What is the best time to visit Ellora Caves?

The best months to visit Ellora Caves are October, November, December, January, February, March. Every month has a separate go/wait/skip verdict with specific weather reasoning on NakshIQ — see /destination/ellora-caves/[month] pages for month-level detail.

Is Ellora Caves safe for families with kids?

Yes, Ellora Caves is rated 6.0/10 for families with kids. Kailasa Temple is visually stunning — kids amazed. Less walking than Ajanta.

What altitude is Ellora Caves?

Ellora Caves sits at 560m above sea level. Altitude is not a concern for most visitors.

Where is the nearest hospital to Ellora Caves?

The nearest hospital or medical facility for Ellora Caves is Khuldabad clinic (5km). Aurangabad (30km) for hospitals. For altitude-related emergencies, Diamox and supplemental oxygen may be available at local chemists; for serious emergencies, evacuation to the nearest district hospital is standard.

Is there mobile network and internet in Ellora Caves?

Mobile signal at Ellora Caves: Good signal at the site and nearby areas.. Carry offline maps (Google Maps offline download or Maps.me) for any stretches beyond town limits, especially if the route passes through low-signal valleys or forest corridors.

DISPATCH · ISSUE Nº 48

MAHARASHTRA · MARATHWADA

4.0

MARGINAL · JUNE

Ellora Caves.

UNESCO site with the monolithic Kailasa temple — carved top-down from a single basalt cliff

560 M · EASY · 1–1 DAYS

VERIFIED APR 2026 · ISSUE Nº 48

4 MIN READ·Or skip to the verdict ↓

II · THE VERDICT

“UNESCO site with the monolithic Kailasa temple — carved top-down from a single basalt cliff”

WHY SPECIAL

Ellora is unique in world architecture — 34 caves spanning Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions carved between the 6th and 11th centuries. Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple) is the crown jewel: an entire Shiva temple carved TOP-DOWN from a single basalt cliff, removing an estimated 200,000 tonnes of rock. It represents Mount Kailash and took over 100 years to complete.

WAIT

SKIP

Kids

6.0/10

Solo F

8.0/10

Crowd

QUIET

Cost

₹

Effort

EASY

Know before you go

Price: ₹0/night
Best window: Oct – Mar
Access: Aurangabad — 30km (45min). On the way from Aurangabad to Daulatabad.
Emergency: 108 · Khuldabad clinic (5km). Aurangabad (30km) for hospitals

III · THE WINDOW · 12 MONTHS, SCORED

Every month rated on the 0–10 editorial scale. Click any cell to read the month-specific verdict — what to do, what to skip, what crowds you'll meet.

↑ Tap any month for the full read · colours match verdict bands

Read our scoring methodology →

Live weather

ELEVATION

IV · THE FIELD BRIEF

V · THE RISKS · WHAT TO KNOW

Every destination carries trade-offs. The cards below score the practical ones: confidence in the data, kids-suitability, solo-female read, and the emergency floor.

8.0

Safety Rating

Safe UNESCO site. Well-maintained. Close to Aurangabad for all services.

🚗कैसे पहुँचें

Aurangabad — 30km (45min). On the way from Aurangabad to Daulatabad.

Road: Good road from Aurangabad. Well-maintained.

Public transport: State buses and shared autos from Aurangabad.

Self-drive: Any car fine. Easy highway drive.

🏠कहाँ रुकें

₹0/night

⛽पेट्रोल

Nearest: Khuldabad (5km). Aurangabad (30km) has many

Next: Aurangabad (30km)

EV charging: Not available

🌙रात का मौसम

Summer

25°C

Winter

10°C

Same Deccan plateau climate as Ajanta. Extremely hot April-June. Pleasant Oct-Feb.

🚨आपातकालीन नंबर

Hospital: Khuldabad clinic (5km). Aurangabad (30km) for hospitals

Police: ASI site security. Khuldabad Police Station (5km)

Ambulance: 108

Helpline: 100

📶नेटवर्क कवरेज

JioAirtelBSNLVi

Good signal at the site and nearby areas.

