In this guide
Carved into the volcanic hills of Maharashtra over many centuries, the Ajanta and Ellora caves are among the greatest achievements of ancient India — and two of the country's earliest UNESCO World Heritage Sites (both inscribed in 1983). They're near each other (both close to Aurangabad / Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) but very different, so it's worth understanding each before you go.
Ajanta Caves — painted Buddhist monasteries
Ajanta is a horseshoe of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves — monasteries (viharas) and prayer halls (chaityas) — cut into a cliff above a river bend. Their fame rests on the murals: some of the finest surviving ancient paintings in the world, depicting the life of the Buddha and the Jataka tales in glowing, expressive detail. The caves were carved in two phases (from around the 2nd century BCE, and again from about the 5th century CE), then lost to the jungle until their "rediscovery" in 1819.
Ellora Caves — three faiths in stone
Ellora is a set of 34 caves representing three religions side by side — Buddhist, Hindu and Jain — a remarkable statement of coexistence. Its masterpiece is Cave 16, the Kailasa Temple: the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, a full chariot-shaped Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, carved top-down out of one hillside (attributed to the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I, c. 8th century CE). Standing inside it is genuinely awe-inspiring.
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Plan My Trip →Timings and closing days (important)
- Ajanta is closed on Mondays.
- Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
Plan your two days so you don't arrive on a closed day. Both open in the morning and close by evening; confirm current timings and ticket prices with the ASI before you go. Ajanta involves a walk (and a shuttle bus from the entrance), so wear comfortable shoes.
How to visit both
Base yourself in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). Ellora is about 30 km away; Ajanta is farther (about 100 km). A common plan: Ellora on one day (avoiding Tuesday), Ajanta on another (avoiding Monday). A hired car makes the Ajanta day much easier.
Best time to visit
October to March for comfortable weather; the monsoon (June–September) makes the surrounding hills lush and green. Summers are very hot for the walking involved.
Costs (indicative)
Separate entry tickets apply at each site (with different rates for Indian and foreign visitors), plus the Ajanta shuttle bus and optional guides. A good guide really helps decode the paintings and iconography.
Responsible travel
The Ajanta murals are extraordinarily fragile — no flash photography, no touching the walls, and follow all ASI instructions. Keep both sites litter-free and be patient in the queues at Kailasa.
FAQ
Which is better, Ajanta or Ellora?
They're different: Ajanta for ancient Buddhist paintings, Ellora for monumental sculpture and the Kailasa Temple. If you can, see both — but if you must choose, pick based on paintings vs. architecture.
What days are Ajanta and Ellora closed?
Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays — plan your itinerary around these.
Written by PlanMyOffbeat Team
Independent, verification-first travel guides for offbeat trips.
