The best way to see Ellora in one day is to arrive at opening time, go straight to the Kailasa temple before the crowds, then work through the Buddhist and Jain caves, break for lunch around midday, and spend the afternoon at Grishneshwar and Daulatabad Fort before watching the sun set over the fort. Remember that Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
Before you start
Ellora lies roughly 30 km from the city centre, about 45 minutes to an hour by road, and just 8 km from Daulatabad. The caves open around sunrise and close around sunset; check current timings on the ASI's official site or at the ticket counter. Tickets are sold at the entrance and online.
Take water, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes that slip on and off easily. There is a lot of walking on stone, some steps, and long stretches in the sun.
Morning: Kailasa first
Arrive at opening time and head straight for Cave 16, the Kailasa temple. It is the reason most people come, and in the first hour it is quieter, cooler and beautifully lit. Walk around the courtyard at ground level first, then climb the path up to the top of the surrounding rock for the view down into it. Allow a good hour and a half.
Then move south, towards the Buddhist caves:
- Cave 10, the Vishvakarma or Carpenter's Cave, with its ribbed ceiling imitating timber and a seated Buddha.
- Cave 12, the Teen Tal, a three-storey monastery with rows of Buddha figures on the upper floor.
- Cave 5, a long hall once used for teaching or dining.
Come back north through the Hindu caves, choosing a few rather than all:
- Cave 14 and Cave 15, the latter with a fine two-storey layout.
- Cave 21, the Rameshwar cave, with graceful river goddesses at its entrance.
- Cave 29, the Dhumar Lena, a large pillared cave near a seasonal waterfall.
Late morning: the Jain caves
The Jain group, Caves 30 to 34, sits about 1.5 to 2 km further north. Battery-operated vehicles usually run there from the main complex; otherwise it is a quick drive. Cave 32, the Indra Sabha, is the highlight, with a small monolithic shrine, delicate carving and a quiet upper hall. Cave 34 is small but lovely. Allow about 45 minutes. By now it will be around 12:30 or 1 pm, time for lunch.
Rather than eat in a rush, give yourself a proper break. There are simple eateries and dhabas near Ellora and on the road towards Khuldabad serving thalis and local snacks. Alternatively, drive the 15 minutes back towards Daulatabad and eat somewhere shaded, rest for a while and let the midday heat pass.
Afternoon: Grishneshwar, then Daulatabad
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple is barely a couple of kilometres from Ellora. Weekday afternoons are often calmer for darshan. Men are traditionally asked to remove their shirts before entering the inner sanctum, so carry a shawl or towel.
From Grishneshwar, drive about 15 to 20 minutes to Daulatabad Fort. Aim to reach by mid-afternoon, since the climb and descent take around one and a half to two hours and the gates close in the evening. Look for the Chand Minar near the entrance, the moats and the dark passage near the top. The upper sections are steep; take it slowly and carry water.
Sunset over Daulatabad
As the fort closes, the light over the Deccan turns gold. The fort's great conical hill is at its most dramatic from a distance at this hour, rising sharply from the plain. Find a spot on the surrounding high ground or along the Mombatta Lake side and watch the shadows lengthen across the walls.
In short, a simple timetable looks like this:
- 6:30 to 7 am: arrive at Ellora and go directly to Kailasa (Cave 16).
- 8:30 am: Buddhist caves (10, 12, 5).
- 10 am: selected Hindu caves (14, 15, 21, 29).
- 11:30 am: Jain caves (32, 34).
- 1 pm: lunch and rest.
- 2:30 pm: Grishneshwar darshan.
- 3:30 pm: Daulatabad Fort climb.
- 6 pm onwards: sunset over the fort.
Adjust by half an hour either side according to season; winter sunsets come earlier.
Tips to make it smoother
- Weekdays other than Tuesday are quieter than weekends and holidays.
- A guide at Ellora turns carvings into stories; ask for an ASI-approved guide at the entrance.
- Photography of the caves is generally allowed without flash, but tripods and drones may need permission.
- Monsoon months bring waterfalls around Cave 29 and green hills, but slippery paths.
Staying close by turns this into an easy, unhurried day. Hiranya sits on Mombatta Lake, 1 km from Daulatabad Fort and about 15 minutes from Ellora, and our guests can join a guided sunset trek to a ridge overlooking the fort, a lovely way to end the day before dinner by the waterfall-side restaurant.
