Aurangabad to Ellora Caves is a practical day trip: the site is about 31 km by road from the city, and you can travel by bus, taxi or private vehicle. The complex brings together 34 Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves in the Charanandri Hills, with the Kailasanatha Temple among its major highlights.
- Road distance: 31 km from Aurangabad to Ellora.
- Travel options: bus, taxi or private vehicle.
- Site: 34 caves representing three religious traditions.
- Seasonal note: Maharashtra Tourism recommends October through March; take care on slippery surfaces during the monsoon.
How far is Ellora from Aurangabad?
Ellora Caves lie about 30 km north of Aurangabad, with a road distance of 31 km, according to Maharashtra Tourism. The site is in Verul Village, in Aurangabad District, Maharashtra. For your trip, use the road distance as the practical guide to the journey rather than treating the northward location as a route measurement.
Ellora is about 23.0 km from Hotel New Bharti, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Railway Station is a 1-minute walk from the hotel. That station-side location can help you plan the city portion of a trip, though the onward journey to the caves still needs its own transport arrangement.
How do you get from Aurangabad to Ellora Caves?
You can travel from Aurangabad to Ellora by bus, taxi or private vehicle. These are the transport options Maharashtra Tourism names, and the choice depends on how you want to arrange the journey and local travel on the day.
A bus is an option if you want to travel by public transport. For a more directly arranged journey, consider a taxi or private vehicle. Whichever you choose, plan your return as part of the same day trip so that your onward transport is settled before you leave Aurangabad.
Daulatabad Fort is another nearby attraction that can be included in a wider day trip from Aurangabad.
Maharashtra Tourism also includes Bibi ka Maqbara, Gandhi Research Foundation and Panchakki among attractions in and around Ellora.
Planning a visit to the cave complex
Plan your visit around the season and check the site’s current access details before setting out. Maharashtra Tourism recommends October through March as a time to visit and advises caution during the June-to-September monsoon, when surfaces can be slippery.
The Archaeological Survey of India manages the Ellora Caves property. Check the official site before you go for current visitor information, including opening details. Give the cave complex enough time in your day plan to see more than one part of the site, while leaving room for the return journey.
What to see at Ellora
Ellora’s 34 caves represent Buddhist, Hindu (Brahmanical) and Jain traditions. Their rock-cut monuments were carved in three phases between the 6th and 12th centuries, creating a site where the different traditions can be encountered within one complex.
Make Cave 16, the Kailasanatha Temple, a focus of your visit: Maharashtra Tourism identifies it as Ellora’s grandest structure. UNESCO recognizes Ellora Caves as a World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1983.
Allowing time for the return journey
Keep your return to Aurangabad in the day plan rather than treating it as an afterthought. The caves are 31 km from the city by road, and bus, taxi and private vehicle are the transport options identified by Maharashtra Tourism.
If you are combining the caves with another nearby attraction, account for that visit before deciding how much time to leave for the journey back.
For travellers arriving in the city by air, Aurangabad Airport taxi and transfer options can help with the separate airport-to-hotel leg of the trip.
FAQs
How many caves are at Ellora?
The complex has 34 caves in the Charanandri Hills, representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions.
Which cave is the Kailasanatha Temple?
The Kailasanatha Temple is Cave 16. Maharashtra Tourism identifies it as Ellora’s grandest structure.
Who manages Ellora Caves?
The Archaeological Survey of India manages the Ellora Caves property.
When does Maharashtra Tourism recommend visiting Ellora?
Maharashtra Tourism recommends October through March and advises caution during the June-to-September monsoon because surfaces can be slippery.