Aurangabad
Gateway to the Deccan Caves
Overview
Aurangabad, officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, is a city in Maharashtra and the base for two of India's greatest rock-cut cave complexes: the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora. Within the city stands Bibi Ka Maqbara, a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum modelled on the Taj Mahal, alongside the hilltop Daulatabad Fort and the Panchakki water mill. Ellora lies about 30 km away and Ajanta roughly 100 km north. MyTripMyTravel runs Aurangabad as a chauffeured Deccan heritage base, escorted early-entry cave access, an air-conditioned fleet for the long cave transfers, and heritage dining built around the region's signature Naan Qalia.
Aurangabad is the doorway to the Deccan's rock-cut masterpieces. Most travellers come for one reason, Ajanta and Ellora, and the city earns its place as the only sensible base from which to reach both. Named for the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who made it his southern capital, and officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, it carries a layered Mughal, Nizam, and Maratha inheritance.
The set-piece within the city is Bibi Ka Maqbara, the mausoleum built around 1660 by Aurangzeb's son Azam Shah for his mother, Dilras Banu Begum. Deliberately echoing the Taj Mahal in white marble and stucco, it earned the affectionate name 'Taj of the Deccan'. Beyond it, the medieval hill-fortress of Daulatabad rises in concentric defences, and the Panchakki water mill preserves a working piece of 17th-century hydraulic engineering.
Aurangabad rewards structure over improvisation. The caves are distant, the light matters, and the heat can be punishing. MyTripMyTravel sequences the visit around dawn departures, cool comfortable transfers, and unhurried early entry, so Ellora is seen before the tour buses and Ajanta's painted galleries are read in their best natural light.
At a glance
Aurangabad in brief
When to visit
October to March
The cool, dry window from October to March is ideal for the long cave excursions, with comfortable daytime temperatures and clear light for Ajanta's murals and Ellora's carvings. April to June brings severe Deccan heat, frequently above 40°C, and is only advisable with an air-conditioned fleet and dawn-only sightseeing. The monsoon (July to September) turns the surrounding hills green and dramatic but can bring heavy downpours; it is quieter but requires flexible timing around the weather.
Things to do
Experiences in Aurangabad
Ellora Caves
The UNESCO complex of 34 Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut caves crowned by the monolithic Kailasa temple, 30 km west.
Ajanta Caves
The UNESCO cave galleries of 2nd-century BCE Buddhist murals and sculpture, cut into a horseshoe gorge 100 km north.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
The 17th-century marble mausoleum modelled on the Taj Mahal, nicknamed the 'Taj of the Deccan'.
Daulatabad Fort
A medieval hill-citadel of concentric walls, moats, and a spiralling dark passage, once the Deccan capital.
Panchakki
A 17th-century water mill and Sufi complex driven by an ingenious underground channel.
Paithani weaving visit
An escorted look at the silk-and-gold Paithani saree tradition in the workshops that keep it alive.
Getting there
How to reach Aurangabad
Aurangabad Airport (IXU) has domestic links to Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad; we manage fleet handover on arrival.
Aurangabad railway station connects to Mumbai, Pune, and Hyderabad; we handle station transfers either side.
Well-linked by highway to Mumbai (≈ 330 km) and Pune (≈ 235 km); the Samruddhi Expressway shortens the Mumbai leg.
Our air-conditioned, orthopedic-grade fleet handles the long Ellora and Ajanta transfers with GPS telemetry and comfort stops.
Where to stay
Full-service five-star hotels near the city with pools and spa wings for recovery after long cave days.
Character properties reflecting the city's Mughal and Nizam past, with garden courtyards.
Quieter landscaped resorts on the city's edge, well-placed for early cave departures.
Where to eat
Aurangabad's signature dish, slow-cooked mutton in a spiced gravy eaten with soft naan, a Mughlai-Deccan hybrid found nowhere else.
Aromatic Aurangabadi and Hyderabadi-style biryanis reflecting the city's Nizam-era kitchens, privately arranged.
A regional vegetarian thali of bhakri, zunka, and seasonal vegetables for a lighter midday break between caves.
Good to know
Aurangabad, your questions
How many days do I need in Aurangabad?
Two nights is ideal, one full day for Ellora, Daulatabad, and Bibi Ka Maqbara, and a second dedicated day for the longer run to Ajanta, which deserves to be unhurried.
Are the Ellora and Ajanta caves ever closed?
Yes, Ellora is closed on Tuesdays and Ajanta on Mondays. Our planners sequence itineraries around both closures so no day is wasted on a shut site.
Can I see both Ajanta and Ellora in one day?
We strongly advise against it. They lie in opposite directions from the city, and each merits a half to full day; we split them across two days for a proper experience.
Why is the city sometimes called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?
The city was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023. Both names remain in common use; the airport code (IXU) and most travel references still say Aurangabad.
Is Aurangabad very hot?
The Deccan interior can exceed 40°C from April to June. We travel October to March where possible and, in warmer months, run dawn-only sightseeing in an air-conditioned fleet.
How do I reach Aurangabad?
By air into Aurangabad Airport (IXU), by rail from Mumbai, Pune, or Hyderabad, or by chauffeured road via the Samruddhi Expressway from Mumbai; we arrange the handover on arrival.
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