From Aurangabad: 1-Day Taxi Trip to Ajanta and Ellora Caves

Ancient stone art rewards an early start. This Aurangabad day trip gives you a private, air-conditioned car to reach Ajanta, Ellora, or both without wrestling with public transport or road directions. I like the private driver and the freedom to explore at your own pace. I also like that bottled water, fuel, tolls, parking, and a torch are included. The main drawback is the long day, especially if you visit both cave complexes, and monument tickets cost extra.

You can choose a simple transport package or add guide services, depending on how much explanation you want. Drivers such as Habib and Mr. Suleman have been praised for careful driving, friendly conversation, and pointing out local sights. Still, this is best understood as a comfortable car service with sightseeing built around it, not a fully guided archaeological tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Three routes suit different energy levels: Visit Ellora with Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara, choose Ajanta with Bibi Ka Maqbara, or attempt both cave sites in one long day.
• Private cars keep the day simple: One or two people ride in a Toyota Etios sedan, while groups of three or four use an Innova Crysta SUV.
• Ajanta and Ellora close on different days: Ajanta is closed Monday, and Ellora is closed Tuesday, so check the date before paying.
• The cave complexes need several hours: Plan on three to four hours at either Ajanta or Ellora, not a quick photo stop.
• Entry fees are separate: Non-SAARC visitors pay INR 600 for Ajanta and INR 600 for Ellora, while SAARC visitors pay INR 40 at each.
• Bring cash and sensible gear: Monument cards are not accepted. Carry Indian rupees, comfortable shoes, sun protection, and water.

Why a private car makes sense from Aurangabad

Aurangabad is the practical base for visiting both cave sites, but neither is close enough for a casual taxi ride. Ellora is about 30 kilometers away, with a drive of roughly one hour. Ajanta is about 100 kilometers away, taking close to two hours each way.

That is where this experience earns its keep. You are not trying to work out several public transport connections, find a taxi for the return, or keep checking the road on a phone. Your driver handles the route while you sit in an air-conditioned car reserved for your party.

The price begins at about $20.11 per person, though the final value depends on group size, route, exchange rates, and extra entry fees. For one or two people, the sedan keeps the base cost modest. Four people sharing an Innova Crysta can get especially good value because the transport cost is divided among the group.

The package includes fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, bottled mineral water, and a torch. Those inclusions matter on a full day in the heat. You still need money for entry tickets, optional lunch, and any local guide you choose to hire.

Choosing the right one-day route

The three routes are not equal in pace. I would choose based on your priority rather than trying to fit everything into one heroic day.

Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara

This is the most varied route and the easiest of the three in terms of driving. Pickup is offered at 8:00 AM or 10:00 AM, followed by the approximately one-hour drive to Ellora.

You get three to four hours at Ellora, which is sensible. The site contains 34 caves and spans Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions. The famous Kailasa temple is the great prize, but the wider complex rewards slow looking. Give yourself time to notice the scale of the carved spaces rather than rushing from one numbered cave to the next.

After Ellora, you can stop for lunch before continuing to Daulatabad Fort. The fort adds a very different experience: instead of carved religious spaces, you get a major fortified site connected with the region’s political past. The itinerary does not specify how long you spend there, so ask the driver at the start how much time is realistic.

The final stop is Bibi Ka Maqbara, often called the Taj of the Deccan because of its Mughal-style appearance. It is a gentler, more compact visit after the caves and fort. You then return to Aurangabad, with drop-off at your hotel, railway station, or airport.

I would choose this route if you want variety and do not need to see Ajanta. It is also the practical choice on Monday, when Ajanta is closed.

Ajanta and Bibi Ka Maqbara

This route begins at 8:30 AM and takes you roughly 100 kilometers to Ajanta, or about two hours by car. The road time is substantial, but the destination deserves it.

Ajanta contains 29 Buddhist caves, with spaces cut into a dramatic rock setting. The site is especially important for its Buddhist art and painted interiors. Some areas can be dim, which is why the supplied torch is useful. Bring your own water bottle as well, even though bottled water is provided.

