86

Located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Ajanta and Ellora Caves are crucial to understanding the religious, cultural, and trade practices prevalent in ancient times.

Before embarking on your journey to these historic caves, there are several essential things to know. From understanding the historical significance and the best time to visit to knowing what to pack and how to navigate the area, this guide will equip you with all the necessary information to make the most of your visit to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

16 Things to Know about Ajanta and Ellora Caves

1. Ajanta and Ellora Caves: Key Highlights

• Ajanta and Ellora caves are not a single cave but a group. Ajanta Caves consists of about 30 caves, while Ellora Caves is a group of 34 caves.
• To know more about the must-visit cave temples at Ajanta and Ellora, visit our detailed guide.
• Ajanta Caves were excavated between the 2nd century BC and the 6th century AD, while Ellora is an artwork dating between the 6th and 11th century AD. 
• Ajanta is predominantly a Buddhist monument, whereas Ellora contains sculptures and monuments depicting three religions – Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism.
• Since 1983, Ajanta and Ellora Caves have been listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• The caves are carved out of basalt and granite rock from a cliff formed by successive volcanic eruptions at the end of the Cretaceous geological period.
• The Indian 20 Rupees note carries a picture of Cave 16 of the Ellora Caves.

2. How to Reach?

Ajanta Caves

Buses to different destinations that pass by the Ellora Caves stop if requested. You can board the buses to Ajanta Caves from Jalgaon bus station. If you are commuting from Aurangabad, board the bus to Jalgaon and get down at Ajanta Caves.

• Nearest Railway Station: Jalgaon JL Railway Station (Station Code: JL, 56 Km)
• Nearest Airport: Jalgaon Airport (IATA Code: JLG, 48 Km)

If you own a vehicle, it is convenient to reach the Ajanta caves directly. However, we could not find any two-wheeler rentals in Jalgaon, and Ola and Uber Taxi services are also not available in the region.

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves is about 50 km from Chatrapati Sambaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad). Frequent buses (Bus number 42) run between the Chatrapati Sambaji Nagar bus station and Ellora Caves.

• Nearest Railway Station: Aurangabad (Station Code: AWD, 28 Km)
• Nearest Airport: Aurangabad Airport (IATA Code: IXU, 35.5 Km)

Tuk-tuks or auto rickshaws offer services to the Ellora Caves. Uber services are available from the city. Alternatively, you can rent two-wheelers from the city and commute to Ellora Caves. You can also directly reach the Ellora caves if you own a vehicle.

3. Entry Fee

The entry fee is the same for both caves, but tickets have to be purchased separately for each cave. Tickets can be purchased either online or offline at the ticket counters. Cash, cards, and UPI payments are accepted at the ticket counters.

• INR 40 for Indian citizens and visitors from “SAARC” Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, & Afghanistan) And Bimstec Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand & Myanmar)
• INR 600 for foreigners
• Free for children below 15 years of age
• Extra charges for video camera.
• Additionally, at the Ajanta Caves, a mandatory INR 15 per adult is charged for amenities like restrooms, a children’s play area, etc. Even if you’re not using them, you must pay.

Discounts are applicable to tickets purchased online. Scan the QR code at the ticket counter and follow the steps to generate the ticket. INR 100 is charged for the loss/damage of entry tickets. Do not lose your ticket until you exit the site.

4. Timings

• Ajanta Cave timings: 9 AM – 5:30 PM, closed on Mondays
• Ellora Cave timings: 6 AM – 6 PM, closed on Tuesdays 

5. Commuting Around

Government buses ply between the main road and parking lot to the entrance of the Ajanta Caves. It is a 10-minute ride and the only way to reach the caves, as vehicles are not allowed beyond the parking lot. They charge INR 25 for non-AC buses and INR 30 for AC buses one way. The buses are frequent and depart once full, which generally happens quickly.

In Ajanta Caves, the caves are located close to each other. Chair/doli services (carried by two people on shoulders) are available. They cost INR 2000 per person per trip.

At Ellora Caves, the caves are split into 3 main sections. Caves 1-16, 17-29, and 20-24. Ekart services are available to explore the caves for INR 30 per person. The Ekart departs once it is full. They’ll stop at two places, and the entire tour will be completed in an hour. You will have to rush to explore the caves. Wheelchair services are available at Ellora Caves for elderly people and differently-abled persons. The best way is to walk on the laid road or pathway at your own pace.

6. Guides & Porters

Government-licensed guides are available at the ticket counter. Some of them are multilingual. The tourists can ask the guides to display their IDs for verification. We highly recommend hiring guides, as they can explain the history and the significance of the paintings or sculptures. The standard guide charges for each cave are as follows.

