Ajanta & Ellora Caves tour: UNESCO rock-cut temples one day

Walk through two thousand years of carved stone in one morning and afternoon

A same-day tour from Aurangabad visits the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, two UNESCO World Heritage sites carved into rock faces over more than a millennium. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, entrance to both cave complexes, an air-conditioned vehicle, and lunch. It runs seven to eight hours and suits all fitness levels. Ajanta closes Mondays and Ellora closes Tuesdays, so check the day before booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves

• Pick up from hotel early morning
• Visit Ajanta Caves and explore frescoes
• Visit Ellora Caves and Kailash Temple

The experience

The Ajanta Caves arrive first, a horseshoe-shaped cluster of 76-meter rock faces overlooking the Waghur River. Buddhist monks carved these caves from the 2nd century BCE onward, using only hammer and chisel to hollow out chambers that served as monasteries and meditation retreats for nine centuries. The frescoes and sculptures inside (depicting scenes from Buddha's life and teachings) rank among the finest examples of ancient Indian art. An Army officer rediscovered the site in 1819 during a hunting expedition, and it has drawn visitors ever since.

Ellora Caves, carved between the 6th and 10th centuries CE into the Charanandri hills, tell a different story. Where Ajanta was purely Buddhist, Ellora holds temples and monasteries honoring Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism side by side. The centerpiece is the Kailash Temple (cave 16), a multi-story complex hewn from a single massive rock to resemble Mount Kailash, the mythical home of Lord Shiva. The Rashtrakuta dynasty commissioned it as a feat of Dravidian architecture, complete with a gateway, exhibition hall, sanctum, and tower: all shaped by hand from living stone.

The tour departs early from your Aurangabad hotel and includes all parking, tolls, fuel and taxes. A bottle of mineral water per person rounds out the logistics. An English-speaking guide leads both sites, and entrance fees to both cave complexes are covered. Lunch is included on the option that adds it. The car-and-guide option leaves that choice to you. Vehicle size depends on group size: a sedan for one or two people, a five-seater Innova for three or four, or a twelve-seater tempo traveller for five to eight.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Aurangabad city.
• English-speaking guide for both sites.
• entrance fees to Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
• air-conditioned vehicle sized for your group.
• mineral water bottle per person.
• all parking fees, tolls, fuel and taxes. Lunch is included on the Car + Guide + Lunch option.
• the Car + Guide option does not include a meal.

Options for this experience

2 options

Car + GuideGuide in English · 10:00Pickup is included, with a guide

Car, guide and lunchGuide in English · 10:00Guide and pickup are included, with lunch

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TOP TRAVEL AND TOURS PVT LTD.

Is this one for you?Book the option with lunch if you prefer not to arrange a meal stop yourself. Choose the guide-only option if you'd rather eat on your own schedule or budget. The early morning start and fixed route mean both cave sites fit into a single afternoon, so you don't lose a second day of your trip to travel time.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What are the Ajanta Caves and why are they famous?

The Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage site carved into a 76-meter rock face by Buddhist monks starting in the 2nd century BCE. They are renowned for their intricate rock-cut architecture and frescoes depicting scenes from Buddha's life, considered some of the finest examples of ancient Indian art. The caves served as monastic retreats for about nine centuries before being abandoned and later rediscovered in 1819.

What makes the Kailash Temple at Ellora special?

The Kailash Temple (cave 16) at Ellora is a multi-story temple complex carved from a single massive rock to resemble Mount Kailash, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva. Built by the Rashtrakuta dynasty between the 6th and 10th centuries, it showcases Dravidian architectural excellence with a gateway, exhibition hall, sanctum, and tower: all shaped by hand from living stone.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs seven to eight hours from your Aurangabad hotel and includes pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, entrance fees to both cave sites, an air-conditioned vehicle, and mineral water. One option adds lunch. The other leaves meals to your choice. All parking, tolls, fuel and taxes are covered.

Are there any days when the caves are closed?

Ajanta Caves close on Mondays and Ellora Caves close on Tuesdays, so plan your tour for a day when both sites are open.

What if my hotel is outside Aurangabad city?

Pickup and drop-off are included from Aurangabad city hotels only. If you need pickup from outside the city, the airport, or a railway station, an additional charge applies and is payable directly to the operator.