The Ellora Caves, about 30 kilometres and a 45-minute drive from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, known earlier as Aurangabad, are a UNESCO group of rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, crowned by the astonishing monolithic Kailasa temple carved from a single rock. They are closed on Tuesdays, so plan around that, and pair well with Daulatabad Fort and the Grishneshwar temple.
Ellora is the more accessible of the region's two great cave sites and, for many, the more jaw-dropping, thanks to the Kailasa temple, a building-sized sculpture cut out of the mountain. It is close to the city and easy to combine with other sights, but you must dodge the Tuesday closure. This guide covers the caves, the Kailasa, the practical notes, and how to plan the day.
The Ellora Caves are a group of 34 rock-cut caves representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain traditions side by side, carved between roughly the 6th and 10th centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, their masterpiece is the Kailasa temple, Cave 16, a colossal Hindu temple carved top-down from a single rock, the largest monolithic structure of its kind in the world.
Ellora's wonder is its variety and its scale. Spread along a hillside, the 34 caves were excavated over centuries and remarkably represent three religions together, Buddhist prayer halls and monasteries, Hindu temples and Jain shrines, a rare record of religious coexistence carved into the same rock. The undisputed highlight is the Kailasa temple, Cave 16, a full Hindu temple complete with courtyards, halls, pillars, elephants and towers, all carved downward and inward from a single mass of basalt, removing astonishing quantities of rock to leave a finished temple. Standing in its courtyard and realising it is a sculpture, not a construction, is one of the great experiences in Indian heritage. Beyond Kailasa, the Buddhist caves with their prayer halls and the intricately carved Jain caves reward time, too. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site close to the city, Ellora is the easier of the two cave trips and arguably the more astonishing. To base yourself for it, you can check rooms at IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, so never plan an Ellora visit then. Because it is only about 30 kilometres from the city, it pairs well in one day with Daulatabad Fort, about 15 kilometres out on the way, and the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple right next to the caves, making a full and satisfying Ellora-side day trip.
The key planning fact is the closure: Ellora is shut on Tuesdays, the mirror of Ajanta's Monday closure, so the two cannot be seen on each other's off day, and a little calendar care avoids a wasted trip. The big advantage of Ellora is its proximity, only about 30 kilometres and a 45-minute drive from the city, which means you can build a rich single day around it. On the way out, Daulatabad Fort, about 15 kilometres from the city, is a dramatic hilltop fortress worth a stop and a climb. Right beside the Ellora caves stands the Grishneshwar temple, one of the twelve revered Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and an active place of worship, which pilgrims and visitors often pair with the caves. So an Ellora day can comfortably take in the fort, the Kailasa and the temple, a fuller and more varied day than the long single-site Ajanta trip.
The best time to visit Ellora is the cooler October to March season, on a morning start to beat the heat. Allow a half to full day, more if you add Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar. Wear comfortable shoes for walking and the Kailasa's levels, carry water and sun protection, and a guide helps you read the caves.
Ellora is easier than Ajanta but still rewards sensible planning. The comfortable season is the winter from October to March, when the Deccan heat eases, and a morning start lets you enjoy the Kailasa before the midday sun on the open rock. Allow at least a half day for the caves alone, or a full day if you add Daulatabad Fort and the Grishneshwar temple, which is the recommended way to do the Ellora side. The site involves a fair amount of walking along the hillside and climbing around the multiple levels of the Kailasa temple, so wear comfortable shoes, carry water and sun protection, and pace yourself. As at Ajanta, a licensed guide adds a lot, explaining the religious symbolism and pointing out details across the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves that are easy to miss. Get the day and the season right, and Ellora is the most spectacular thing in the region.
Ellora is about 30 kilometres and a 45-minute drive northwest of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, easily reached by hired car or taxi. The city has its own airport and railway station, so arriving is simple, and a central base lets you do Ellora, Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar in one comfortable day.
Reaching Ellora is easy, which is part of its appeal. It lies about 30 kilometres and a 45-minute drive northwest of the city, so a hired car or taxi for the day is the practical and flexible choice, letting you add Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar without fuss. The city, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, still widely called Aurangabad, has its own airport with metro connections and a railway station, so getting to the city itself is straightforward by air, rail or road. From a central base, you can set out in the morning, take in the fort on the way, spend the core of the day at Ellora and the Kailasa, and visit Grishneshwar alongside, returning to the city comfortably by evening. Because Ajanta lies in the opposite direction and on a different closure day, keep it for a separate day. A hotel that can arrange a car simplifies the whole outing. To set up your base, you can book your Sambhajinagar stay directly.
For an Ellora and Ajanta 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 a cave-day car.
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 car for the Ellora day, with Daulatabad and Grishneshwar, and the separate Ajanta day, through the hotel. The pleasant winter from October to March is the peak for the caves, so book your stay ahead of time for that window. The rooftop Upper Deck restaurant and comfortable rooms make a good return after a day among the caves and the fort. The member rate only applies to direct bookings, so check available rooms at IRA by Orchid Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
What is the Ellora Kailasa temple?
The Kailasa temple, Cave 16 at Ellora, is a colossal Hindu temple carved top-down from a single mass of rock, complete with courtyards, halls, pillars and towers. It is the largest monolithic rock-cut structure of its kind in the world and the highlight of the Ellora Caves.
Are the Ellora Caves closed on any day?
Yes, Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, so never plan a visit then. Ajanta, by contrast, is closed on Mondays, so the two cave sites cannot be seen on each other's closure days, which is essential to planning a trip around them.
How far is Ellora from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?
Ellora is about 30 kilometres and a 45-minute drive northwest of the city, formerly Aurangabad, easily reached by hired car or taxi. Its closeness lets you combine it in one day with Daulatabad Fort and the Grishneshwar temple.
Can you visit Ellora and Daulatabad Fort together?
Yes. Daulatabad Fort, about 15 kilometres from the city, sits on the way to Ellora, so a single day can take in the fort, the Ellora caves and Kailasa, and the nearby Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple, making a full and varied Ellora-side day trip.
When is the best time to visit Ellora?
The cooler October to March season, on a morning start to beat the heat on the open rock. Allow a half to full day, more with Daulatabad and Grishneshwar. The Deccan summer is very hot, so the winter months are by far the most comfortable.
Ellora and its monolithic Kailasa are the most astonishing sights in the region, easy to reach and rich to combine, once you dodge the Tuesday closure. 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