KIDS · FAMILY READ

6.0

FAMILY-APPROPRIATE

Minimum age: 6+ yrs

Best for: 6-14

Stroller: Not possible

HIGHLIGHTS FOR KIDS

Kailasa Temple — massive carved from single rock

Buddhist cave viharas to explore

Jain cave carvings

Playing spot-the-sculpture

REASONS

Kailasa Temple is visually stunning — kids amazed

Less walking than Ajanta

Well-maintained paths

CONCERNS

Hot exposed walk between caves

No play areas

Can be tiring for young children

Solo-female safety

8.0/10— Safe with standard precautions

Aurangabad tourist circuit — ASI-managed, tourist police, women-run local guide cooperatives. Day-trip via MTDC bus from Aurangabad.

Month by month

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

4–5 safe 3 vigilant 2 with operator 1 skip month-specific note closed

EMERGENCY · SOURCE-VERIFIED

VI · THE ATLAS · WHERE TO POINT

एलोरा गुफाएँ· MAHARASHTRA

23.5N · 80.5E

SCALE 1:24M

NAKSHIQ ATLAS · 2026

● ROLLING

Places to Visit in एलोरा गुफाएँ

🗿

Vishvakarma Cave (Cave 10)

6वीं सदी में बना एक बड़ा बौद्ध चैत्य हॉल जिसमें पत्थर के स्तंभ और जटिल मूर्तिकला हैं।

🕐 60 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Indra Sabha (Cave 32)

एलोरा में अंतिम बनाए गए जैन मंदिरों में से एक, बहुमंजिला नक्काशीदार वास्तुकला के साथ।

🕐 75 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Rameshvara Cave (Cave 21)

6वीं सदी का एलोरा का सबसे पुराना हिंदू गुफा, जिसमें शिव को समर्पित सुंदर मूर्तिकला है।

🕐 60 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा एकल एकश्मक शिल्प, जिसे ऊपर से नीचे तक एक ही बेसाल्ट चट्टान से काटा गया है जो माउंट कैलाश का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है। यह 8वीं सदी का मंदिर 32 मीटर ऊंचा है।

🕐 90 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🛕

Grishneshwar Temple

भारत के 12 प्रसिद्ध ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिरों में से एक, शिव को समर्पित।

🕐 45 min🎫 Free👶 Kid-friendly

HIDDEN GEMS · 3 NEAR ELLORA CAVES

Nº 012KM · 10 MIN AUTO FROM ELLORA CAVES TO VERUL VILLAGE

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (12th in the 12-Jyotirlinga list).

Ellora visitors crowd Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple) and Cave 32 (Jain Indra Sabha) and head straight back to Aurangabad — Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga, the 12th and final shrine on the 12-Jyotirlinga pilgrimage circuit, sits 1.5km away in Verul village but rarely makes the tour-bus itinerary.WHY NOBODY KNOWS

A Shiva Jyotirlinga shrine in Verul village, 1.5km from Ellora caves — the 12th and final entry on the 12-Jyotirlinga pilgrimage list (the others span Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Vishwanath, Trimbakeshwar, Nageshwar, Rameshwaram, Baidyanath). Current structure rebuilt 1729 by queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in black-stone Maratha style on a 44,000 sq ft footprint. Open 5.30am-9.30pm; no entry fee; men remove shirts to enter the inner sanctum. Mahashivratri (Feb-Mar) + Shravan Mondays (Jul-Aug) bring 50,000+ pilgrims/day.

