Ajanta & Ellora Caves Group Tour — Best Vehicles, Timings & What to Know

Ajanta and Ellora are two of India's greatest UNESCO World Heritage Sites — and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is their gateway city. Whether you're bringing a school group, a corporate team, or an extended family, choosing the right vehicle and departure time makes the difference between a great visit and an exhausting one.

⚡ Direct Answer

What is the best time to visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves?

For Ajanta: Arrive by 9–9:30 AM (opening time) to see the ancient paintings in cooler morning light and before crowds. For Ellora: Any time 9 AM–3 PM is good; the Kailasa Temple is most impressive before noon. Both caves are closed on Tuesdays. November to March (winter) is the ideal season.

Ajanta vs Ellora — Key Facts for Group Planners

Feature	Ajanta Caves	Ellora Caves
Distance from Sambhajinagar	100 km (2.5 hrs)	30 km (45 mins)
Entry fee (Indian)	₹40	₹40
Closed on	Tuesday	Tuesday
Time needed	4–5 hours	3–4 hours
UNESCO since	1983	1983
Special feature	Buddhist rock-cut cave paintings	Kailasa Temple (Cave 16)

Vehicle Recommendations by Group Size

Family of 6–8: Innova Crysta (₹17/km) or Maharaja 10-seater (₹28/km)
Group of 13–16: Force Urbania (₹31/km) or Maharaja 13-seater (₹30/km)
School group / large heritage tour 20–45: Coach 45 (₹70/km)

Sample Itinerary — Ajanta + Ellora in 2 Days

Day 1 — Ellora

8:00 AM: Depart hotel
9:00 AM: Ellora Caves — Kailasa, Buddhist caves, Jain caves
1:00 PM: Lunch at Ellora or return to city
2:30 PM: Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga (adjacent to Ellora)
4:00 PM: Bibi Ka Maqbara & Aurangabad city

Day 2 — Ajanta

7:00 AM: Depart from city
9:00 AM: Arrive Ajanta; electric shuttle to caves
9:30–2:00 PM: Caves 1–29, Buddhist murals
2:30 PM: Lunch at Fardapur (near Ajanta)
3:30 PM: Depart
6:00 PM: Return to Sambhajinagar

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Questions People Ask

Ajanta Caves are 100 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (2.5 hours). Ellora Caves are 30 km from Sambhajinagar (45 minutes). The two sites are 70 km apart from each other. A combined one-day visit to both is tiring but possible — most visitors prefer 2 days, one day each.

For groups of 10–16, the Force Urbania or Maharaja 13-seater is ideal. For school groups or large heritage tour groups of 20–45, the Luxury Coach 45 at ₹70/km provides comfortable seating, overhead storage for bags and cameras, and enough space for a guide to stand and speak.

Depart by 7–7:30 AM from Sambhajinagar for Ajanta Caves (100 km, 2.5 hours). The caves open at 9 AM. Arriving by 9–9:30 AM gives you the cooler morning hours to explore before the afternoon heat. The caves close at 5:30 PM.

Both Ajanta and Ellora have designated coach/bus parking areas. At Ajanta, private vehicles must park at the base parking area — electric shuttle buses take visitors to the cave entrance (included in entry ticket). Jaingiri Travels' drivers are familiar with both parking procedures.

Best Vehicle for Ajanta Ellora Group Tour from Sambhajinagar — Guide 2025