Visit to Aurangabad - Ajanta Ellora

hetapeta · May 8th, 2009, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by dillichaat

If I recall correctly the cost per excursion was about 300-330 rupees. The bus didn't have a working a/c system but that was compensated for by driving with an open door

They have 2 buses I believe so your mileage may vary.

Edited to add: price excludes the admission fee for the monuments of course.

I took both tours and found them good value for money, especially the ellora/daulatabad...one. A lot depends on the guide of course. Be sure to take a hat (sun) and use sunscreen. During one of the tours the bus made a stop to show 'traditional himroo weaving' which was obviously meant to generate healthy commissions for the guide and driver but there's no pressure to buy.

The Ajanta visit was nice but personally I preferred Ellora. One drawback of the tours is that you arrive at both sites when it's peak visiting time and especially at Ajanta, that means huge crowds.

If you're in Aurangabad and have time to burn, charter a cab and visit Lonar, the site of a meteorite impact. It's a 3.5-hours drive one-way and costs about 1600 but I found it worth it. When at Lonar, check out the MTDC hotel...I felt like I walked into a Stephen King novel.

Thanks dillichaat. I was reading up about Lonar.. However, I think it would work better for us to hire a car as it is a family trip (5 adults + 1 child). Is it possible to do a self drive to Ajanta-Ellora, or is a driver a must?

gaurav1441 · May 8th, 2009, 16:24

If you have an Indian or International License then you can surely drive here. There is no other restriction apart from a valid License.

You may also consider going straight to Ajanata from Mumbai by road you can stay there at MTDC and go next day to Ellora and back in the evening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hetapeta

Thanks dillichaat. I was reading up about Lonar.. However, I think it would work better for us to hire a car as it is a family trip (5 adults + 1 child). Is it possible to do a self drive to Ajanta-Ellora, or is a driver a must?

delhiwala · May 8th, 2009, 16:55

It's better to take a driver. And if you plan to stay, then don't stay at MTDC, Ajanta, it's dark and lonely after the tourist buses leave.... you can stay at Jalgaon or may move upto Aurangabad, a more lively city. From here you may visit Ellora, Daulatabad and Khuldabad.

Aurangzeb is considered to be a very cruel king and it was a very different kind of feeling standing at his simple mausoleum which is nothing but a simple grave in an enclosure.......

If you want to give paan (betel leaves) a try, Aurangabad is the place. Here Tara Paan at Usmanpura is a hugely famous shop....

Quote:

Originally Posted by hetapeta

.... I think it would work better for us to hire a car as it is a family trip (5 adults + 1 child). Is it possible to do a self drive to Ajanta-Ellora, or is a driver a must?

hetapeta · May 8th, 2009, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by delhiwala

It's better to take a driver. And if you plan to stay, then don't stay at MTDC, Ajanta, it's dark and lonely after the tourist buses leave.... you can stay at Jalgaon or may move upto Aurangabad, a more lively city. From here you may visit Ellora, Daulatabad and Khuldabad.

Aurangzeb is considered to be a very cruel king and it was a very different kind of feeling standing at his simple mausoleum which is nothing but a simple grave in an enclosure.......

If you want to give paan (betel leaves) a try, Aurangabad is the place. Here Tara Paan at Usmanpura is a hugely famous shop....

We are staying at the Taj Residency Aurangabad for both nights. I am not too sure on how to do the itinerary. We arrive in Aurangabad on 29th May by the afternoon train from Mumbai and depart for Mumbai by a late night train on 31st.

I think I should be able to do Ellora + Daulatabad the very same day we arrive, Ajanta the next day and maybe Aurangabad local sightseeing the third day after we check out.

Will this become hectic?

dillichaat · May 8th, 2009, 17:29

hetapeta; well, you certainly won't pine away in discomfort at the Taj ;-) If you arrive in the afternoon on the 29 th I think it won't be possible to visit Ellora and Daulatabad. Even just visiting one would probably be stretching it I think (depending on your time of arrival). By the time you checked into the hotel, arranged a car + driver...think about it.

