Varanasi to Mumbai with lots of heritage stops

Pilotmonkey

Hi

Can anyone offer advice on the following itinery:

Varanasi -> Khajuraho (Flight)
Khajuraho -> Orchha (Car)
Orchha -> Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves (Train)
Ellora Caves -> Mumbai (Train)

The part that mosts concerns me is the caves. Is it possible to get a train from Orchha (Jhansi) down to near the Ajanta caves. When I arrive (am) get a driver to take me to the Ajanta caves. Visit the caves and get the driver to take me onto the Ellora Caves (pm) and then take me onto to a town where I can either stay to go to Ellora caves a second day or hop on a train south to Mumbai?

I am thinking this stage will take two days, one for each of the caves. Is this realistic or is it going to be too much? What if I missed out Orchha, would this be any easier? I wanted to leave Varanasi on 19th December and arrive Mumbai on the 24/25th.

I am open to any suggestions on how to fill the six days and how to travel from Varanasi to Mumbai.

Thanks in Advance

Andrew

70s-80s overlander

You might want to consider spending the night at the hotel that is across the road from the Ellora Caves, Kailas Hotel [www.hotelkailas.com ] [was Rs 1500 as of JUL-05].

I have NOT stayed there yet, but let me tell you a funny story. I was driving myself crazy trying to sort out, from the maze of disagreeing references, which days the Ajanta caves were open and which days the Ellora caves were open, so, late one night, I had the inspiration to e-mail the above noted hotel and to ask the desk clerk. Early the next morning I ran to check my e-mail, and, sure enough, the answer was waiting for me:

From: sunil shah <kailasinn@sancharnet.in>

Dear Dr. Powell:

Ellora is closed on Tuesday while Ajanta is closed on Monday.

When you decide about the arrival date, please let us know as it will be a pleasure to have some one returning to Ellora after 25 years. Please feel free to e-mail us if there are any other questions.

We will arrange for a taxi on the day of your arrival at the station and later to Ajanta and drop at Jalgaon.

Our location looks prettier than seen in the web site !!

Thanking you,

Sunil Shah

*****
So, I can't vouch for the hotel itself, but the desk clerk certainly seems both efficient and friendly.