Best way to see Ellora-Ajanta from Delhi

lawgirl

Fly? Are there any nice trains going that way? Stay in Aurangabad and make day trips? I would really like to see the caves as I keep hearing that they are amazing.

Budget: would like to do as cheaply as possible, but not backpacker style. A step or two under anything that'd be described as luxurious. I would expect my hotel to have a Western toliet, but not to be the Oberoi, etc.

Sadanand Kamath

You can catch Amritsar-Nanded Express from New Delhi:

Train No.2716 leaves New Delhi @13.30 hrs
reaches Aurangabad @11.30 hrs (next day)

Sadanand

steven_ber

Indian Airlines flight IC 887 departs Delhi daily at 1300 and gets to Aurangebad at 1640 (via Mumbai, same plane)

The return flight may be more of a timesaver....

IC 888 - Aurangabad 1720 Delhi 2055


Air Deccan and Jet Airways also fly Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Aurangebad, but seperate flights.

Just check Air Deccan and found......

DN-603 Delhi 12:45 Mumbai 14:40
DN-339 Mumbai 16:45 Aurangabad 17:45

Coming back.....

DN-340 Aurangabad 18:00 Mumbai 19:05
DN-665 Mumbai 21:10 Delhi 23:10


Train........

As suggested by Sadanand, the direct train to/from Aurangabad would probibly be the easiest train option, allowing you to leave your bags in the hotel and base yourself in Aurangabad.

Train 2716 departs New Delhi daily at 13:30 and gets to Aurangabad at 11:30
Train 2715 departs Aurangabad daily at 13:45 and gets to New Delhi at 12:05

2-tier air con = Rs 1587
3-tier air con = Rs 1140
Sleeper Class = Rs 425 (not air con)


The following trains should also be considered, get a bus or a taxi to Ajanta Caves from Jalgaon or Bhusaval.

Train 2780 Nizamuddin (Delhi) 15:00 Bhusaval 07:25
Train 2628 New Delhi 21:15 Jalgaon 13:33


Train 2779 Bhusaval 12:55 Nizamuddin 06:30
Train 2627 Jalgaon 17:05 New Delhi 10:35
Train 2617 Bhusaval 20:25 Nizamuddin 13:20

All trains run daily and have the following classes.

2-tier air con = Rs 1396
3-tier air con = Rs 1005
Sleeper Class = Rs 377 (not air con)

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Train information.

himadventures

I think TRAIN and that too SACHKHAN EXP [ AMRITSAR-NANDER ] is best. You need to stay for 2 nights minimum in AURANGABAD as both places requires ONE DAY to have a full feel.
Do take a guide as without him/her...one can not know much and it is worth spending some bucks.
Keep water bottle with you- it is tough to leave your tour mid-way and walk all back for water to main road in ELLORA.

Do not forget to see DAULTABAD FORT which is just few kms. from AURANGABAD. This will be worth the effort..perhaps one of the fort of INDIA which could not be won by muscle power..even AKBAR THE GREAT tried for 6 months but failed.

lucseurin

The more convenient is to stay in Aurangabad. Day trips are easy by bus, and one day is enough for each group of caves. Old city in Aurangabad is worth a visit.

steven_ber

Threads like this are a great reminder, be careful about putting more effort into a reply than the person put into asking the question, the original poster hasn't logged in since asking the questions.

Or more likely, didn't feel the need to log in after reading the replies.

The real world is so damn selfish at times.

uligaen

Cheer up, Steven!

I guess you know that the IM people highly appreciate your service.

some say: you know, this is India, there's no sorry and no thank you.

THANK YOU, STEVEN!

you feel better now?

aadil

Steven: I don't think we should look towards the gains but keep on doing what we feel like doing best and that is replying to the posts no matter what the original poster does and don't worry about the final outcome as long as what you have done is right and helpful to the community at large. So cheer up Steven and don't worry about what people say or do as has been happening with you lately in some of the posts.

Cheers,
Aadil.

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Your goal, the sky,
Your aim, the stars!!!

pranavganesh

Hey dont worry....

even if the IMer never returns to find about the replies....so what...the reply adds on to the database of information in the forum...

By the way, when I did the two places.....I alighted at Jalgaon.... took a taxi to Ajanta and then the same taxi went to Ellora...

I alighted by some train (I dont remember its name now) in the early morning.....that way it is indeed possible to do both places in one day....with leisure...Incidently Jalgaonis much better connected to most of the north Indian cities than Aurangabad

The problem however is that Aurangabad has many other hidden jewels...Panchakki, Aurangabad caves, Rouza, Ghrishneshwar, Biwi ka Maqbara and all
And then of course the Daulatabad Fort.....read a lot about it before you go....then the real wonder of the fort dawns upon you...

Nearby there are so many places....Nanded, Parli, Oundha, you can also go to Lonay from here....

Aurangabad is worth a week to explore in entirity......sont forget to buy a special shawl from there....very good and very cheap

jenk

As far as Steve's point, it seems as though the responses are helpful to the community and improve the info trove on the site even if the OP has not resurfaced to hear them.

I looked into visiting this area at one point last year - it seemed to me that Ajanta is quite close to Jalgaon/Bhusaval whereas its quite a long day trip from Aurangabad. Also, and the train from the north to Aurangabad has sort of a roundabout route. To me it made sense to travel from Delhi to Jalgaon, then visit Ajanta en route to Aurangabad - then make a day trip out to the Ellora caves from there. Or vice versa - starting from Aurangabad, and ending up in Jalgaon for the onward journey up north.

Of course, where the traveler is going before and after that makes a difference too ...

Alohaguy

Steven, These replies to an old post might be of use to others.
By the way Steven, you are the subject of conversation at our dinner table many times. We do value your contribution!
Thanks

steven_ber

Sorry, I was just having my weekly moan, you should just ignore me.

himadventures

I go with alohaguy...I too reply sometimes to old posts just having this view in mind that it may help someone or I may gain some info, if I am lacking on it.

In this case- steve gave detailed information about air travel and I am sure poster might have read that and if not someone else will get use of it.

I think- we should be thankful to those who are spending time and money to share !

wonderwomanusa

Ah, but others among us, such as mygoodself, who hasn't been to Aurangabad in 30-some years, will find such details very helpful, so they have not been wasted!

burbujasdeamor

*I* appreciate you!!! Really
I'm planning to visit Ajanta & Ellora after Agra, and really appreciate the tip from experienced travellers. Now, I know I should alight at Jalgaon and work my way down to Ajanta and Aurangabad. You guys rock! Don't know what this newbie would do without all your accumulated knowledge.

Cheers!