The best Ajanta and Ellora itinerary uses two days from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, known earlier as Aurangabad: one day for Ellora, about 30 kilometres away, with Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar, and a separate full day for Ajanta, about 100 kilometres away. You cannot do both well in one day, and you must plan around Ajanta's Monday and Ellora's Tuesday closures.
This is the single most-asked question for the region, and getting it wrong wastes a trip. The two great cave sites lie in opposite directions, at very different distances, and close on different days, so the planning matters more than the sightseeing. This guide lays out the right two-day structure, the closure trap to avoid, how to add the city sights, and how to base it all.
No, you cannot do Ajanta and Ellora well in one day. They lie in opposite directions from the city, Ellora about 30 kilometres northwest and Ajanta about 100 kilometres northeast, and each deserves several hours. Trying to combine them means a punishing day of mostly driving. Give each its own day for a proper visit.
The honest answer saves a lot of regret: one day for both is a mistake. Ellora sits about 30 kilometres northwest of the city, a 45-minute drive, while Ajanta is about 100 kilometres northeast, a 2.5-hour drive, so they are not on the same route, and there is no efficient loop between them. Each site also needs real time, several hours of walking and looking, to do it justice, and Ajanta's distance alone eats most of a day in the car. Attempting both in a single day means rushing through two of India's greatest heritage sites while spending most of the daylight driving, which defeats the point of coming. The clear recommendation is two days, one per site, ideally with a rest or a city day in between or alongside. That structure turns a stressful dash into two rewarding days. To base yourself for both, you can check rooms at IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Ajanta is closed on Mondays, and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, so plan your two cave days to avoid those: never Ajanta on a Monday or Ellora on a Tuesday. The simplest safe plan is to do Ellora and Ajanta on any two days that are neither a Monday nor a Tuesday, or to slot each around its own open days.
This is the trap that catches unprepared visitors. The two sites close on different days: Ajanta is shut on Mondays, and Ellora is shut on Tuesdays. So the cardinal rules are simple: never plan Ajanta on a Monday, and never plan Ellora on a Tuesday. The cleanest approach is to choose two days for the caves that are neither Monday nor Tuesday, which keeps both open and gives you full flexibility. If your trip must include a Monday or a Tuesday, use the Monday for the city sights or travel and the Tuesday for Ajanta, slotting Ellora onto a non-Tuesday day. A common, smooth pattern is the Ellora-side day, fort, caves and Grishneshwar, on one open day, and the long Ajanta day on another, with a relaxed city day rounding off the trip. Check the current opening days when you book, as they can change, but the Monday and Tuesday closures are the long-standing pattern to plan around.
The ideal plan is: one day for Ellora, about 30 kilometres away, combined with Daulatabad Fort and the Grishneshwar temple; one full day for Ajanta, about 100 kilometres away, starting early; and an optional third city day for Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Aurangabad Caves, Panchakki and Paithani or Himroo shopping. Two days minimum, three for comfort.
Here is how the days fall into place. The Ellora day is the fuller, closer one: head out in the morning, climb Daulatabad Fort about 15 kilometres from the city on the way, spend the core of the day at the Ellora caves and the monolithic Kailasa temple, and visit the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple right beside the caves, returning by evening. The Ajanta day is the long one: an early start for the 2.5-hour drive each way, then a few hours among the painted Buddhist caves and the gorge viewpoint, back to the city for the night. If you have a third day, spend it in the city itself, the marble Bibi Ka Maqbara about 5 kilometres out, often called a mini Taj, the Aurangabad Caves, the Panchakki water mill, and shopping for a Paithani sari or Himroo weave. That gives a complete, unhurried Sambhajinagar trip in two to three days. To set up your base, you can book your Sambhajinagar stay directly.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, has its own airport with metro connections and a railway station, so reaching it is easy by air, rail or road. Base centrally in the city and use a hired car for the Ellora and Ajanta days, since the caves are spread far out and public transport is limited for comfortable day trips.
Basing the trip well is what makes the two-day plan work. The city, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, still widely called Aurangabad, has its own airport with connections to the major metros and a railway station, so arriving is simple by air, rail or road. Stay centrally in the city, since it sits between Ellora to the northwest and Ajanta to the northeast and close to the city sights, making it the natural hub for day trips in both directions. A hired car with a driver for the cave days is the practical choice, as the sites are far out and public transport is not convenient for a comfortable schedule, and the same car can cover the city sights. From a central base like IRA by Orchid, the hotel can arrange the cars, and you keep one comfortable room for the whole trip rather than moving around. That single-base, two-day approach is the formula for seeing both caves properly. The easiest way to plan the trip is to confirm your accommodation first. Check available rooms at IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and build your itinerary around a confirmed base.
For an Ajanta and Ellora trip, book the IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar directly for the best rate. As part of the Orchid Hotels group, it is covered by Orchid Rewards, giving members up to 30 percent off direct bookings, applied automatically with no promo code. Booking direct also avoids travel-site commissions and lets the hotel arrange the car rental.
The value advice is to book direct. IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is part of the Orchid Hotels group, so Orchid Rewards applies, giving members up to 30 percent off direct bookings, applied automatically with no coupon to enter, and joining is free. Booking direct also keeps you clear of travel-site commissions and lets you arrange the hired cars for both the Ellora and Ajanta days through the hotel, which is the simplest way to run a two-day cave trip. The pleasant winter from October to March is the peak for the caves, so book your two or three nights ahead for that window. The rooftop Upper Deck restaurant and comfortable rooms make the relaxing base that the long cave days need. To make sure the member rate applies, browse Stay options at IRA Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and book direct rather than through a third-party platform.
Can you visit Ajanta and Ellora in one day?
No, not well. They lie in opposite directions, Ellora about 30 kilometres northwest and Ajanta about 100 kilometres northeast, and each needs several hours. Combining them means a punishing day of mostly driving, so give each its own day for a proper visit.
How do I plan around the Ajanta and Ellora closures?
Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays, so never plan Ajanta on a Monday or Ellora on a Tuesday. The simplest plan is to choose two cave days that are neither Monday nor Tuesday, keeping both sites open and giving you full flexibility.
How many days do you need for Ajanta and Ellora?
Two days minimum, one per cave site, and three for comfort with a city day. The ideal plan is an Ellora day with Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar, a separate full Ajanta day, and an optional city day for Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Aurangabad Caves and shopping.
Which should I see first, Ajanta or Ellora?
Either order works, but many do the closer Ellora day, with the fort and Grishneshwar, first, and the long Ajanta day separately. What matters more is avoiding the closures, never Ajanta on a Monday or Ellora on a Tuesday, and starting the Ajanta day early.
Where should I stay for Ajanta and Ellora?
Base centrally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, which sits between the two cave sites and near the city sights. IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar makes a convenient hub, with the rooftop Upper Deck restaurant and comfortable rooms, and can arrange the cave-day cars.
Two days, one per cave, planned around the Monday and Tuesday closures, is the formula for seeing Ajanta and Ellora properly from one comfortable base. Read our complete guide to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Aurangabad, and when you are ready, book your stay at IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Beed Bypass Rd,
PWD Colony, Aurangabad,
Maharashtra 431005
Email: reservations@orchidhotel.com
Call: +91 8652 636363
