Ellora/ Ajanta, can be done in just one day

cazaresil · Nov 8th, 2004, 22:46

Hi, I'm so glad I found this forum. Can anyone tell me whether Ellora and Ajanta can be done in just one day? I've heard that it's possible if I depart early in the morning to Ajanta. Another question, there is conflicting information about when the caves close, especially regarding Ellora (does it close on Monday or Tuesday?). One of the government sites say Monday, but most of the web sites I found say Tuesday. Does someone know for sure? Oh... if I stay 2 days in the caves, what other attractions I can find around?

Thx a lot!

Merchant · Nov 8th, 2004, 22:57

You can do one or the other in one day--but not both (they're too far apart). No real need to spend more than a day (or an afternoon) on each.

If you stay in Aurangabad, you can also see the Daulatabad Fort on the way to Ellora. It's an enormous compound (an old walled city), with a fortified summit to which you can climb. It's a great hike. You can spend half a day in Ellora and the other half here.

There's also plenty to do in Aurangabad--old markets, the "mini Taj," mosques, etc.

sudheer poppa · Nov 9th, 2004, 07:29

This question popped up in the recent past, please search the forum for a similar query.

For the closure question - Ajantha closed on Mondays and Ellora Closed on Tuesdays. So if you want to do both, you will have to do it on other 5 days of the week. And you have to start the day at Ajantha, see the place and move to ellora.

OR Start the day at aurangabad, see ellora and then head to Ajantha - to save on travel time.

iyou · Nov 9th, 2004, 08:33

In Aurangabad there's a hindu temple in the middle of a road (traffic flows around it on both sides) that's well worth a visit. It's in the center of town. Just ask for the supari hanuman temple. Supposedly the hanuman (monkey god) icon has a supari (betel) nut in the center, covered over 500 or so years with layer after layer of paint. I don't know if I believe it, but it's a nice story. Mirrored swastikas adorn the interior, a nice touch.

sudheer poppa · Nov 9th, 2004, 09:18

And my post in no way recommended doing both in the same day. I think both the caves deserve a full day's attention - Only personal opinion.

And of the two towns in proximity, as mentioned by most of the the other members, I suggest staying in Aurangabad as there is a good deal of sites that you can visit. Infact you can take and autorickshaw for (3 pax) about 300-350 for going to all the worthwhile places (including ellora) near aurangabad.

ace · Nov 10th, 2004, 08:19

ok . . . so if you had to pick one, which would you choose?

bijapuri · Nov 10th, 2004, 10:57

if I had to pick one, I would pick one of whatever is blocking me from seeing two of the wortld's most beautiful sites, and cancel THAT! C'mon, you're in India, not epcot center, K???

ace · Nov 11th, 2004, 06:12

i know . . . problem is always the same -- too much to see, too little time.
if we want to do both ajanta and ellora, we may not have time for jaisalmer, or whatever else. compromise is unfortunately the name of the game for many of us who do not have much time, but want to cover as much ground as possible!

nomadelmundo · Nov 11th, 2004, 06:56

Hey,
I haven't been there yet, but know what you mean... (1) I think it can be done in a hurry if you are there on the days they are both open (2) if you plan to arrive back in aurangabad in the afternoon to catch a plane or train you are looking at 4-5pm, later if for a train, which means you have to arrive in aurangabad the night previous, take a bus to ajanta, stay at a hotel close to ajanta, wait until it opens at 8am and see it in < 2 hours, head back to aurangabad (in 3-4 hours) which you are already now in the 2pm range and head to Ellora (30min) and see it in 1 hour and then head back by 4pm to catch flight or train. I posted a similar concern awhile back and decided to devote 2 days there... check this out: help needed in Aurangabad to Ajanta-Ellora

buenas suerte!
will

cazaresil · Nov 13th, 2004, 06:05

Thank you all. I've made my mind: 2 days. This is a part of my 4 weeks trip that is way off the road, but I'm going to do it anyway.