If I were you I'd plan the logistics the 29th, relax and then do both trips on 30 and 31. For the car I'd always recommend hiring one with a driver. If you want to self-drive it's possible provided you have a map and can read the devanagari roadsigns (outside the city there's no transliteration). But again, I advise against it, I'd rather rent 2 cars than self-drive 1.

nayan · May 8th, 2009, 17:32

I agree with dillichat.
rest on 29th with some local sightseeing.
on 30th and 31st do ellora(+daulatabad) and ajanta.

A toyota Innova will take 6+driver easily.

hetapeta · May 8th, 2009, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by dillichaat

hetapeta; well, you certainly won't pine away in discomfort at the Taj ;-) If you arrive in the afternoon on the 29 th I think it won't be possible to visit Ellora and Daulatabad. Even just visiting one would probably be stretching it I think (depending on your time of arrival). By the time you checked into the hotel, arranged a car + driver...think about it.

If I were you I'd plan the logistics the 29th, relax and then do both trips on 30 and 31. For the car I'd always recommend hiring one with a driver. If you want to self-drive it's possible provided you have a map and can read the devanagari roadsigns (outside the city there's no transliteration). But again, I advise against it, I'd rather rent 2 cars than self-drive 1.

Am thining on similar lines. Might do some local sightseeing on 29th though. I also want to take maximum advantage of the Taj hospitality and spend time indoors with my daughter and family, so this seems ideal

Just one more question: we check out of the hotel on 31st at 6:00 pm and the train is not until 11:30 pm. Anything we can do to utilise this time fruitfully?

Many thanks!

dillichaat · May 8th, 2009, 18:03

Ahem...don't know if I can help you there because the ONLY reason I stayed at Aurangabad was because it's conveniently located and I found a good hotel there with a fabulous pool. Aurangabad's charms I found to be...discreet let's say. Perhaps others have useful tips, the best I can come up with is paying a supplement to use your room and the hotel pool until 10 pm or book an earlier train/flight to Mumbai. Aurangabad itself underwhelmed me a bit, dusty streets, crushing heat and load of touts eager to separate you from your money and take you to 'aurangabad silk' (synthetic) shops.

jaron · May 14th, 2009, 13:58

May i know if any1 knows the admission fees to ajanta caves and ellora caves. There have been conflicting fees on the net and guidebooks like 'rough guide' and 'lonely planet'. Thx

delhiwala · May 14th, 2009, 14:09

Entrance Fee for Ajanta and Ellora is as follows:

Indians, and visitors from Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan - Rs. 10 per head.

Others: US $ 5 or Indian Rs. 250/- per head

Children of any nationality up to 15 years get free entry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaron

May i know if any1 knows the admission fees to ajanta caves and ellora caves. There have been conflicting fees on the net and guidebooks like 'rough guide' and 'lonely planet'. Thx

dillichaat · May 14th, 2009, 14:12

The fees depend on whether you're a tourist or a resident in India. If tourist, I believe the entrance fee for both was 250 Rs. and a small service charge was levied, 7 Rs of course. Not 100 pct sure b/c I paid the local rate.

For residents (=anyone who can show proof of residence in India, regardless of whether they're foreigners or native Indians) I think it was 10 Rs, plus the service charge.

rsk11584 · May 15th, 2009, 11:38

mmmm nice thread about my city,, im living here since childhood, and might be we might shift to chennai soon ,, so gotta leave this city in another 3-4 months , well if u read my posts u will get all information about aurangabad,,, and yesterday only it rained,, unseasonal rains,, making the climate little cooler,

and if ur indian dont worry about entrance fees to ajanta ellora its just 10 rs ,, and even if ur NRI and look like indian u can easily buy for 10 rs,,

rsk11584 · May 15th, 2009, 11:40

for ellora we have sent our friends at around 3 pm in afternoon and they have easily completed ellora, grishneshwar temple till evening,,, daulatabad u can just view from outside, if u go inside it will take lot of time n if u have elders they cant climb the fort ;(

also depends on how u view ellora, u just browse thru the caves or look at them in concentration n spend more time in each cave.

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rsk11584 · May 15th, 2009, 11:42

if u go by MTDC bus ajanta will take one whole day, but if u go by own car u can return by afternoon,, n cut down on cave visits , ,etc ,etc, etc

delhiwala · May 15th, 2009, 12:18

Ohhh.....

That's injustice to the beauty of Ellora and Daulatabad needs a proper visit, it's a beautiful fort with a moat...........