You have three to four hours to explore. That is enough for a meaningful visit, but not enough to inspect every feature at leisure if you also want lunch and a second stop. The transport-only format lets you set your own pace. You can arrange a local guide at the historic site if you want more help with the art, religious stories, and chronology.

Lunch is optional. On the return to Aurangabad, the route may include Bibi Ka Maqbara if time allows. This wording matters: you should treat the monument as a possible final stop, not a guarantee of a long visit under every condition.

Ajanta is the right choice if Buddhist caves and paintings are your main interest. It is also the route to choose on Tuesday, when Ellora is closed.

Ajanta and Ellora in one day

This is the ambitious option. Pickup begins at 7:00 AM from your Aurangabad hotel or airport. You drive about two hours and 100 kilometers to Ajanta, spend three to four hours there, stop for optional lunch, and then drive approximately 95 kilometers to Ellora, a journey of about 1.5 hours.

After several hours at Ajanta, Ellora can feel like a second major workday rather than a relaxed afternoon outing. Yet this route gives you the broadest view of the region’s rock-cut traditions in one day. Ajanta focuses on Buddhist caves and art, while Ellora includes Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave temples.

I would pick this only if both sites are high on your list and you accept a packed schedule. The early pickup is not a minor detail. Starting at 7:00 AM gives you the best chance of seeing both sites without cutting the cave visits too short.

The return to Aurangabad completes an eight to ten-hour day, though exact timing can shift with road conditions, stops, and your pace inside the monuments. Drop-off is available at your hotel or airport.

What makes Ajanta worth the long drive

Ajanta is the more distant site, so the two-hour journey each way shapes the whole day. You are paying for access to a major cultural site, but you are also spending about four hours in the car.

That trade-off makes sense if you care most about Buddhist art and cave interiors. The 29 caves provide a focused visit, and the three-to-four-hour window lets you look around without treating the complex as a quick roadside stop.

The torch is a small but useful inclusion. Cave interiors can be shadowed, and a little extra light helps you inspect details. Do not confuse the torch with a full guide service, though. If you want detailed context, ask about arranging a local guide at the site.

Carry Indian rupees for the entry ticket. The stated price for non-SAARC visitors is INR 600, while SAARC visitors pay INR 40. Cards are not accepted for monument entry. The operator also lists an Ajanta and Ellora shuttle bus charge of INR 100 per person, so ask when and where that applies before entering the site.

Why Ellora deserves a full afternoon

Ellora is closer to Aurangabad, but it is not a small stop. With 34 caves and three religious traditions represented, it can easily fill three or four hours.

The main appeal is the range. Buddhist caves, Hindu cave temples, and Jain spaces appear within one large complex. The famous Kailasa temple is the visual centerpiece, but do not spend your entire visit there. The contrast among the cave groups is one of Ellora’s strongest features.

This is also the route where a self-guided format may suit you well. You can pause, take photographs, and move on when you are ready instead of following a fixed explanation. On the other hand, the carvings and religious symbols can be difficult to interpret without help. Local guides are available at many historic sites, according to the tour information, so you can add context when you want it.

The separate Ellora ticket is INR 600 for non-SAARC visitors and INR 40 for SAARC visitors. The site is closed Tuesday. That closure is easy to miss when planning a short stay in Aurangabad, so check your calendar first.

The driver can shape the day

The driver is more than a person behind the wheel, but you should not assume he is a trained site guide. The included service promises a professional driver with good Hindi and English.

Habib is described as pleasant and careful, while Mr. Suleman is praised for friendly conversation and for pointing out local sights from the car. Those details matter because you spend a lot of time on the road, especially on the Ajanta route. A calm driver and clear communication can make the difference between a tiring transfer and a manageable day.

At pickup, confirm the route, expected stop times, lunch plan, and final drop-off point. If you are doing both Ajanta and Ellora, ask how the driver plans to keep the schedule moving. You can also clarify if a local guide is included in your selected package or if you need to arrange one separately.

The package is private, so you are not sharing the vehicle with strangers. That gives you space to adjust the pace within the limits of the day. It also makes the tour a better fit for couples, families, and small groups who want direct transport without joining a large coach.

