The road north to Sambhajinagar
The route leaves Pune on the Ahmednagar road through Wagholi, Shikrapur and Shirur, reaching Ahmednagar (now Ahilyanagar) in about two and a half hours. From there, the highway continues north-east towards Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the city most people still call Aurangabad. It is an easy road for a big vehicle, with good food stops around Shirur and Ahmednagar.
Groups from Kharadi, Viman Nagar and Wagholi have a head start, since they are already on this side of the city. A Pune to Aurangabad and Ellora tempo traveller keeps the whole group together for every part of the trip, including the short hops between the city, the fort and the caves.
Ellora and Grishneshwar
The Ellora caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are about 30 km from the city. Carved over several centuries, they include Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves side by side. The highlight is Cave 16, the Kailasa temple, cut from a single rock from the top downwards, one of the most remarkable monuments in India.
Right next to the caves is Grishneshwar, counted as the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Its red stone temple was restored by Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century. Many devotees from Pune plan this trip mainly for Grishneshwar and treat Ellora as a bonus, while others come for the caves and find the darshan the most memorable part.
Forts, monuments and temples on the way
Daulatabad, once known as Devgiri, is a hill fort on the road to Ellora with a famous dark passage and a tall victory tower, the Chand Minar. Near Ellora, Khuldabad has the Bhadra Maruti temple with a reclining Hanuman idol, a favourite stop for pilgrims. In the city, Bibi ka Maqbara, often called the Taj of the Deccan, is best seen in the evening light.
Planning your days
The two cave sites have different weekly closing days, so the order of your days matters. A good habit is to check the current schedule a few days before you leave and let us know; your driver will then plan the route so you reach each place on an open day. Starting the Ellora visit early in the morning also means cooler weather and fewer crowds in the main caves.
Since most of the sightseeing is spread around the city, a Pune to Aurangabad and Ellora tempo traveller trip needs only one hotel base. The vehicle stays with you, so there is no need to arrange local taxis or autos.
Adding Ajanta
The Ajanta caves are famous for their ancient Buddhist paintings and sit in a horseshoe-shaped gorge about 100 km from the city. They need a full day, so add one night to your plan if you want to include them. You can also come back via Shirdi for a longer circuit.
Vehicles for families, schools and colleges
For school, college and office groups, the 26-seater is the most practical. Families usually choose the 12 or 14 seater. The fare is per km with a daily minimum distance for each day, and toll, parking and driver allowance are usually extra. See our price page, and if you are organising a big group, the group trip planning checklist will help.
