Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Listed as one of the UNESCO heritage sites, Ajanta and Ellora Caves is a name that is world renowned. It is a great destination for family trips and weekend getaways with friends. Many people have also undertaken solo trips for the sense of rejuvenation one gets. Situated in Aurangabad region of Maharashtra, these caves are perfect examples of rock cut architecture. Inside the cave, you will find temples and monuments of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain. There are 29 Ajanta caves in total which were built in the period 2 BC to 6 BC. On the other hand, Ellora caves had been built around 6 BC to 11 BC. In total, there are 34 Ellora caves.

While both the names are taken in sync, the distance of Ajanta caves from Aurangabad is around 99 kilometers whereas the distance of Ellora caves from the city is around 15 kilometers. Out of all the beauties to be seen and captured in Ajanta and Ellora caves, the most popular one is the Kailash temple. It is popular for being the largest monolithic (carved out of single rock) building in the world. Isn’t that an interesting part to be jotted down in your diary of travel? If you are up for an adventure trip as well as a historical one, Ajanta and Ellora Caves are the names you must have on your mind.

Things to do and see in Ajanta and Ellora Caves

1. Ajanta Caves

With a total of 29 caves within, this place is an epitome of Buddhist culture. You get to see innumerable paintings and sculptures of Buddhist origin.

2. Old Kailash Temple

Already mentioned earlier, this temple attracts people from across the globe. The number of years taken to build this temple is 400. You can now well imagine the architecture that has been incorporated in this setup.

3. Bibi ka Maqbara

We all know The Taj Mahal. What we may miss at times is this mini Taj Mahal, Biwi ka Maqbara. Historians definitely pay a visit to this Maqbara to witness the proof of love. Located at a distance of 5 kilometers from the main city of Aurangabad, your weekend getaway gets a new dimension with such visits. It is more commonly known as the Bibi ka Maqbara and was built for Dilras Banu Begam, by his husband Emperor Aurangzeb in the 1660s.

4. Ellora Caves

With 34 caves in total, Ellora caves is an amalgamation of three religious’ sculptures; Hindu, Budhhism and Jainism. You get to see Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries and Jain monuments.

5. Daulatabad Fort

Located at an elevation of 600 feet, you will find this fort standing out in the green surrounding. Daulatabad is also known as the abode of wealth and in this abode is the fort that is a wonder to watch. One have to climb over 700 steps and people who do this get rewarded by a breath-taking view.

6. Panchakki

This boasts of an architecture that helps in grinding grains and also serves as a water mill. This is the reason people flock for seeing this wonderful tourist destination. It is a great location to make children learn about the unique architecture of the world. Your family trip can be fruitful with the knowledge that can be put to use.

7. Khuldabad

It is also known as ‘Rauza’ and the meaning of this name is ‘garden of paradise’. This town is quite close to Aurangabad and needs your visit for sure. Khuldabad is known as a holy site as in the 14^th century, it was the residing place of various Sufi saints. One will find religious places here with Mughal architecture like Aurangzeb’s Tomb, Shaikh Zain-ud-din Shirazi, Dargah of Zar Zari Zar Baksh, and it is home to a Hanuman Temple called Bhadra Maruti Temple.

Shopping

Although, trip to Ajanta and Ellora caves can’t be called truly an adventure trip, you can be satisfied visiting the place for many things including shopping. You can buy collectibles that are ancient, unique and useful. You name anything and you get it here.

Budget

Your two days trip to Ajanta and Ellora Caves will cost you around Rs 7000.

How to reach there?

The distance between Mumbai to this destination is approximately 350 kilometers which makes it four hours drive in your car. In case, you want to travel by bus, you can choose that too. You can fly and travel by train too. The nearest station is Aurangabad from where you can hire a commercial cab to this spot.

The best part about travelling to this location is that you can ride on a bus and reach Aurangabad directly. You can take a bus even from Delhi and Jaipur. Of course, Mumbai is closer; hence, you won’t to spend much time.

The nearest airport is Aurangabad airport if you are travelling by flight from a distant place. This place is not just an ideal destination for a weekend trip with friends but also one of the best for honeymoon.

Best Time to Visit?

As Ajanta and Ellora caves are best to be explored during Monsoon and Winters. The season from June to March is when you can plan a weekend getaway with friends if you are in the nearby region or plan a family trip well in advance, though we do not advise you to do so because of the scorching heat. The city is known for the scorching heat of the Sun. It is better the season is avoided.

Other nearby places that you can visit when you are in Aurangabad are Pune, Mumbai, Kamseth, Kannad, Buldhana, Sonai, Shirdi, and the city Mumbai. You can easily find local transport that will take you to these places.