Mumbai: Same Day Tour of Ajanta & Ellora Cave’s

Ajanta and Ellora pack centuries of Indian art and worship into one demanding day. At Ellora, the immense Kailasa Temple was carved from a single rock; at Ajanta, painted scenes and Buddha figures give the caves a very different feel.

I like that you can visit both UNESCO World Heritage sites with a private car and driver, and I love the contrast between Ellora’s many religious traditions and Ajanta’s celebrated paintings. You can also add a guide, flights from Mumbai, and cave admission, depending on the option you choose.

The trade-off is the distance and pace. This is a full day built around two hours at each cave complex, a long road journey, and little room for lingering. Check exactly what your booking includes before you pay.

Key points to know

• Ellora’s Kailasa Temple is a huge rock-cut shrine to Shiva, carved from one stone.
• Ajanta’s paintings and sculptures depict Buddhist stories, deities, and scenes of daily life.
• The day begins and ends at Aurangabad Airport unless your chosen option includes round-trip flights from Mumbai.
• The private car keeps the schedule manageable, but rough road conditions and the long drive make this a tiring outing.
• Guide, flights, and entry tickets are option-dependent, so the advertised $49 price may not cover every major cost.
• The sites close on different days: Ajanta is closed Mondays and Ellora Tuesdays.

Two cave sites, two very different experiences

Ellora and Ajanta are both rock-cut cave complexes, but they reward your attention in different ways. Ellora’s 34 caves include Buddhist monasteries, Hindu temples, and Jain places of worship. The best-known is the Kailasa Temple, dedicated to Shiva and carved out of a single mass of rock. Its scale makes it the sort of place where a photograph can show the shape, but not quite the feeling of standing beside it.

Ajanta has 30 caves, with sculptures and painted interiors that bring Buddhist stories and figures to life. You’ll see images of the Buddha, deities, legends, and details of everyday life. Take your time looking closely: the appeal is not only the overall design, but also the human details in the art.

Seeing both in one day lets you compare how artists and worshippers used these spaces. But it also means you’ll have only about two hours at each site, with much of the day given over to driving. If you want a slow visit, with time to study each cave, a single-day schedule may feel rushed.

The journey starts at Aurangabad Airport

Despite the Mumbai title, the ground tour is arranged around Aurangabad Airport, also called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. You meet the driver or guide there, visit the caves by private car, then return to the airport. Round-trip flights from Mumbai are included only if you select that option, so confirm this detail before booking.

The drive from the airport to Ellora is listed as about 35 kilometers. The route to Ajanta is longer: the caves are listed as 100 kilometers from Aurangabad. Expect a substantial day on the road, not a brief transfer between nearby sights. One account of the trip described rough roads and construction on the way to Ajanta, a useful reminder to plan for a tiring ride.

Your car is private, with an air-conditioned sedan for one or two people, or an SUV such as an Innova Crysta for three to five. The driver speaks Hindi and English. Fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, and bottled water for the journeys are included, which keeps the basic transport costs clear.

The private setup is useful here. You won’t be coordinating a large group at each stop, and the driver can take you between the sites and back to the airport. Still, the route is a long one, and private transport cannot make the distances disappear. Bring snacks, water, and anything you need to stay comfortable in the car.

Ellora’s temples, monasteries, and Kailasa

Ellora is the first stop, with about two hours set aside for sightseeing. Its 34 caves represent Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions, making this more than a visit to one famous temple. You can see how different religious communities shaped places of worship and retreat within the same broad complex.

Give the Kailasa Temple time. Dedicated to Shiva, it was carved from a single stone, an achievement that is easier to appreciate when you take in its scale and the work involved in shaping the structure. The site’s carvings also show deities, stories, and decorative detail. A guide can help you connect those images to the religious traditions represented across Ellora.

A private guide is available if you select that option. Languages offered include English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Portuguese. A guide can add context to what you’re seeing, but don’t be shy about asking questions. Some explanations may stick closely to the sites themselves, so questions about a carving, a figure, or the purpose of a cave can make the visit more useful to you.

There is one practical wrinkle: one visitor described encountering a hard-sell approach at Ellora. If someone tries to sell you something and you’re not interested, be ready to say no firmly and move on. The experience need not take over your visit, but it is worth being prepared for.

Ajanta’s painted caves and long walk

After Ellora, the tour continues to Ajanta by car. The schedule allows about two hours to visit the 30 caves, with time for a walk, sightseeing, and photos. Here the focus shifts to paintings and sculpture, including scenes connected to the life and teachings of the Buddha.

Ajanta’s art gives you a chance to look beyond architecture. Frescoes and carved figures show religious stories and details of daily life, inviting you to pause and study the walls rather than simply move through the caves. Your guide, if included, can help explain the images. If you’re visiting without one, allow yourself to look carefully and take in the range of subjects.

