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Heritage · Maharashtra

Aurangabad · Travel Tips, Day Trips & FAQs

🗓️ Best time: October to March ⏳ Ideal: 2–3 days 🚉 AWB ✈️ IXU 📮 431001
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Where to stay in Aurangabad

Aurangabad's accommodation is spread across a few practical zones, and because almost all the major sights are day-trips from a city base, the choice is more about convenience and comfort than about being able to walk to a monument. Choose by area and budget tier rather than by brand.

Jalna Road and the CIDCO area. The modern spine of the city, running east toward the airport, is where most of the mid-range and upper-tier business and tourism hotels cluster, along with restaurants and shopping. This is the sensible default for travellers who want reliable comfort, easy access to the airport, and a straightforward pick-up point for cave tours and hired cars. It is a short drive from the railway station and the old-city sights.

Station Road and the Cantonment. Around Aurangabad Junction (AWB) and the cantonment you will find a broad range from budget lodges to comfortable mid-range hotels, handy if you are arriving or leaving by train or taking early buses. It is central and well connected, if busier and less polished than the newer districts.

Near the airport (Chikalthana). A cluster of hotels sits close to Aurangabad Airport, east of the centre — convenient for an early flight or a late arrival, and for tours that head out toward Ellora and Ajanta, at the cost of being a little removed from the old-city atmosphere.

Old city and central bazaars. The historic core, near Panchakki and the market quarters, has simpler and more traditional lodging and puts you closest to the street life, the textile workshops and the gates. It suits travellers who want to be in the thick of things and don't mind more basic rooms and city noise.

Wherever you stay, the practical priorities in Aurangabad are a location with easy access to the highways out to the caves, and — if you plan to hire a car — a hotel used to arranging reliable drivers for the Ajanta and Ellora runs. Confirm what is included when you book a tour or car, as the long Ajanta day in particular varies a lot in price and inclusions.

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Day trips from Aurangabad

Aurangabad is a natural base, and beyond the two headline cave complexes there is a cluster of worthwhile excursions, most within a comfortable day by hired car or bus.

The Ellora axis — Daulatabad, Khuldabad and Grishneshwar (within about 30 km). The single most efficient day out combines four sights on one road northwest of the city: the great hill-fort of Daulatabad, the Ellora Caves with the Kailasa Temple, the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga at Verul, and the quiet pilgrimage town of Khuldabad, where the emperor Aurangzeb lies in a deliberately plain open grave alongside several Sufi shrines. It is the classic Aurangabad day trip and easily fills the daylight hours. (Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.)

Ajanta (about 100–110 km, roughly 2.5 hours each way). Effectively a full-day excursion in its own right rather than an add-on, given the drive, the shuttle transfer from Fardapur and the walking. Treat it as one of your two core days, not as a side trip, and set out early. (Closed on Mondays.)

Paithan (about 50 km, roughly 1–1.5 hours). South of the city on the Godavari river, Paithan is the home of the Paithani sari and the site of the vast Jayakwadi Dam and its reservoir (Nathsagar), a well-known spot for birdwatching in winter, with landscaped gardens nearby. A rewarding half-day for anyone interested in textiles or a change from monuments.

Lonar Crater Lake (about 140–160 km, roughly 3 hours). A genuine geological wonder — a saltwater-and-alkaline lake that fills a meteorite impact crater tens of thousands of years old, ringed by forest and old temples. It is a longer haul and is sometimes done as an overnight rather than a rushed day trip, but it is unlike anything else in the region and a favourite of naturalists and geology enthusiasts. Confirm current road conditions and timings before setting out.

Shirdi (about 110–130 km, roughly 3 hours). The famous pilgrimage town associated with Sai Baba draws enormous numbers of devotees and is within day-trip range for those who want to combine Aurangabad's heritage with a major spiritual site. Expect crowds and queues at the shrine, especially on Thursdays and festival days.

Pitalkhora Caves (about 40 km, roughly 1.5 hours). For travellers who cannot get enough of rock-cut architecture, this early group of Buddhist caves set in a wooded ravine is a quieter, less-visited counterpart to the famous sites — atmospheric and rewarding, if more rugged to reach.

For any of these, hiring a car with a driver for the day is the simplest approach and lets you combine nearby stops (the Ellora axis is the obvious example). Confirm current road conditions and site timings locally before you set off, and always cross-check the caves' closing days.