• For 1-5 persons, INR 2050 for half day and INR 2500 for full day
• For 6-14 persons, INR 2500 for half day and INR 3250 for full day.
• For 15-40 persons, INR 3350 is for half a day, and INR 4350 is for a full day.

Tour guides also provide their services at the entrance of the significant caves. They can be hired as guides for that particular cave. Their usual prices are INR 200 – INR 500, depending on the number of persons in the group. A few security guards were kind enough to explain the cave, but they expect some tips even if they volunteer to guide you.

Porters are available at Ajanta Caves for INR 500 per trip. Tourists can ask for porters’ badges for verification.

7. Cloak Room

Cloakroom services are available only in Ajanta Caves, which is close to the ticket counter. You can drop your luggage at the cloakroom for free, get the token, and return the token while exiting after collecting the luggage. This allows you to explore the caves without the need for a porter.

At Ellora Caves, the cloakroom is not available. Although a board is placed directing you to the ticket counter and the cloakroom, the cloakroom does not exist. You must keep your luggage outside in a shop by paying INR 50.

8. Network Availability

Jio works the best at both Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Airtel doesn’t work in Ajanta but works intermittently in Ellora, which is unreliable.

9. Dress codes

The Ajanta and Ellora Caves are not pilgrimage sites, so there are no restrictions on dress codes. It is important to dress comfortably, and the general rules of modesty in the Indian context must also be followed.

10. Photography & Drones

Drones and tripods are strictly prohibited on the premises of Ajanta and Ellora Caves. However, cameras are allowed. Bags are screened and checked before entering the caves. In Ajanta Caves, the security guards are very strict. They do not allow visitors to use flash photography or videography, but they are allowed to take pictures.

In Ellora Caves, there are no such restrictions. Visitors are allowed to take pictures with flash on or even take videos.

11. Monuments Code of Conduct

• Food and snacks are not allowed inside the cave premises.
• The visitors are requested to maintain silence.
• Touching the paintings, sculptures, and illustrations is strictly prohibited.
• Keep the monuments clean. Dispose of the trash in dustbins kept at several places.
• Security guards guard every cave at Ajanta and a few important caves at Ellora. Do follow their instructions.
• Only 40 visitors are allowed at a time inside Ajanta Caves. After every 15 minutes, visitors are asked to exit and are not allowed for the next 5 minutes. This rule is not strictly followed if the crowd is less. No such thing exists at Ellora Caves.

12. Where to Eat & Stay?

Since the massive cave complexes, a canteen is set up inside the premises. A fine-dining restaurant is located close to the ticket counter at Ajanta Caves. At Ellora Caves, canteens can be seen near Cave 16 and between Caves 29 and 30. The canteen serves snacks, including samosas, chips, ice cream, and soft drinks. 

Beware of the notorious monkeys if you’re carrying food around. Learn how to deal with the monkeys.

We stayed at Jalgaon for a day while visiting the Ajanta Caves and at Aurangabad while visiting the Ellora Caves. It is possible to visit Ajanta Caves and return to Aurangabad on the same day to halt for the night and explore Ellora Caves the next day.

13. Restroom & Parking Facilities

Both caves have well-maintained restrooms. A large paid parking space is available at the entrance of both caves.

14. Avoid crowds

Ellora Caves are comparatively more crowded than the Ajanta Caves. There are no shortcuts to avoid the crowds altogether. However, go early in the morning during the opening hours when there is usually less crowd, even during the weekdays and holidays. 

In Ellora, our suggestion is to first explore Cave 16 or the Kailasa Cave and then proceed to the other ones. The Ajanta Caves aren’t very crowded, but if you have some patience, you should be able to tackle the crowd.

15. Things to Pack

• Torches, since the caves are not lit in some places.
• At Least 2L of water per person
• Cap, sunscreen, and sunglasses to ward off the heat
• Rain protection gear if you’re visiting during the monsoon season.
• Camera (optional)
• Some snacks
• A new green INR 20 currency note to view the monument at Cave 16 of Ellora Caves.

16. Best Time to Visit

Although the Ajanta and Ellora Caves can be visited throughout the year, the weather is extremely hot and humid during summer from April to May. Temperatures soar up to 45℃, which might ruin your experience. The rainy season is from June to September, which is also not convenient. The best time to visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves is during winter, between October and March. The pleasant weather allows for exploration during this time of the year.

If you find this blog helpful or have any queries, do drop a comment below. We will do our best to reply. For more such informative travel guides, travel tips, itineraries, destination guides, and inspiration, do support us by subscribing to the newsletter and following us on social media – Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.