You can see the best of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) in two days without your own car. Use autos and app-based cabs for the city's monuments on day one, and on day two either hire a car with a driver for the Ellora circuit, which covers Daulatabad Fort, Ellora, Grishneshwar and Khuldabad, or take a state transport bus along the Ellora road. Book return transport in advance for anything outside the city.
Getting around: your options
- Autorickshaws: the everyday way to move around the city. Agree on the fare or ask for the meter before you set off, and keep small change handy.
- App-based cabs: generally easy to find within the city, including at the airport and railway station. Coverage becomes patchy outside town, especially for return trips from Ellora.
- Car with driver for the day: the most comfortable way to cover the outlying sights. Ask your hotel or a local operator to arrange it and agree on the route and hours beforehand.
- State transport buses: MSRTC buses run from the city's central bus stand along the Ellora road, passing Daulatabad and Khuldabad. They are frequent and very economical, but crowded at peak hours.
Day 1: The city
Start early at Bibi Ka Maqbara, the 17th-century mausoleum built for Aurangzeb's wife Dilras Banu Begum, often compared to the Taj Mahal. Morning light is kind to the white facade, and the gardens are quiet before the crowds.
Next, take an auto to Panchakki, the old water mill fed by an underground channel, set beside a Sufi shrine. It is a short hop from the Maqbara and a cool, shady stop.
From here, the Aurangabad Caves, a group of Buddhist caves in the hills just north of the Maqbara, are worth an hour if you enjoy sculpture. They are less visited, so book a cab or ask your auto to wait rather than hoping to find a ride back.
After lunch, rest through the afternoon heat, then head into the old city for shopping. Look for Himroo shawls and Paithani weaves, and wander the lanes near the old city gates. For dinner, try naan qalia, the city's signature mutton dish, or a Marathwada vegetarian thali.
Day 2: Daulatabad, Ellora, Grishneshwar and Khuldabad
With a hired car, a comfortable order is:
- Daulatabad Fort early in the morning, before the heat, allowing two to three hours if you climb to the top.
- Ellora Caves, about 15 minutes further on, for three to four hours. Remember that Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
- Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, a few minutes from the caves.
- Khuldabad on the drive back, for its Sufi shrines and the simple grave of Aurangzeb.
By bus, the same road works, but keep it to two main stops, such as Ellora and Daulatabad, and allow extra time for waiting. Buses heading back to the city pass along the main road; ask locals where to stand, and do not leave the last leg until dusk.
Adding Ajanta
Ajanta is about 100 km from the city and is a full day on its own, closed on Mondays. Without a car, the options are a hired car with a driver, a state transport bus towards Jalgaon that stops near the Ajanta turn-off, or a guided day tour. If Ajanta matters to you, add a third day rather than squeezing it in.
Practical tips
- Carry cash in small denominations for autos, parking and snacks; not every vendor takes UPI.
- Save your driver's number and confirm pickup times in writing.
- Start every day early. Sites are cooler and calmer in the first hours.
- Keep an offline map of the region; mobile data can drop in the hills around Ellora.
Staying outside the city
If you would rather wake up next to the sights, staying near Daulatabad changes the plan. Ellora, Grishneshwar and the fort are all within about 15 minutes, and a guided cycle ride to Ellora in the early morning is even an option.
Hiranya, our family-run lakeside retreat 1 km from Daulatabad Fort, can arrange airport or station pickup and guided Ellora and Ajanta tours on request, so you can manage the whole trip without a car. Book at least a day ahead on +91 93264 38801 or WhatsApp +91 90494 27222.
