Best Way to Reach Ellora Caves From Mumbai and Pune
Information about The Ellora caves:
Ellora Caves are twenty-eight kilometres from Aurangabad. The road passes by the base of the Daultabad fort. The cave temples of Ellora, are the product of three religious systems-Buddhism, Brahmanism and Jainism containing elaborate carvings of gods and goddesses and remarkable memorials of the three great faiths they represent. Caves 1 to 12 are Buddhist, the next sixteen belong to Brahmanism, Caves 30 to 34 are in the Jain group. The Buddhist caves are the earliest (500 – 700 A.D.)
Kailasha temple at Ellora Caves
How to reach Ellora caves from Mumbai:
Board an overnight Bus or Train to Aurangabad Station from Mumbai then head to the central bus stop and hop into a sharing jeep to Ellora Caves or head to Baba petrol pump and then take a sharing jeep to Caves.
- Reach the central bus stop of Aurangabad.
- Look for a direct bus to Ellora Caves.
OR
- Reach Baba petrol pump in Rs. 10 from the central bus stop
- From Baba petrol pump sharing jeep are available for Rs. 35 per seat.
How to reach Ellora caves from Pune:
Board an overnight Bus or Train to Aurangabad Station from Pune then head to the central bus stop and hop into a sharing jeep to Ellora Caves or head to Baba petrol pump and then take a sharing jeep to Caves.
Important caves to visit:
- Most notable ones are 5, 10, 15, 16, 21, 29, 32
- Cave 16 is the Kailasha, Shiva’s mountain abode.
- Cave 29 is a massive structure, 45.72 meters wide and 5.48 meter high (150 ft & 18 ft respectively)
TIPS/HACKS/SUGGESTION: Convenient Backpack For Ellora Caves
Tips to visit Ellora Caves:
- Start visiting from Cave number 1 because when you enter Ellora caves you come in front of Cave 16.
- Carry a torch to see paintings inside the caves.
- Buy a book with information about the caves if you don’t want a guide.
- Ellora caves are closed on all Tuesday’s.
- 10 min walk from Ellora Caves, you can also visit Grishneshwar Jyotirling.
Once you finish Ellora you will reach back to Aurangabad central bus stop from here you can explore Pan Chakki, Bibi ka Maqbara which can be easily covered by walking.
Biwi ka Maqbara at Aurangabad
- Pan chakki at Aurangabad
Accommodation and Food in Aurangabad:
I stayed in Yogesh’s hostel room (which is actually occupied by all college going students)
Reference of Yogesh’s == Priyanka(met on a trek to rajmachi) > Kiran(friend of Priyanka) >> Yogesh (friend of Kiran)This is how I get my travel in a budget.
I had food in a monthly mess canteen on Day one and day two I had food at Kiran’s home.
You can book your stay in youth hostel dormitory (approx Rs. 150 per bed) you also have railway dormitory at Aurangabad railway station for Rs. 100.
Food in Aurangabad is pretty reasonable you can easily have a complete meal in Rs. 100.
To Sum up my whole trip to Aurangabad it goes as follow:
DAY ONE TRIP TO LONAR EXPENSE:
Dadar to Jalna (Indian Railway) = Rs. 140
Jalna to Jalna bus stop (Sharing Auto) = Rs. 20 (I went walking)
Jalna bus stop to Sultanpur (State Bus transport) = Rs. 96.
Sultanpur to Lonar Village (Sharing Auto/Jeep/Trax) = Rs. 15.
Lonar Village to Sultanpur (Sharing Auto/Jeep/Trax) = Rs. 15.
Sultanpur to Aurangabad (State Bus transport) = Rs. 159.
Dinner at hostel canteen (Thanks to Kiran) = Rs. 50 (Unlimited food).
Stay in Yogesh hostel room (Thanks to Priyanka, Kiran and Yogesh) = Free.
DAY TWO TRIP TO AJANTA CAVES EXPENSE:
Aurangabad to T Point (Sharing Auto) = Rs. 15.
T Point to Ajanta Caves (State Bus transport) = Rs. 121.
Ajanta entry point to Ajanta Caves Shuttle service (State Bus transport) = Rs. 16. (Rs. 22 for A/C)
Ajanta Caves Entry Fee = Rs. 30. (Rs. 500 for Foreigner)
Ajanta Caves to Ajanta entry point Shuttle service (State Bus transport) = Rs. 16. (Rs. 22 for A/C)
Ajanta Caves to Aurangabad central bus stop (Sharing car) = Rs. 130.
Aurangabad central bus stop to Daulatabad fort (Sharing jeep) = Rs. 20. ( you can also hire auto both ways for 300 to 500rs)
Daulatabad fort back to the central bus stop (Sharing jeep) = Rs. 20.
Dinner at Kiran’s home = Free.
Stay in Yogesh hostel room (Thanks to Priyanka, Kiran and Yogesh) = Free.
DAY THREE TRIP TO ELLORA CAVES EXPENSE:
Aurangabad central bus stop to Ellora caves (Sharing jeep) = Rs. 40.
Ellora Caves Entry Fee = Rs. 30. (Rs. 500 for Foreigner)
Ellora caves to Aurangabad central bus stop = Rs. 40.
Visit to Pan Chakki and Bibi ka maqbara = Walking ( sharing auto available in 20 – 30rs)
Aurangabad to Dadar(Mumbai) (Indian Railway ) = Rs. 120.
- Indian railway tickets
Total Expense of the whole tour to Aurangabad Dates 11th to 13th March 2017 was Rs.1200 approx.
TIPS/HACKS/SUGGESTION: Best in the Business Power Bank
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