Aurangabad was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, though Aurangabad remains the name by which it is universally known internationally. Its significance as a travel destination is almost entirely as the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Ajanta Caves and the Ellora Caves. The city also contains the Bibi Ka Maqbara — a 17th century Mughal mausoleum built in deliberate imitation of the Taj Mahal.
Places
Ajanta Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 29 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments in a horseshoe-shaped cliff. The Ajanta murals are among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian painting in the world. The site was abandoned after the decline of Buddhist patronage and lost to the surrounding forest until its rediscovery by a British hunting party in 1819.
Timing: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Mondays
Entry Fee: ₹600 (cash at counter), ₹550 (online pay). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Open in Maps | Official Booking Site
Ellora Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 34 rock-cut monuments extending over 2 km in the Charanandri Hills. The caves span three religious traditions and six centuries of continuous excavation — Buddhist caves (1–12, 5th–8th century CE), Hindu caves (13–29, 7th–11th century CE), and Jain caves (30–34, 9th–12th century CE).
Timing: Wednesday to Monday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays
Entry Fee: ₹600 (cash at counter), ₹550 (online pay). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Open in Maps | Official Booking Site
Grishneshwar Temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlingas — the most sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva in Hindu tradition — adjacent to the Ellora Caves. The current temple was built in the 18th century by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore. The red sandstone temple is built in the Hemadpanthi style.
Timing: Open daily, 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Bibi Ka Maqbara
A mausoleum built between 1651 and 1661 by the son of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The structure was built as a replica of the Taj Mahal in Agra — the central white marble dome and four minarets are modelled on the Taj, but the execution is on a smaller scale.
Timing: Open daily, 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹250 (online pay or cash at counter). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Open in Maps | Official Booking Site
Daulatabad Fort
A medieval fort on the road to Ellora. Originally built by the Yadava dynasty in the 12th century as Devagiri. Captured by Alauddin Khilji in 1294 and renamed. The fort is notable for its extraordinary defensive design — a moat, a drawbridge, a rock-cut tunnel passage that doubles back on itself, and a concealed spiral staircase.
Timing: Open daily, Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: ₹250 (online pay or cash at counter). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Open in Maps | Official Booking Site
Aurangabad Caves
A group of 12 Buddhist rock-cut shrines on a hillside, dating from the 6th and 7th centuries CE. Less visited than Ajanta and Ellora but containing significant sculptural work. The caves are divided into two groups and include viharas and figures of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
Timing: Open daily, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee: ₹250 (online pay or cash at counter). Entry is free for children below 15 years
Open in Maps
Getting There
Aurangabad is well connected by air and rail and serves as the base for visiting Ajanta and Ellora. Whether arriving or departing, use the station codes, airport, and bus terminal information below.
Aurangabad — Stations, Airport & Bus Stands
Rail Station: Aurangabad Railway Station (AWB)
Airport: Aurangabad Airport (IXU)
Bus Terminal: Aurangabad Central Bus Stand
By Train
Search “Aurangabad” as your origin (if departing) or destination (if arriving). Aurangabad Railway Station (AWB) is the main station. Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.
By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo and Air India. Aurangabad Airport (IXU) has domestic services from major Indian cities.
By Bus
Buses (AC or non-AC) operate from the bus terminal — head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus or AbhiBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run (MSRTC) and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.
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