I liked the BhulBhulaiya (maze) inside the fort..........

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsk11584

....around 3 pm in afternoon and they have easily completed ellora, grishneshwar temple till evening,,, daulatabad u can just view from outside, if u go inside it will take lot of time n if u have elders they cant climb the fort
.

May 15th, 2009, 11:40	#28
rsk11584 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: then Aurangabad / now Chennai Posts: 218	for ellora we have sent our friends at around 3 pm in afternoon and they have easily completed ellora, grishneshwar temple till evening,,, daulatabad u can just view from outside, if u go inside it will take lot of time n if u have elders they cant climb the fort ;( also depends on how u view ellora, u just browse thru the caves or look at them in concentration n spend more time in each cave. Moderator Note: We do not accept SMS or text-language Abbreviations in posts. Our members and readers come from many different countries, with many different mother tongues and age groups. Please take the trouble to spell out your posts in English so that all may easily understand. Last edited by nayan : May 15th, 2009 at 13:27.

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May 8th, 2009, 17:29	#20
dillichaat Professional cynic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: जोर बाग़,New Delhi Posts: 431	hetapeta; well, you certainly won't pine away in discomfort at the Taj ;-) If you arrive in the afternoon on the 29 th I think it won't be possible to visit Ellora and Daulatabad. Even just visiting one would probably be stretching it I think (depending on your time of arrival). By the time you checked into the hotel, arranged a car + driver...think about it. If I were you I'd plan the logistics the 29th, relax and then do both trips on 30 and 31. For the car I'd always recommend hiring one with a driver. If you want to self-drive it's possible provided you have a map and can read the devanagari roadsigns (outside the city there's no transliteration). But again, I advise against it, I'd rather rent 2 cars than self-drive 1.

May 8th, 2009, 17:32	#21
nayan Forum Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hyderabad/tokyo Posts: 1,895	I agree with dillichat. rest on 29th with some local sightseeing. on 30th and 31st do ellora(+daulatabad) and ajanta. A toyota Innova will take 6+driver easily.

May 8th, 2009, 18:03	#23
dillichaat Professional cynic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: जोर बाग़,New Delhi Posts: 431	Ahem...don't know if I can help you there because the ONLY reason I stayed at Aurangabad was because it's conveniently located and I found a good hotel there with a fabulous pool. Aurangabad's charms I found to be...discreet let's say. Perhaps others have useful tips, the best I can come up with is paying a supplement to use your room and the hotel pool until 10 pm or book an earlier train/flight to Mumbai. Aurangabad itself underwhelmed me a bit, dusty streets, crushing heat and load of touts eager to separate you from your money and take you to 'aurangabad silk' (synthetic) shops.

May 14th, 2009, 13:58	#24
jaron Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 7	May i know if any1 knows the admission fees to ajanta caves and ellora caves. There have been conflicting fees on the net and guidebooks like 'rough guide' and 'lonely planet'. Thx

May 14th, 2009, 14:12	#26
dillichaat Professional cynic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: जोर बाग़,New Delhi Posts: 431	The fees depend on whether you're a tourist or a resident in India. If tourist, I believe the entrance fee for both was 250 Rs. and a small service charge was levied, 7 Rs of course. Not 100 pct sure b/c I paid the local rate. For residents (=anyone who can show proof of residence in India, regardless of whether they're foreigners or native Indians) I think it was 10 Rs, plus the service charge.

May 15th, 2009, 11:38	#27
rsk11584 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: then Aurangabad / now Chennai Posts: 218	mmmm nice thread about my city,, im living here since childhood, and might be we might shift to chennai soon ,, so gotta leave this city in another 3-4 months , well if u read my posts u will get all information about aurangabad,,, and yesterday only it rained,, unseasonal rains,, making the climate little cooler, and if ur indian dont worry about entrance fees to ajanta ellora its just 10 rs ,, and even if ur NRI and look like indian u can easily buy for 10 rs,,

May 15th, 2009, 11:42	#29
rsk11584 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: then Aurangabad / now Chennai Posts: 218	if u go by MTDC bus ajanta will take one whole day, but if u go by own car u can return by afternoon,, n cut down on cave visits , ,etc ,etc, etc