Costs that can change the apparent bargain

The advertised base price looks low, but it does not cover every expense. You need to budget for monument tickets separately.

For non-SAARC visitors, the listed fees are:

• Ajanta Caves: INR 600 per person
• Ellora Caves: INR 600 per person
• Bibi Ka Maqbara: INR 300 per person
• Ajanta and Ellora shuttle bus: INR 100 per person

For visitors from SAARC countries, the listed fees are INR 40 at Ajanta, INR 40 at Ellora, and INR 30 at Bibi Ka Maqbara. Carry cash in Indian rupees because cards are not accepted at the monuments.

Transport value improves when you share the car. One or two people use a Toyota Etios sedan, and three or four people use an Innova Crysta SUV. Toll roads, fuel, parking, taxes, service charges, bottled water, and the torch are covered, which reduces the number of small costs you must manage during the day.

Lunch is optional and not listed as included. Keep the schedule in mind before choosing a long meal. On the two-cave route, a quick break may protect your sightseeing time.

Practical preparation for the cave sites

Wear comfortable shoes. You may spend several hours walking through large historic complexes, and the stone surfaces are not the place for flimsy footwear.

Sunglasses, a hat or cap, sunscreen, and a water bottle are sensible choices. Bottled water is supplied, but having your own bottle helps you stay hydrated between stops.

The caves can be dim, so use the provided torch carefully and follow any site rules. If photography is important to you, ask your driver or local guide about current conditions rather than assuming every interior is equally suitable.

Build flexibility into your expectations. The listed duration is approximately eight to ten hours, but road time, monument crowds, lunch, and your own pace can affect the finish. A drop-off at the hotel, railway station, or airport is useful, but confirm the timing before booking a same-day departure.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend it to anyone based in Aurangabad who wants private transport and a straightforward way to reach the caves. It suits people who prefer setting their own pace and are comfortable hiring a local guide only when they want more explanation.

It is also a good match for small groups. Four people sharing the SUV can make the transport cost attractive, while the private setup avoids the rigid feel of a large group excursion.

The one-day Ajanta and Ellora option suits determined sightseers with limited time. It is not the best choice if you like lingering over lunch, taking long photo breaks, or visiting every corner slowly. For a calmer day, choose Ellora with Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara, or visit Ajanta alone.

The package has a strong safety and comfort profile based on the supplied details. Careful driving, air conditioning, bottled water, and an English-speaking driver all help on long Indian road journeys. Still, the main value is transport and flexibility. If you want continuous expert commentary, book a package that specifically includes guide service.

Should you book this Ajanta and Ellora day trip?

Book it if you want a private car, a flexible schedule, and an efficient way to visit major sites from Aurangabad. I especially like the Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara route for a balanced day, and the Ajanta and Ellora route for a determined first visit.

Choose carefully around the closing days. Ajanta is closed Monday, and Ellora is closed Tuesday. If your date falls on Monday, the plan switches to Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara. On Tuesday, it switches to Ajanta and Bibi Ka Maqbara.

The free cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. That gives you some protection while you settle your Aurangabad plans.

FAQ

How long does the tour take?

The experience lasts approximately eight to ten hours, depending on the route, road time, sightseeing pace, and stops.

Can I visit both Ajanta and Ellora in one day?

Yes. The combined route starts at 7:00 AM, visits Ajanta first, then Ellora, and returns to Aurangabad.

What time does the Ellora route start?

The Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara route offers pickup at either 8:00 AM or 10:00 AM.

What time does the Ajanta route start?

The Ajanta and Bibi Ka Maqbara route starts at 8:30 AM.

Which caves are closed on Monday?

Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday.

Which caves are closed on Tuesday?

Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday.

Are monument tickets included?

No. Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara entry tickets are extra. The listed non-SAARC prices are INR 600 for Ajanta, INR 600 for Ellora, and INR 300 for Bibi Ka Maqbara.

Is transportation private?

Yes. The vehicle is reserved for your group. One or two people use a Toyota Etios sedan, and three or four people use an Innova Crysta SUV.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.