Maharashtra

A weekend circuit to Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) for Ajanta and Ellora's cave temples, Bibi ka Maqbara, and Daulatabad Fort — doable from Hyderabad by overnight train or from Mumbai as an even shorter weekend.

Duration

A single weekend — overnight train out, a full day covering Aurangabad and the Ellora cluster, a full day for Ajanta, overnight train back.

Best time

October to March, when temperatures are comfortable for a full day of sightseeing and cave-hopping. Summers here get genuinely hot.

Budget

Decent hotels start around ₹2,000/night (roughly $20/€18). A day's cab to Ellora ran ₹1,400 (roughly $15/€13), and to Ajanta ₹2,800 (roughly $30/€25) — this was in 2023, so expect current rates to be somewhat higher. Food runs ₹150-500 (roughly $2-5/€1-5) per person per meal.

Getting around

Overnight train between Hyderabad and Aurangabad each way, as we did it — Mumbai works as a closer alternative gateway (roughly 340km vs. 500km), with a same-day train, a short flight, or a road trip all realistic options too given the shorter distance. Locally, a day's cab to Ellora ran ₹1,400 (roughly $15/€13) and to Ajanta ₹2,800 (roughly $30/€25) (2023 rates).