From Hyderabad, the quickest way to reach Ellora and Ajanta is a direct flight to Aurangabad airport (IXU), which takes a little over an hour in the air. By road the trip is roughly 500 to 550 km, about 10 to 11 hours with breaks, and overnight trains also connect the two cities. Once you arrive in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ellora is under an hour's drive and Ajanta about two and a half to three hours.
Option 1: Fly
IndiGo operates direct flights between Hyderabad and Aurangabad. It is by far the fastest option and ideal for a long weekend. Morning departures let you reach Ellora the same afternoon.
The airport is on the eastern side of the city, about 22 km from Daulatabad and roughly 35 to 40 minutes by road to the Ellora side. Taxis are available at the airport, and many hotels, including ours, can arrange a pickup if you let them know your flight details.
Keep in mind that schedules change seasonally, so check current timings before you plan the rest of the trip.
Option 2: Take the train
Two long-running services link the Hyderabad area with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar station:
- The Devagiri Express, which runs between the Hyderabad area and Mumbai via Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
- The Ajanta Express, which runs from Secunderabad towards Manmad via Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Both travel largely overnight, so you board in the evening, sleep through Telangana and Marathwada, and arrive in the morning ready to explore. Book early in peak season (October to February), and confirm current timings and origin stations on the railway's official booking site.
Option 3: Drive
The road trip is long but rewarding, particularly in the months after the monsoon when the Deccan is green. A commonly used route heads west from Hyderabad on the NH65 towards Zaheerabad, crosses briefly into Karnataka near Humnabad and Basavakalyan, enters Maharashtra at Omerga, and then turns north through Tuljapur, Dharashiv and Beed to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Tips for the drive:
- Start very early, ideally before dawn, to clear Hyderabad's traffic and arrive before dark.
- Plan fuel, food and rest stops; roads are generally good on the highways but slower through towns.
- The Naldurg fort and the Tulja Bhavani temple at Tuljapur are worthwhile stops if you want to break the journey.
- Avoid driving the last stretch at night when you are tired; trucks and unlit vehicles are common.
- Two drivers, or a night's halt on the way, make the trip much more pleasant.
Planning Ellora and Ajanta once you arrive
The two cave sites are in opposite directions from the city, so treat them as separate days.
- Ellora: about 30 km north-west of the city, and just a few minutes from Daulatabad. See the Kailasa temple first thing, then the Buddhist and Jain caves. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
- Ajanta: around 100 km north of the city. Leave early, as the drive takes roughly two and a half hours from the Ellora side. Ajanta is closed on Mondays.
A comfortable plan is three nights: arrive on day 1 and see Daulatabad Fort or Grishneshwar in the afternoon, spend day 2 at Ellora and Khuldabad, and day 3 at Ajanta, heading home on day 4. If you are driving from Hyderabad, add an extra night to recover from the road. Travelling with children or elderly parents, a fourth night lets you add Khuldabad, the Bhadra Maruti temple or a slow morning by the water without feeling hurried.
When to go
- October to February is the most comfortable season, with pleasant days and cool nights.
- July to September brings green landscapes and waterfalls, including one at the Ajanta gorge, but some rain.
- March to June is hot; start very early and rest in the middle of the day.
Where to stay
Staying near Ellora, rather than in the centre of the city, puts you close to Ellora, Grishneshwar, Khuldabad and Daulatabad Fort, and on the right side for an early start to Ajanta.
Hiranya is a family-run nature retreat on Mombatta Lake at Daulatabad, about 15 minutes from Ellora. We can arrange airport or station pickup on request, guided Ellora and Ajanta tours, and an early breakfast for the long Ajanta day. Write to us on WhatsApp at +91 90494 27222 to plan your dates.