Nº 02
Khuldabad — Aurangzeb's tomb + Sufi shrine cluster
3KM · 15 MIN DRIVE FROM ELLORA CAVES TO KHULDABAD VILLAGE
A Sufi-pilgrimage village 3km from Ellora caves housing 24 dargahs of 14th-c Chishti and Suhrawardi Sufi saints (most prominently Khwaja Burhanuddin Gharib + Khwaja Zainuddin Shirazi) — plus the grave of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (d 1707), a 7ft x 5ft unmarked marble enclosure he insisted be paid for from his Quran-stitching income, not state funds. Adjacent: tomb of Asaf Jah I (Nizam-ul-Mulk, founder of Hyderabad Nizam dynasty, d 1748). Free entry to all shrines; Aurangzeb tomb is in the courtyard of Sheikh Zainuddin Shirazi's dargah. Allow 90 min.
★★★★★◦Khuldabad ("heavenly abode") is a small Sufi-pilgrimage village 3km from Ellora caves — most Ellora visitors heading back to Aurangabad pass through it without stopping. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is buried here in a deliberately austere unmarked-marble grave he prepaid by stitching Qurans; the surrounding 14th-c Sufi shrine cluster predates him by 300 years.
Nº 03
Pataleshwar Cave 21 + Cave 32 Indra Sabha (less-walked caves)
0KM · 20 MIN WALK INSIDE ELLORA COMPLEX FROM CAVE 16 PARKING
Two of Ellora's less-walked caves at opposite ends of the 2km cliff: Cave 21 (Rameshwara/Pataleshwar) is a 6th-c CE Saivite cave with river-goddess sculptures of Ganga + Yamuna at the entrance, Saptamatrikas inside, and a Shiva-Parvati panel that pre-dates similar work at Cave 29. Cave 32 (Indra Sabha) is the centerpiece Jain cave (9th-c CE Rashtrakuta) — a 2-storey rock-cut hall with a free-standing monolithic Mahavira shrine in the courtyard, lotus-throne carvings, and Tirthankara reliefs. Both included in the standard Ellora ticket (₹40 Indian / ₹600 foreign); allow 90 min total.
★★★★★◦Ellora has 34 numbered caves but 90% of visitors spend their time at Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple) — the Hindu Cave 21 (Pataleshwar) at the south end and the Jain Cave 32 (Indra Sabha) at the north end get a fraction of the visitor flow despite being among the complex's most intricate carvings.

OR INSTEAD · NEIGHBOURING READS

How Ellora Caves stacks against the closest alternatives.

Pali (Raigad)

100 m · EASY

Compare side-by-side →

Ranjangaon

580 m · EASY

Compare side-by-side →

Khandala

625 m · EASY

Compare side-by-side →

VII · THE COST · THE CROWDS · THE GROUND

एलोरा गुफाएँ की यात्रा का खर्च जोड़ेंदिन, यात्री, महीना और शैली के हिसाब से — मौसम-अनुसार अनुमान।

WHAT A DAY ACTUALLY COSTS

Day trip from Aurangabad (30km). Entry ₹40 (Indians), ₹600 (foreigners). Guide essential.

budget

₹440/ day

Stay₹0

Food₹200

Transport₹200

Activities₹40

midrange

₹1,440/ day

Stay₹0

Food₹400

Transport₹400

Activities₹640

luxury

₹3,040/ day

Stay₹0

Food₹600

Transport₹800

Activities₹1,640

WHAT CROWDS LOOK LIKE

JAN

PEAK

FEB

PEAK

MAR

MOD

APR

MOD

MAY

QUIET

JUN

QUIET

JUL

QUIET

AUG

QUIET

SEP

MOD

OCT

PEAK

NOV

PEAK

DEC

PEAK

CLOSED TUESDAYS. Weekends can be crowded. Start early morning to beat the heat.

INFRASTRUCTURE · ON THE GROUND

How This Place Actually Works

Day-to-day logistics — what locals know that maps don't show.

Taxis & local transport

Aurangabad-Ellora 30km ₹1500. Also via bus.

Check-in / check-out norms

MTDC Holiday Resort near Ellora. Most stay Aurangabad and day-trip.

Cash vs UPI

UPI at counter + MTDC.

ATMs (real-world reliability)

Ellora village limited. Aurangabad reliable.

Shop & restaurant hours

Caves 6am-6pm. Tuesday closed.

Language realities

Marathi + Hindi. English at tourism.

Internet backup plan

Jio + Airtel OK.

HOW TO REACH

AIRPORT

Aurangabad Airport (IXU) — 30km

RAIL

Aurangabad Railway Station — 30km

VIII · THE STAY · THE EAT

WHERE TO EAT · 5 VERIFIED PICKS

★ LEGENDARY

EST. 1995

Hotel Kailas Restaurant

Signature: महाराष्ट्रीयन माँसाहारी थाली और तंदूरी

Hotel Kailas का घर का रेस्तरां एलोरा गुफ़ाओं के प्रवेश द्वार के पैदल-दूरी पर एकमात्र मध्य-श्रेणी भोजन है (विकल्प हैं MTDC पार्किंग कैफ़े या परिसर के भीतर ASI कैंटीन)। बहु-व्यंजन, महाराष्ट्रीयन और चीनी; थाली और तंदूरी रोज़मर्रा के मानक हैं।

