Senior travellers can enjoy both Ellora and Ajanta with some planning. Ellora is the gentler of the two, with its most famous cave, the Kailasa temple, at ground level near the entrance. Ajanta involves a shuttle bus and a walk with steps along the gorge, but a palanquin service has been available there for elderly visitors. The key is to see a few caves well rather than all of them, visit early, and keep one major site per day.
What access looks like on the ground
It is worth being honest about the terrain. These are rock-cut monuments made centuries before anyone thought of ramps, and while the Archaeological Survey of India has added some facilities, access remains uneven. Local reports have noted ramps at the approach to Ajanta's first caves, wheelchair access at Ellora as far as the entrance to the Kailasa temple, and wheelchair access at Daulatabad Fort up to around the Chand Minar. Beyond those points, you meet steps, uneven floors and steep stairways.
Facilities change, so call ahead or ask your guide to confirm what is available on the day, particularly if you need a wheelchair.
Ellora: the gentler start
Most of Ellora's caves lie along one long cliff, with paths between them. The Kailasa temple (Cave 16) is the heart of the site and can be appreciated from the courtyard without climbing: the carved elephants, the pillars and the sheer scale are all visible from ground level. Climbing to the upper galleries is optional and involves narrow steps.
- Prioritise: the Kailasa courtyard, Cave 10 with its ribbed ceiling and seated Buddha, and one of the Hindu caves near Kailasa, such as Cave 15 or 21.
- Consider skipping: the upper floors of the multi-storey caves such as Cave 12, and the steep climb around the rim above Kailasa.
- The Jain caves are about a kilometre or two north of the main group; ride there by car or any available site transport rather than walking in the heat.
Ajanta: plan it carefully
Ajanta asks more of the body. After parking at the visitor centre, visitors take a shuttle bus up to the caves, then climb a flight of steps to the path along the gorge. The caves are strung along this path, with more steps at several of them.
A palanquin service, carried by porters, has been available at Ajanta for elderly visitors, and many families have found it a great help. Ask about it at the site. Even with help, choose your caves: Caves 1 and 2, near the start, hold some of the most celebrated paintings, and Caves 16, 17, 19 and 26 are highlights if energy allows.
Ajanta is also a long day, roughly two and a half hours by road each way from the Daulatabad side. Break the drive, carry cushions if car journeys are hard on the back, and plan nothing for the evening.
Daulatabad Fort and Grishneshwar
The lower parts of Daulatabad Fort, including the gates, walls and Chand Minar, are impressive on their own. The climb beyond, through the dark Andheri passage and up steep stairs to the summit, is demanding and best skipped by anyone with knee, heart or breathing concerns.
At Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, queues can be long on Mondays, festivals and weekends. Weekday mornings are usually calmer. Ask about current arrangements for elderly devotees when you arrive.
Pacing the days
- One major site per day is plenty. Ellora one day, a rest day, then Ajanta works beautifully.
- Start early, when it is cool and quiet, and be back for lunch and an afternoon rest.
- Hire a car with a driver who can drop you close to entrances and wait.
- Consider a guide who can walk at your pace and bring stories to the caves you do see.
- Avoid April and May if possible; the heat is tiring. October to February is kindest.
Health and comfort
Carry water, a light snack, any regular medicines, a small folding stool or walking stick if you use one, and a hat. Wear shoes with a firm, non-slip sole; cave floors are worn smooth. Toilets are near the main entrances, so use them before setting off inside.
At Hiranya, our 15-acre lakeside retreat 1 km from Daulatabad Fort and about 15 minutes from Ellora, afternoons can be as simple as sitting by the water and listening to the birds. Tell us about any mobility needs when you book, and we will advise on rooms, cars and guides; you can reach us on +91 93264 38801.
