"Fantastic Sights in Aurangabad " a Aurangabad Travel Page by Donna_in_India

I absolutely LOVED the sights of Aurangabad. Although it can be a little lengthy to reach, I highly recommend visiting here. Aurangabad itself is not very touristy/tourist oriented. While we were there I didn't see any other foreigners. Surprisingly Ellora is said to be the busiest tourist site in Maharashtra but it did not feel crowded at all when we were there. However, it is not recommended that you visit from April til the first week of June during school holidays (not to mention the heat!).

The Ellora and Ajanta Caves, have been designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and are fascinating. The Ellora caves are very close to Aurangabad and consist of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain caves. Although there are some frescoes, these caves are most famous for their sculptures (stone carvings). Ajanta is further outside of Aurangabad and consists of only Buddhist caves. Ajanta is most famous for its outstanding frescoes. I'm very partial to sculpture so I enjoyed Ellora more than Ajanta. I think that is an unusual opinion though. I guess you will just have to go for yourself and decide!

Two other must sees include Daulatabad Fortress and Ghrishneshwar Temple (a Jyotirlingas). I love visiting forts in India - and Daultabad probably ranks in my top 3 along with Amber Fort in Jaipur and Agra Fort in Agra. The temple is an especially important temple for Hindus. Please see my tips for more specific information.

The best time to go is between October and March. Even at the best time, it can get very hot walking around the caves and fort. Be sure to have sunglasses/glares, a hat, and a bottle of water. It's also a good idea to bring a flashlight to see better inside the darker caves. Wear comfortable shoes as well. I'd recommend getting a guide at Ellora, Ajanta and the Fort. I'd allow a minimum of 3 days (not including travel days) to explore the area.