Tip: दोपहर 12-3 बजे औरंगाबाद से आए दिन-यात्रियों से भरता है; +91-2437-295811 पर पहले से बुक करें। बार दोपहर 12-3 बजे और शाम 7-10 बजे खुला है। सेवा शहर के रेस्तरां से धीमी है — बैठकर दोपहर के भोजन के लिए 90 मिनट रखें। कार्ड और UPI।

NH-211, OPPOSITE ELLORA CAVES ENTRANCE· ₹₹· KIDS OK

FIND IT ↗

CASUAL

EST. 1985

ASI Canteen Ellora

Signature: महाराष्ट्रीय नाश्ता और चाय

Ellora गुफ़ा परिसर के अंदर ASI द्वारा संचालित कैंटीन (Cave 16 के टिकट काउंटर के पास) — परिसर छोड़े बिना खाने का एकमात्र विकल्प। सामान्य महाराष्ट्रीय नाश्ता, चाय और बोतलबंद पानी मिलता है। Cave 1 (दक्षिण) से Cave 34 (उत्तर) तक के 4-6 घंटे के दर्शन के दौरान यह बहुत काम आता है।

Tip: वड़ा पाव और चाय ₹60 में मानक संयोजन है। बोतलबंद पानी ₹20; खाली बोतल साथ लाएँ तो दोबारा भरवा सकते हैं। नकद और UPI; कार्ड नहीं चलता। मंगलवार को बंद रहता है।

INSIDE ELLORA CAVES COMPLEX, NEAR CAVE 16 TICKET COUNTER· ₹· KIDS OK

FIND IT ↗

CASUAL

EST. 2012

Hotel Heritage Khuldabad

Signature: मुगलई बिरयानी + मराठवाड़ी थाली

Ellora से 3 किमी पर 14वीं सदी के सूफ़ी-दरगाह समूह के पास Khuldabad-गाँव की बहु-व्यंजनी रसोई — Ellora + सूफ़ी-तीर्थयात्री डिफ़ॉल्ट। मुगलई बिरयानी + मराठवाड़ी थाली। औरंगज़ेब का सादा मक़बरा 200 मीटर दूर है।

Tip: दोपहर 1-3 बजे सूफ़ी-तीर्थयात्री बस यातायात से भर जाता है; 12 बजे या 3 बजे के बाद आएँ। मटन कोरमा 25 मिनट लेता है — पहले ऑर्डर दें। नकद + UPI।

KHULDABAD VILLAGE, NEAR AURANGZEB'S DARGAH· ₹· KIDS OK

FIND IT ↗

MID RANGE

EST. 1980

MTDC Ellora Restaurant

Signature: महाराष्ट्रीयन थाली और चिकन बिरयानी

MTDC Ellora-Aurangabad का अपना रेस्तरां गुफाओं के सामने सरकारी दर पर मध्यम-दर्जे का भोजन विकल्प है — बाहर के यात्री दोपहर 12-3 बजे और शाम 7-10 बजे वॉक-इन कर सकते हैं। शाकाहारी और माँसाहारी थाली, तंदूर और महाराष्ट्रीयन मुख्य व्यंजन।

Tip: गुफाओं से पहले सुबह 8-10 बजे नाश्ता सबसे बुद्धिमानी का ऑर्डर है — मुख्य रसोई दोपहर 12 बजे खुलती है। कार्ड और UPI। मंगलवार को बंद (Ellora गुफाएँ बंद दिवस)।

MTDC ELLORA-AURANGABAD, NH-211· ₹₹· KIDS OK

FIND IT ↗

CASUAL

EST. 2005

Verul Village Dhaba (Grishneshwar)

Signature: मराठवाड़ी असीमित शाकाहारी थाली

Verul गाँव (शिवाजी के पूर्वजों का, Ellora गुफाओं से 1.5 किमी) में Grishneshwar मंदिर रोड पर छोटे शुद्ध शाकाहारी ढाबों का समूह है जो ₹120 में मराठवाड़ी शैली की असीमित थाली परोसता है — Jyotirlinga दर्शन के बाद का पारंपरिक दोपहर का भोजन। भाकरी-पिठला-दाल-चावल + 2 सब्ज़ियाँ, दुबारा परोसने के साथ। बिना साज-सज्जा टिन-प्लेट बैठक।

Tip: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga यात्रा के साथ जोड़ना सबसे अच्छा; ढाबों का समूह मंदिर द्वार से 200 मीटर पहले है। केवल नकद; UPI कभी-कभी काम करता है। सुबह से शाम तक खुला।