The visit involves walking, and you may need to remove your shoes at several points. The tour suggests wearing slip-on footwear, such as sandals or slippers, to make those stops easier. Bring a flashlight as advised, along with an umbrella and sunglasses for changing weather and sun exposure.

Two hours is enough to get a first impression of Ajanta, but not necessarily to explore every detail at a leisurely pace. If you’re especially interested in the paintings, decide in advance what matters most to you. A guide can help focus your time, while a self-guided visit gives you more freedom to pause where you like.

Optional shopping and a meal in Aurangabad

If time allows, the day may include a stop at the natural crystal market in Ajanta or the cloth market in Aurangabad. The itinerary also allows time in Aurangabad for dinner and shopping. Treat these as possible extras, not guaranteed highlights: the main priority is the caves, and the long drive can affect how much time remains.

Food and drinks are not included. A meal is optional, and it’s sensible to carry snacks such as biscuits or dry fruit, especially with hours of sightseeing and driving ahead. The tour also recommends bringing bottled water, though mineral water is supplied during the journeys.

One account describes a brief visit to a small Taj Mahal-style monument in Aurangabad while waiting for an airport drop-off. That kind of extra stop may be possible when time permits, but don’t build your plans around it. The schedule depends on the time available after the two cave visits and the drive.

What the $49 price does and does not tell you

The listed price is $49 per person, but it is important to compare the options rather than assume that every service is included at that rate. Round-trip flights from Mumbai are included only with a flight option. Admission to Ajanta and Ellora is also conditional on the option selected, as is the private professional guide.

The core transport package includes the private air-conditioned car, driver, fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, and bottled water during journeys. Food and accommodation are not included. If you are comparing the tour with arranging the trip yourself, account for airfare and cave tickets if they are not part of your chosen package.

The value is mainly in simplifying a complicated day. You have a private vehicle for the airport transfers and drives between the sites, and you can avoid arranging each leg independently. One visitor described the trip as well organized, including quick coordination and a driver contact before departure. That kind of preparation can save time, particularly if you’re trying to fit both sites into a single day.

But don’t judge value by the $49 figure alone. Check the final option, then compare its total cost with what you would pay for flights, transport, admission, and any guide separately. The tour can be a practical choice if the included services match your needs; it is less straightforward if you discover that major costs sit outside the option you selected.

How to prepare for a long day

This is not a relaxed day trip. You’ll spend time walking at two large sites and travelling between them, so wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take off. The tour specifically suggests slip-on footwear because shoes may need to come off at several points.

Pack sunglasses and an umbrella. The umbrella can offer shade or help in rain, and the caves may be dim enough that a flashlight is useful. Snacks are a smart addition, since no food or drinks are included. Keep your day bag simple and bring only what helps you walk and stay comfortable.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, babies under one year, or people over 95. Also be aware that the car may not be able to reach very narrow streets or some areas. If that happens, pickup or drop-off is arranged at the closest accessible spot.

Schedule the outing between Wednesday and Sunday. Ajanta is closed on Mondays, while Ellora is closed on Tuesdays, so neither site can be visited on its weekly closure day. Confirm availability and starting times when you book.

Who should book this cave tour

I’d consider this tour if you’re in Mumbai and want to see both Ajanta and Ellora without arranging each part of the journey yourself. It also suits visitors already in Aurangabad who want private transport, an optional guide, and a planned route to both sites.

It is a particularly good fit if you value seeing two major heritage sites more than spending a long time at either one. The sites have enough art and architecture to fill far more than two hours apiece, but the short visit can still give you a strong introduction. Choose a guide if context matters to you, and ask questions as you go.

I’d think twice if you dislike long road days, need a relaxed pace, or want to study the cave art in depth. And before paying, check whether your option includes flights, cave tickets, and a guide. Book if efficiency and private transport matter most; choose a longer visit if you want time to linger.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

The ground tour begins and ends at Aurangabad Airport, also called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Round-trip flights from Mumbai are included only if you select an option that includes them.

How long is the tour?

It is a one-day tour. The schedule allows about two hours at Ellora and two hours at Ajanta, in addition to driving and any optional time in Aurangabad.

Are flights from Mumbai included?

Only with the option that includes round-trip flight tickets from Mumbai. Check your selected option before booking.

Are cave admission tickets included?

Admission to Ajanta and Ellora is included only if you select an option that includes the tickets.

Is a guide included?

A private professional guide is available if you select that option. Guide languages listed are English, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Portuguese.

Which days can I take the tour?

The tour operates Wednesday through Sunday. Ajanta is closed on Mondays and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.

Are meals included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can choose to have a meal during the day, and bringing snacks is recommended.