Aurangabad Ajanta Ellora Caves Tour: An Honest Review

So, you’re thinking about a two-day hop from Aurangabad to explore the Ajanta and Ellora Caves? That’s quite an adventure! Very, very many tourists find these places really gorgeous and absolutely drenched in the deep end of historical significance, and yet planning your visit could be just a bit overwhelming. We took the trip, and, well, here’s a totally honest look, a pretty thorough review designed to just make sure you’re well-prepped to get the most out of your time. Think of this as the advice I’d pass on to a friend; straight talking, and all with a really great amount of enthusiasm for what you’re about to discover!

Why Ajanta and Ellora are Definitely Worth Visiting

Now, before we just get to the tour logistics and everything, let’s quickly recap just why these caves actually pull in droves of tourists from all across the globe. Very, very many believe these are UNESCO World Heritage sites for an undeniably excellent reason. That’s kind of a big deal, that is! The Ajanta Caves, which are primarily Buddhist, feature art telling narratives featuring past incarnations and rebirths that directly relate to Buddha, created in and around the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE. It’s almost like stepping inside giant, detailed storybooks. The Ellora Caves, on the other hand, is that mix of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain cave temples and monasteries, all built adjacent to each other that were created starting about 600 CE up until around 1000 CE. One solid example includes that remarkable Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), and it’s an actual monolith carved completely out of a single rock. It’s absolutely spectacular, that one!

Booking Your Trip From Aurangabad

Okay, so, the very first thing, booking your tour, of course. Very, very many different providers run these two-day tours from Aurangabad. We actually opted for a private tour. Now, why? A bit more expensive, sure, yet with just way more flexibility. So, too it’s almost like you can adjust the itinerary if, as a matter of fact, you fancy just a bit longer in one spot or would, arguably, prefer skipping another. We found our provider online, actually checked some pretty good reviews (do not miss this step!), and we then made the reservations a pretty good amount ahead. Very, very many agencies arrange your driver, your guide, and even hotel bookings. Very often this is just a complete steal if you’re after convenience, that is!

Day 1: Heading to Ajanta

So, Day 1, it’s an early start, typically, you know, heading towards Ajanta. It’s approximately a three-hour drive from Aurangabad, yet the travel does provide the very nice benefit of viewing the countryside. Once there, prepare for a bunch of walking. The caves are located in a horseshoe-shaped gorge, and that’s kind of scenic and awesome, and yet does suggest getting around requires just a bit of physical effort. Your guide will very likely just lead you through the most essential caves, detailing pretty much the histories, the art, the stories just behind those beautiful paintings. Something to bear in mind: photos aren’t exactly encouraged within some caves in a bid to preserve them (though you’ll often catch individuals secretly snapping away regardless!). Also, it can get rather stuffy inside, so take tiny rests and really do drink sufficient quantities of water.

Day 2: Exploring Ellora

Okay, day two! After your hotel stopover (in many cases back in Aurangabad) it’s really off to Ellora, only around an hour’s drive this time around. Ellora differs wildly from Ajanta; that variety of faiths apparent in the design is almost breathtaking. You’ll obviously spend a really significant bit of time at the Kailasa Temple; this place is almost overwhelmingly huge. Allow yourself really several hours simply to walk around, absorbing the depth, and seeing just how something like that was cut straight out of a solid cliff face. The additional caves, very largely dedicated to Buddhism, Jainism, plus Hinduism each deliver something entirely unique. By the time you wrap things up at Ellora, you could be experiencing some pretty substantial sightseeing fatigue, just bear it in mind. Get geared up for that return to Aurangabad with those memory cards chock full and pretty much bursting. One additional suggestion, consider buying trinkets on the end of your tour to keep these memories.

Food, Lodging and all those Essentials

While on tour, lunch is very often arranged at tourist-friendly local restaurants. They will often include very, very broad menus featuring Indian as well as pretty generic “Western” food. Usually, anticipate your meals and beverages to be included in that entire cost if that’s something your tour mentions specifically. In Aurangabad, there exist various hotel solutions from Budget accommodations all the way through to luxury hotels. Talk this over in advance together with your tour provider for options best suiting your personal requirements. In this case, a private tour gets a definite boost for making things simple! In the summertime, be certain that you will apply your sunscreen religiously and use a hat! So, too it’s almost like bringing moist hand wipes could prove incredibly useful after those cave explorations! Carry those INR’s: While card payment’s improved a great deal across India you shouldn’t exactly rely entirely upon these within the more remote locales around the caves. You may want to, as a matter of fact, budget more income for gratuities, souvenir gifts or small products acquired at market locations around that complex.

Photographing in the Caves: Hints and Tips

Very many folk, just like your, may want incredible photographic keepsakes from their journey through Ellora as well as Ajanta. Although I really brought up limitations already concerning where to take these photos and all that I would, as a matter of fact, still recommend thinking about this piece ahead of leaving, especially. A really good camera could definitely catch more of these fantastic details inside the caves. It’s always possible that this really does go without mentioning, yet knowing just how to apply it really is necessary. Don’t be shy to tweak your setup, trying totally different angles. Take photos right during that ‘golden hour’, that’s sunrise as well as sunset whenever light filters throughout and generates stunning shadows; just see if it’s compatible given travel back and lodging timings. You really must give your photographic endeavors your very best. Taking fantastic images will remind one among others in what they actually had experienced upon arrival back at your, like your, house later! In a way, try finding what truly captivates your eyes — be that structural things, art pieces and a bigger sense-about this experience when deciding exactly how your shot turns away during capture!

• Flexibility: It’s nice to modify your schedule together with private excursions.
• Early Starts: Days may start rather quickly with drives occurring just before sun comes completely, even so these have many pluses that are apparent once completed.
• Be Ready for Crowds: All those vacation spots happen to be highly liked, particularly in holiday season; consider patience a virtue, so prepare emotionally and logically by preparing!
• Water Remains that necessity : During very warm intervals please maintain great rates of normal water eating throughout daytime
• Check That Equipment- Prior heading it’s necessary see if digital cameras- extra power lenders are packed correctly- it helps remove any issues eventually with capturing photographs/ video episodes inside different Cave sites!

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