Aurangabad · Suggested Itineraries

Aurangabad's itinerary is dictated by two hard facts: the caves lie in opposite directions and cannot be done in one day, and each has a fixed closing day — Ajanta on Mondays, Ellora on Tuesdays. Plan the whole trip around those two rules and everything else falls into place. In all cases, start each cave day early.

One day (a compromise). A single day cannot do both cave complexes justice, so choose. The more efficient one-day plan skips Ajanta (which eats a day on its own with the long drive) and does the Ellora axis:

• Start early and drive out toward Ellora, stopping first at Daulatabad Fort for the hill climb while it is still cool (1.5–2 hours).
• Continue to the Ellora Caves, giving priority to the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) and a selection of the Buddhist and Jain caves (2.5–3 hours).
• Stop at the Grishneshwar temple beside Ellora, and if time allows the tomb of Aurangzeb at Khuldabad nearby.
• Return to the city for a late look at Bibi Ka Maqbara or Panchakki. (Remember Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.)

Two days (the sensible version). This is the natural length for Aurangabad and lets you see both World Heritage sites without rushing.

• Day 1 — Ellora and around: Daulatabad Fort at opening, then Ellora (with Kailasa the centrepiece), Grishneshwar and, if you wish, Khuldabad. Evening back in the city. (Not a Tuesday.)
• Day 2 — Ajanta: A dedicated day. Leave early for the two-and-a-half-hour drive, take the shuttle from Fardapur, and give the painted caves and the gorge viewpoint the unhurried time they deserve before the long drive back. (Not a Monday.)

Three days (comfortable, with the city). Add a third day to slow down and see the town.

• Day 3 — the city: Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Aurangabad Caves on the ridge behind it, Panchakki, the city museum and the Himroo weaving workshops, at a relaxed pace — plus time for the bazaars and a proper Aurangabadi meal.

Fitting Aurangabad into a longer trip. Aurangabad slots neatly into a Maharashtra circuit. A common shape is Mumbai → Aurangabad (2–3 nights for the caves) → onward, often combined with the pilgrimage town of Shirdi (a couple of hours away), the temple city of Nashik and its vineyards, or a longer loop down to Pune. Overnight trains and buses on these legs let you travel while you sleep and keep the daylight hours for sightseeing.