Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Ajanta and Ellora caves, considered to be one of the finest examples of ancient rock-cut caves, are located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, India. Ajanta and Ellora caves complex is adorned with beautiful sculptures, paintings, and frescoes and include Buddhist monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. The Ajanta caves are 29 in number and were built between the 2nd century BC and 6th century AD, whereas the Ellora Caves are more spread out and 34 in number and dates to the period between 6th and 11th Century AD.
Ajanta and Ellora caves are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are quite popular among travelers worldwide. Ajanta Caves, located around 99km north of Aurangabad, are mostly Buddhist sites and were used as a retreat by Buddhist Monks. Ellora is just 15 km west of Aurangabad and has a better mix of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist sites. These hand-carved caves were built and sponsored by the Indian rulers of those periods and almost buried by thick forests. One of the most famous places in the entire Ajanta and Ellora Caves is the Kailash Temple, which is also the single most massive monolithic structure globally. These rock-cut caves containing carvings are some of the best examples of ancient Indian architecture and sculpture.
History of Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves’ history spans centuries as they were built during different eras of history. These caves were constructed over a period of time as it took time to create such a large monument in Buddhist history. These caves were built in two distinct time periods which make up two eras of construction of these caves. The first caves were built in the Satavahana Period between the 2nd Century BCE and the 1st Century BCE. Later caves were built between the 4th Century and 7th Century CE and are also known as the Vakataka period of construction of these caves.
Places To Visit In And Around Ajanta Caves
1. Ajanta Caves
There are around 30 caves in a horseshoe shape around the banks of the Waghur River. The Ajanta Caves images, sculptures, cave paintings, historical sites, colorful architecture, and panoramic views are the highlights of this place. There are many viharas, monasteries, prayer halls, and paintings that are all worth exploring.
2. Ellora Caves
The Ajanta Caves Tour Packages includeEllora Caves as well. Ellora Caves are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India and are rock-cut monastery-temple caves that depict historical artwork as well as Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist monuments./”
3. Kailasanath Temple
One of the famous tourist sites in this area is the Kailasanath Temple which is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple was constructed in the 8th century BCE and there are hints of the Pallava architecture with depictions of Hindu Mythology in the architecture of this temple.
4. Bibi Ka Maqbara
Taj Mahal is a major monument and one of the most famous icons of India, and Bibi Ka Maqbara is called the Taj of the Deccan in Maharashtra. It is a mausoleum built by using marble rock on a square platform. It looks similar to the Taj Mahal but is a little smaller in scale.
5. Aurangabad Tourist Sites
Aurangabad is a small city in Maharashtra near Ajanta Caves and there is a lot worth visiting in the city. This includes Aurangabad Caves, Soneri Mahal, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum, Daulatabad Fort, Delhi Gate, and Panchakki Historical Place.
How to Reach Ajanta Caves
Maharashtra is one of the most beautiful and the most prosperous states in India with cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Aurangabad situated around it. Caves in Maharashtra depict its ancient history and the places to visit in Mumbai even include the famous Elephanta Caves near the city. The Ajanta Caves are nearly 12,00, 450, 17,00, and 11,00 km away from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru respectively.
By Air
The closest airport to Ajanta Caves is the Aurangabad Airport which is around 100 km away. The closest international airports for foreign tourists include airports in Pune and Mumbai. There are many domestic airports in India that can be used for part of the journey to Ajanta Caves.
- Aurangabad-Mumbai round trip flight is available for around Rs. 6000 and takes a little more than an hour to travel between the two destinations.
- Aurangabad round trip flight is available for Rs. 7000 onwards.
- Aurangabad-Delhi round trip flight is available starting at a price range of Rs. 6000.
By Train
The nearest train stations are the Aurangabad train station and the Jalgaon train station near the Ajanta Caves. Both these train stations are well connected to the Indian rail network and there are trains from all major cities in Maharashtra and India that either halt or reach these train stations. The Jalgaon Train Station is 78 km from Ajanta Caves and the Aurangabad Train Station is around 98 km from these Ajanta Caves.
By Road
The Ajanta Caves Bus Stop is the nearest road transport destination to these caves. The journey to these caves must include some amount of road travel and the nearest cities by road from Ajanta Caves are Jalgaon and Aurangabad. By Road, tourists can visit the Ajanta Caves by the Mumbai-Kolkata Highway Road or Nagpur-Aurangabad-Mumbai Highway.