Frequently asked questions about Aurangabad

Q1 What is the best time to visit Aurangabad?
October to March, when the plateau is cool and pleasant, with November to February the most comfortable. Avoid April to June, when daytime temperatures can reach around 43–44°C and the open climbs at the caves and Daulatabad become punishing.
Q2 How many days do you need in Aurangabad?
Two to three days is ideal. You need one dedicated day for Ajanta and another for Ellora and the forts around it, because they lie in opposite directions and cannot be combined. A third day lets you add the city's own sights at a relaxed pace.
Q3 Which days are Ajanta and Ellora closed?
Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday, and Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday. Plan your two cave days around these closures — never a Monday for Ajanta, never a Tuesday for Ellora — and confirm timings before you travel.
Q4 How much does it cost to enter Ajanta and Ellora?
Entry is tiered, with a small fee for Indian nationals and a higher one for foreign tourists, and children under 15 free. Prices are revised periodically, so verify the current rates on the official ASI channel before visiting rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Q5 Is Aurangabad the same as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?
Yes. The city was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, after the Maratha Chhatrapati Sambhaji. "Aurangabad" remains in common everyday use and on the railway and airport codes, so you will see and hear both names for the same place.
Q6 How far are Ajanta and Ellora from Aurangabad?
Ellora is about 30 kilometres northwest (around 45 minutes). Ajanta is farther, roughly 100–110 kilometres northeast (about two-and-a-half hours each way), with a shuttle-bus transfer from the Fardapur junction to the caves themselves.
Q7 Can you visit both Ajanta and Ellora in one day?
Not sensibly. They lie in opposite directions from the city, Ajanta involves a long drive and a fair amount of walking, and their closing days differ (Monday for Ajanta, Tuesday for Ellora). Give each its own day for a worthwhile visit.
Q8 What is the nearest airport to Aurangabad?
Aurangabad Airport (IXU) at Chikalthana, about 10 kilometres east of the centre, is the practical air gateway, with a modest set of domestic flights via cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. Schedules change, so confirm current routes before planning around them.
Q9 What is the nearest railway station to Aurangabad?
Aurangabad Junction (station code AWB) is the main station, with direct trains to and from Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad and Nashik, including overnight services. It sits on a branch line, so the choice of direct trains is more limited than for cities on the main trunk routes.
Q10 What is Bibi Ka Maqbara?
Bibi Ka Maqbara is a 17th-century marble-faced mausoleum in Aurangabad, built for Aurangzeb's wife Rabia-ud-Daurani and modelled closely on the Taj Mahal, which is why it is nicknamed the "Taj of the Deccan" or "mini Taj". It is the city's signature monument.
Q11 What is the Kailasa Temple at Ellora?
Kailasa (Ellora Cave 16) is a full-size Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva that was carved top-down from a single mass of basalt in the 8th century under the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. It is the largest monolithic rock-cut structure in the world and Ellora's greatest marvel.
Q12 Is Aurangabad safe for tourists?
Aurangabad is broadly safe for visitors, including solo travellers, with normal city precautions. The main nuisances are touts and overpricing near the monuments rather than serious crime; use licensed guides, agree fares before setting off, and take care on the steep climbs at Ajanta and Daulatabad.
Q13 What food is Aurangabad known for?
The signature dish is naan qalia — a spiced mutton curry eaten with tandoor-baked naan — followed by the local Aurangabadi biryani and a Mughlai-influenced repertoire of kebabs and rich curries. Vegetarian and Maharashtrian thali options are widely available too.
Q14 What should you buy in Aurangabad?
Textiles are the standout: the gold-threaded Paithani silk sari from nearby Paithan, and Aurangabad's own Himroo brocade-woven shawls and stoles, which you can watch being made on city handlooms. Both make distinctive, portable souvenirs.
Q15 Is one day enough for Aurangabad?
One day lets you see either Ellora (with the forts and Grishneshwar) or Ajanta, plus a quick city sight or two — enough for a strong impression but not for both cave complexes. Two days is far more comfortable and is the realistic minimum to do the region justice.

Sources & further reading

  • Archaeological Survey of India — https://asi.nic.in
  • ASI Aurangabad Circle — https://asiaurangabadcircle.com
  • UNESCO World Heritage Centre — https://whc.unesco.org
  • India Meteorological Department — https://www.imdpune.gov.in
  • Maharashtra Tourism (MTDC) — https://maharashtratourism.gov.in
  • Incredible India, Ministry of Tourism — https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in
  • Indian Railways / IRCTC — https://www.irctc.co.in
  • Airports Authority of India (Aurangabad Airport) — https://www.aai.aero
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