Nov 8th, 2004, 22:46	#1
cazaresil Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 30	Ellora/ Ajanta, can be done in just one day Hi, I'm so glad I found this forum. Can anyone tell me whether Ellora and Ajanta can be done in just one day? I've heard that it's possible if I depart early in the morning to Ajanta. Another question, there is conflicting information about when the caves close, especially regarding Ellora (does it close on Monday or Tuesday?). One of the government sites say Monday, but most of the web sites I found say Tuesday. Does someone know for sure? Oh... if I stay 2 days in the caves, what other attractions I can find around? Thx a lot!

Nov 9th, 2004, 07:29	#3
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	This question popped up in the recent past, please search the forum for a similar query. For the closure question - Ajantha closed on Mondays and Ellora Closed on Tuesdays. So if you want to do both, you will have to do it on other 5 days of the week. And you have to start the day at Ajantha, see the place and move to ellora. OR Start the day at aurangabad, see ellora and then head to Ajantha - to save on travel time. __________________ We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools - MLK Pic Page 1 Pic Page 2 When my life changed over a week

Nov 9th, 2004, 08:33	#4
iyou Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 502	In Aurangabad there's a hindu temple in the middle of a road (traffic flows around it on both sides) that's well worth a visit. It's in the center of town. Just ask for the supari hanuman temple. Supposedly the hanuman (monkey god) icon has a supari (betel) nut in the center, covered over 500 or so years with layer after layer of paint. I don't know if I believe it, but it's a nice story. Mirrored swastikas adorn the interior, a nice touch. __________________ . . . --May a moody baby doom a yam.

Nov 10th, 2004, 10:57	#7
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,601	if I had to pick one, I would pick one of whatever is blocking me from seeing two of the wortld's most beautiful sites, and cancel THAT! C'mon, you're in India, not epcot center, K??? __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Nov 11th, 2004, 06:56	#9
nomadelmundo a.k.a Sanyasin - the Wandering Aesthetic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 149	I know how you feel Hey, I haven't been there yet, but know what you mean... (1) I think it can be done in a hurry if you are there on the days they are both open (2) if you plan to arrive back in aurangabad in the afternoon to catch a plane or train you are looking at 4-5pm, later if for a train, which means you have to arrive in aurangabad the night previous, take a bus to ajanta, stay at a hotel close to ajanta, wait until it opens at 8am and see it in < 2 hours, head back to aurangabad (in 3-4 hours) which you are already now in the 2pm range and head to Ellora (30min) and see it in 1 hour and then head back by 4pm to catch flight or train. I posted a similar concern awhile back and decided to devote 2 days there... check this out: help needed in Aurangabad to Ajanta-Ellora buenas suerte! will __________________ Visit my forum for backpackers, trekkers & hikers where you can share stories, discuss trails, and upload unlimited amount of travel photos for FREE... @ PlanetNomads.com

Nov 8th, 2004, 22:57	#2
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,079	You can do one or the other in one day--but not both (they're too far apart). No real need to spend more than a day (or an afternoon) on each. If you stay in Aurangabad, you can also see the Daulatabad Fort on the way to Ellora. It's an enormous compound (an old walled city), with a fortified summit to which you can climb. It's a great hike. You can spend half a day in Ellora and the other half here. There's also plenty to do in Aurangabad--old markets, the "mini Taj," mosques, etc.

Nov 9th, 2004, 09:18	#5
sudheer poppa Senior brick in the wall Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Pole Posts: 1,475	And my post in no way recommended doing both in the same day. I think both the caves deserve a full day's attention - Only personal opinion. And of the two towns in proximity, as mentioned by most of the the other members, I suggest staying in Aurangabad as there is a good deal of sites that you can visit. Infact you can take and autorickshaw for (3 pax) about 300-350 for going to all the worthwhile places (including ellora) near aurangabad.

Nov 10th, 2004, 08:19	#6
ace Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 120	ok . . . so if you had to pick one, which would you choose?

Nov 11th, 2004, 06:12	#8
ace Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 120	i know . . . problem is always the same -- too much to see, too little time. if we want to do both ajanta and ellora, we may not have time for jaisalmer, or whatever else. compromise is unfortunately the name of the game for many of us who do not have much time, but want to cover as much ground as possible!

Nov 13th, 2004, 06:05	#10
cazaresil Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 30	Thank you Thank you all. I've made my mind: 2 days. This is a part of my 4 weeks trip that is way off the road, but I'm going to do it anyway.

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