Aurangabad, India: travel guide
Gateway to the UNESCO-listed Ajanta and Ellora cave complexes — masterpieces of ancient Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut art and architecture.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- IXU
Top places to visit in Aurangabad
Ellora Caves
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 3.5 h · entry INR 600
UNESCO World Heritage complex of 34 rock-cut Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples, crowned by the monolithic Kailasa Temple — the world's largest rock-cut monument.
Ajanta Caves
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 3.5 h · entry INR 600
UNESCO World Heritage rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments (2nd c. BCE-6th c. CE) renowned for their exquisite ancient murals and sculptures, set in a horseshoe gorge.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 300
A 17th-century marble-and-stucco mausoleum built by Aurangzeb's son for his mother, closely modelled on the Taj Mahal and nicknamed the "Taj of the Deccan".
Daulatabad Fort
Fort · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry INR 300
A formidable 12th-century hill fortress with concentric defences, a moat, dark passages and the Chand Minar tower — once briefly the capital of the Delhi Sultanate.
Grishneshwar Temple
Temple · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
A revered Shiva temple near Ellora, one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas, with intricately carved red-stone shikhara and steady streams of pilgrims.
Panchakki
Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · entry INR 100
A 17th-century water mill driven by an ingenious underground channel, with a reservoir, garden and the dargah of a Sufi saint — a feat of medieval hydro-engineering.
Siddharth Garden & Zoo
Nature · 4.1 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 10
The city's central garden and zoo with shady lawns, a small aquarium and the only zoo in Marathwada — a relaxed family outing.
Aurangabad Caves
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · entry INR 300
A group of 6th-7th-century Buddhist rock-cut caves on a hillside behind Bibi Ka Maqbara, with fine Tantric sculptures and panoramic views over the city.
Soneri Mahal
Heritage · 4.1 rating · about 0.8 h · entry INR 100
A 17th-century "Golden Palace" once adorned with gold paintings, set against the Satara hills and now housing a small museum amid gardens.
Jama Masjid Aurangabad
Mosque · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h
A graceful 17th-century mosque in the old city with a long arcaded prayer hall and slender minarets, built during the era of Malik Ambar and the Mughals.
Salim Ali Lake
Nature · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h
A serene lake and bird sanctuary named after the famed ornithologist, near the old city walls — a green spot for birdwatching and quiet walks.
Himayat Bagh
Nature · 4.0 rating · about 0.8 h
A vast 17th-century Mughal garden, now home to a fruit-research station and nursery, offering shady avenues and a glimpse of the city's green heritage.
Things to do
- Ellora Caves Guided Tour Heritage · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person
- Ajanta Caves Guided Tour Heritage · 6 h · from INR 2,000 per person
- Bibi Ka Maqbara Visit Heritage · 1.5 h · from INR 300 per person
- Daulatabad Fort Climb Heritage · 3 h · from INR 800 per person
- Aurangabad Caves & Panchakki Heritage · 2.5 h · from INR 700 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ajanta & Ellora Heritage Day 9 h · from INR 2,200
- Ajanta Caves Full-Day Excursion 10 h · from INR 2,500
- Aurangabad City & Monuments Tour 5 h · from INR 1,200
Where to stay in Aurangabad
- City Center about INR 2,500 per night
Main area near train station with mid-range hotels
Hotels
- Vivanta Aurangabad 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- WelcomHotel Rama International 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Lemon Tree Hotel Aurangabad 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- The Meadows Resort & Spa 4-star · INR 5,000 to INR 9,000 per night
- Ginger Aurangabad 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night
- Zostel Aurangabad 2-star · INR 500 to INR 1,800 per night
Where to eat
- Bhoj Thali Gujarati, Rajasthani, Thali · about INR 350 per person
- Tara Paan Centre Desserts, Street Food · about INR 150 per person
- Naan Qalia Mughlai, North Indian · about INR 300 per person
- Green Leaf North Indian, South Indian, Chinese · about INR 400 per person
- Kream N Krunch Cafe, Continental, Bakery · about INR 400 per person
- China Town Chinese, Asian · about INR 450 per person
- Madhuban Restaurant North Indian, Mughlai, Continental · about INR 550 per person
- Swad Veg Restaurant North Indian, South Indian, Chinese · about INR 300 per person
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"
Airports, train stations, popular squares
Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.
How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.