Ajanta accomodations?

hfot2

We would like to spend 2 days at Ajanta.

Is there any place to stay there or very near there that isn't positively foul?

We've read about a resthouse run by the forest department, also about MTDC Travellers' Lodges at Ajanta and Fadapur. Is any of these a reasonable option, or are we limited to Aurangabad?

cyberhippie

I can't really help you with the details of hotels near to the caves but I would like to add that Aurangabad is very pleasant, as Indian cities go and has a good choice for all budgets The caves are just a short taxi ride away as is the Fort at Dahaltobad. It also has some attractions of it's own which are worth a look, the mini Taj and the pannichakki.

EDIT
Sorry the OP was asking about the Ajanta caves which are a great deal further away from Aurangabad!
I was mixing them up with the Ellora caves which are nearbye

dajuad

We were at Ajanta two Christmas's ago. As I remember it was between two and three hours from Aurangabad by Taxi (99 km as the crow flies). However,. There were buses which made the trip daily for tourists. You would have to return with the buses but it might be much safer. I don't remember it being near anything. Ajanta is in a ravine at a point where the high ground from Aurangabad descends to a much lower area. I would strongly suggest that in general, you not be on the road after sunset.

Depending on your degree of academic/artistic interest two days is a lot. You should bring very bright flashlights. Nothing is lit up and the really interesting stuff is very dim and difficult to get close to.
Dave Corwin

laneelee

Which caves are your favorite out of the three?
You say a day is enough for the cave expedition?

em2

I found a full day at Ajanta was pretty good. I spent the night before in Jalgoan. Took an early morning bus to the caves at Ajanta then a bus from there to Aurangabad in the late afternoon.There is a place to check your bags while you explore. Ellora is an easy day trip from Aurangabad. I had planned on staying at Ajanta but most people recommended not to. I think I liked Ajanta best but both are pretty impressive!

laneelee

thanks for your insight!

dajuad

Some of the caves are very interesting and some are sort of incomplete or totally effaced/destroyed. Ajanta is mostly interesting for the frescos and the tiles. It is primarily Buddhist and shows the progression of Buddhist Art and the religion's attempt to compete with Hinduism . Unfortunately most of the frescos are extremely abraded or illegible. They are not true frescos being painted on top of dry plaster and not imbedded in wet plaster so the colors haven't survived very well and the underlying plaster has sometimes disintegrated. You can see them better in books and postcards. I would definitely get a book on Indian art which describes the caves before you go.

I was reading about this last night since you reminded me of this. Apparently there is some question as to how they were done in the first place because of the problem of getting light into the caves. The author thought that some of the frescos were not even meant to be seen clearly.

I don't think it is worth more than a day unless you are a specialist. Less than a day is not really feasible because of location.

Dave Corwin

hfot2

Why not stay there?

Who told you not to?

em2

Other travellers and the manager of my hotel in Jalgoan. I was told that lodging in the area was not a good deal for the money and that I was better of staying in Aurangabad. As I didn't stay in the area I can't say for sure but I had no regrets about one day at Ajanta and I did enjoy exploring Aurangabad. There is only so much I can handle of "sites" myself so it really
depends what you are interested in. An advantage to spending the night close by would be to get there early before the crowds and heat. Though an early bus from Jalgoan will get you there when it opens anyway.