 6th to 10th centuries AD.
Highlights
- •The Ajanta Buddhist murals
- •The Kailasa temple at Ellora
- •The pillared halls and Buddhas
- •Combining both sites from Aurangabad
Practical tips
- •Interiors are dim and flash is prohibited
- •The two sites are far apart — allow two days
Practical information
- Best time
- October-March
- Tickets
- About INR 600 per site for foreign visitors
- Opening hours
- 9:00-17:30 (Ajanta closed Mondays, Ellora Tuesdays)
- Local food
- Maharashtrian thali, naan, lassi
- Getting around
- About 40 minutes by road to Ellora and 2.5 hours to Ajanta from Aurangabad.
- Visa
- A visa is required and an e-visa can be applied for online.
Traveller reviews
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