VERUL VILLAGE, GRISHNESHWAR TEMPLE ROAD· ₹· KIDS OK

FIND IT ↗

WHERE TO SLEEP · EDITOR'S PICKS

location · ₹₹

MTDC Ellora Resort

budget

गुफा प्रवेश द्वार पर महाराष्ट्र पर्यटन की छोटी Ellora संपत्ति — बुनियादी AC कॉटेज, परिसर में रेस्तरां, और Hotel Kailas का किफ़ायती विकल्प।

value · ₹₹

Hotel Kailas

comfort

Kailasa Temple गुफा प्रवेश द्वार के सामने स्थित वरिष्ठ बजट-मध्यम होटल — 30 कॉटेज-शैली के कमरे, बहु-व्यंजन रेस्तरां। गुफाओं से पैदल दूरी पर एकमात्र आवास।

experience · ₹₹₹

Vivanta Aurangabad (Ellora base)

luxury

औरंगाबाद में स्थित 4-स्टार होटल, Ellora के आधार के रूप में — Cave 16 Kailasa Temple तक 30 किमी / 45 मिनट की दूरी। Ajanta-Ellora-Daulatabad त्रिकोण में Taj-IHCL सेवा स्तर वाली एकमात्र संपत्ति।

BOOK A STAY · CURATED PROPERTIES

ठहरने की बुकिंग के लिए तैयार हैं?

हम बुकिंग से पहले आते हैं, उसके साथ नहीं — नीचे दिए प्लेटफ़ॉर्म पर दाम की तुलना करें।

प्रायोजित नहीं

MakeMyTrip →Booking.com →Tripadvisor →Agoda →

टूर और अनुभव

ट्रेक, सफ़ारी और डे-टूर — नीचे दिए प्लेटफ़ॉर्म पर तुलना करें।

Viator →GetYourGuide →

किसी भी जगह, ठहरने या ऑपरेटर को दिखाने के लिए हम पैसे नहीं लेते। यहाँ दिए किसी लिंक से बुकिंग करने पर हमें थोड़ा कमीशन मिल सकता है, आप पर कोई अतिरिक्त खर्च नहीं। इससे हमारे स्कोर या सुझावों पर कभी असर नहीं पड़ता। संपादकीय नीति

FESTIVALS · BY THE MONTH

Ellora-Ajanta Festival

JANUARY

An annual cultural festival at the UNESCO World Heritage Ellora Caves site celebrating Indian classical art, music, and dance. Features Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, and Kuchipudi performances, along with Hindustani and Carnatic music concerts against the backdrop of the ancient rock-cut monuments.

X · THE ITINERARY · DAY BY DAY

On the Ground

How to spend your time here, block by block.

Ellora day

Morning

Ellora Caves (UNESCO 1983, ₹40 Indian / ₹600 foreign). 34 caves — Buddhist (1-12), Hindu (13-29, Kailasa Cave 16 masterpiece), Jain (30-34).

Midday

Lunch at MTDC or Ellora village eateries.

Afternoon

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) extended visit — single rock carved downward, 200,000 tonnes rock removed.

Evening

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (2km from caves, 12th/14th-c).

If weather turns

Caves are covered + all-weather. Summer extreme — plan early morning.

For travelers like you

Tap any traveler type below to see how this place feels for them.

GO — kids fascinated by rock-cut Kailasa.

Best For

Who we'd send here — and why.

Best for

UNESCO 3-religion co-existence

Inscribed 1983 — 34 caves showing Buddhist-Hindu-Jain co-existence 600-1000 CE; unique in world

Best for

Kailasa Temple

World largest monolithic rock excavation — carved top-down from single rock, 200,000 tonnes removed

Best for

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga

2km from caves — one of 12 Jyotirlingas; combined heritage + pilgrimage day

Best for

Deccan cave architecture

Shows evolution of Indian rock-cut architecture from simple viharas to elaborate temples

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Planning your first time in India.

Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.

XI · THE CODA

FEATURED IN COLLECTIONS

Caves of India — Rock-Cut Heritage

Six of India's greatest rock-cut cave complexes — from the painted Buddhist viharas of Ajanta to the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka — covering 2,200 years of carved-stone history.

12 Jyotirlingas — The Complete Shiva Pilgrimage

The 12 self-manifested 'Pillar of Light' Shiva temples spread across nine states, from Somnath on the Arabian Sea to Rameshwaram at the southern tip — a cross-India spiritual circuit at the heart of Hindu pilgrimage.

UNESCO World Heritage — South & West India

From the ruins of Vijayanagara to the caves of Ajanta. South and West India's UNESCO sites span 2,000 years of art, faith, and empire.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India

India has 42 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are the ones NakshIQ covers — from Himalayan railways to Deccan cave temples.

ROAD TRIPS THROUGH HERE

Aurangabad Heritage Circuit

3 DAYS · EASY

— The NakshIQ editors

ISSUE Nº 48 · REVIEWED APR 2026

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What travellers say.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

ASK A QUESTION

Places to Visit in एलोरा गुफाएँ

🗿

Vishvakarma Cave (Cave 10)

🕐 60 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Indra Sabha (Cave 32)

🕐 75 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Rameshvara Cave (Cave 21)

🕐 60 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🗿

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

🕐 90 min🎫 ₹600👶 Kid-friendly

🛕

Grishneshwar Temple

भारत के 12 प्रसिद्ध ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिरों में से एक, शिव को समर्पित।

🕐 45 min🎫 Free👶 Kid-friendly

What travellers say.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE

ASK A QUESTION

Ellora Caves.

Emergency SOS

Places to Visit in एलोरा गुफाएँ

Vishvakarma Cave (Cave 10)

Indra Sabha (Cave 32)

Rameshvara Cave (Cave 21)

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

Grishneshwar Temple

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (12th in the 12-Jyotirlinga list). ↗

Khuldabad — Aurangzeb's tomb + Sufi shrine cluster→

Pataleshwar Cave 21 + Cave 32 Indra Sabha (less-walked caves)→

How This Place Actually Works

Taxis & local transport

Check-in / check-out norms

Cash vs UPI

ATMs (real-world reliability)

Shop & restaurant hours

Language realities

Internet backup plan

Hotel Kailas Restaurant

ASI Canteen Ellora

Hotel Heritage Khuldabad

MTDC Ellora Restaurant

Verul Village Dhaba (Grishneshwar)

MTDC Ellora Resort

Hotel Kailas

Vivanta Aurangabad (Ellora base)

ठहरने की बुकिंग के लिए तैयार हैं?

टूर और अनुभव

Ellora-Ajanta Festival

On the Ground

Ellora day

For travelers like you

Best For

Eight more rooms in the magazine.

Visa, scams, food, packing.

Field notes from the road.

Curated multi-day routes.

Themed reading lists.

The 100 best destination-months.

Our weekly newsletter, archived.

What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.

Planning your first time in India.

Caves of India — Rock-Cut Heritage

12 Jyotirlingas — The Complete Shiva Pilgrimage

UNESCO World Heritage — South & West India

UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India

Aurangabad Heritage Circuit

What travellers say.

Share your experience

Ask a question

Ellora Caves.

Ellora Caves.

Emergency SOS

Places to Visit in एलोरा गुफाएँ

Vishvakarma Cave (Cave 10)

Indra Sabha (Cave 32)

Rameshvara Cave (Cave 21)

Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

Grishneshwar Temple

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (12th in the 12-Jyotirlinga list). ↗

Khuldabad — Aurangzeb's tomb + Sufi shrine cluster→

Pataleshwar Cave 21 + Cave 32 Indra Sabha (less-walked caves)→

How This Place Actually Works

Taxis & local transport

Check-in / check-out norms

Cash vs UPI

ATMs (real-world reliability)

Shop & restaurant hours

Language realities

Internet backup plan

Hotel Kailas Restaurant

ASI Canteen Ellora

Hotel Heritage Khuldabad

MTDC Ellora Restaurant

Verul Village Dhaba (Grishneshwar)

MTDC Ellora Resort

Hotel Kailas

Vivanta Aurangabad (Ellora base)

ठहरने की बुकिंग के लिए तैयार हैं?

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (12th in the 12-Jyotirlinga list).

Khuldabad — Aurangzeb's tomb + Sufi shrine cluster

Pataleshwar Cave 21 + Cave 32 Indra Sabha (less-walked caves)

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (12th in the 12-Jyotirlinga list).

Khuldabad — Aurangzeb's tomb + Sufi shrine cluster

Pataleshwar Cave 21 + Cave 32 Indra Sabha (less-walked caves)