[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by vibbs

Is it feasible?

If you can start early from Pune, say at 5 AM or so, you'll be able to do Ellora + Daulatabad on the same day. Next day can be used for visiting Ajanta. I haven't been to Aurangabad in ages, so please get this double checked from someone who has been there recently.

Cheers,
Vikram

[ampere]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

Cheers,
Vikram

Only point is not to go via Shirdi. One can get stuck.

Roads around Aurangabad quite pathetic.Kopargaon bypass to Vaijapur is just about OK. But roads around Ellora again quite bad. In spite of that it's still worth a visit. Daultabad fort looks beautiful from a distance.

[ranjitp1]

Originally Posted by vibbs

Hi friends,

I plan to visit Ajanta and Ellora caves starting tomorrow from Pune. How long will the drive to Aurangabad take if I start from Pune by say 7 AM? I plan to stay at Aurangabad, will it be possible to do Ellora on the same day I reach?

Or will I need two full days for Ajanta and Ellora each?

What I had in my mind was to do Ellora tomorrow itself and take sunday full day for Ajanta and possibly Lonar. Start back to Pune on Monday and do the other places in Aurangabad on the way.

Is it feasible?

These threads have more info http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...urangabad.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...onar-back.html

[andyonwheels]

Hi,
Planning on visiting ajanta ellora caves in few days via Ajmer.
Any suggestions on which route to take and avoid. Is via Ratlam better or via Kota, Indore?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by andyonwheels

Hi,
Planning on visiting ajanta ellora caves in few days via Ajmer.
Any suggestions on which route to take and avoid. Is via Ratlam better or via Kota, Indore?

Where are you starting from ? Ajmer?

If yes, then Chittorh/Ratlam/Lebad/Dhule/Aurangabad.

[andyonwheels]

Originally Posted by ampere

Where are you starting from ? Ajmer?

If yes, then Chittorh/Ratlam/Lebad/Dhule/Aurangabad.

Thanks Ampere.
I am starting from Sujangarh and want to head to Ellora. Also, what is the ideal place/city to break the Journey?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by andyonwheels

Thanks Ampere.
I am starting from Sujangarh and want to head to Ellora. Also, what is the ideal place/city to break the Journey?

Best place to break I guess would Indore/Ujjan. May be Ujjain as you can visit another temple.

[andyonwheels]

Originally Posted by ampere

Best place to break I guess would Indore/Ujjan. May be Ujjain as you can visit another temple.

Seems like Ujjain is enroute via Kota. Else, how do i enter Ujjain/Indore via the route you suggested earlier, ie; Ratlam?

Also any leads on budget hotels for a family to stay nearby to Ellora / Ajanta?

[ampere]

Originally Posted by andyonwheels

Seems like Ujjain is enroute via Kota. Else, how do i enter Ujjain/Indore via the route you suggested earlier, ie; Ratlam?

Yes this is the route via Kota. Nice 4-lane road. To reach Ujjain Drive past Ratlam till Badnawar. Exit here for Ujjain.
Route Link

Also any leads on budget hotels for a family to stay nearby to Ellora / Ajanta?

You should look for hotels in Aurangabad and not Ajanta Ellora. There are many; right from basic ones to 5-stars. Trip advisor should get you some. I am not aware of any. Check with others too. While visiting Ajanta you may also want to consider visiting the Lonar Lake.

[andyonwheels]

Originally Posted by ampere

Yes this is the route via Kota. Nice 4-lane road. To reach Ujjain Drive past Ratlam till Badnawar. Exit here for Ujjain.
Route Link



You should look for hotels in Aurangabad and not Ajanta Ellora. There are many; right from basic ones to 5-stars. Trip advisor should get you some. I am not aware of any. Check with others too. While visiting Ajanta you may also want to consider visiting the Lonar Lake.

If I choose to skip Ujjain, would the via Ratlam route work? Hope it would be equally stress-free and good as Ujjain-Indore?

[tomchacks]

I had been to Ajanta Ellora in end Oct 2013. Stayed in Aurangabad from 28th night to 30th morning at Hotel Oberoi in Aurangabad. This is a decent budget accommodation near Osmanpura circle with car parking. They do not have a restaurant but have room service from their kitchen. Eating places are available nearby.

Ajanta needs one day to travel, see the caves and come back. Roads are bad for about 50 kms (out of 100). Ellora caves, Daulatabad, Bibi- ka-mukbara can be done on another day. Pl remember Ajanta caves are closed on Mondays and Ellora on Tuesdays.

[ampere]

Originally Posted by andyonwheels

If I choose to skip Ujjain, would the via Ratlam route work? Hope it would be equally stress-free and good as Ujjain-Indore?

Ins spite of skipping Ujjain still Ratlan route would still work fine. Drive till Lebad where the 4-lane ends and divert to Mhow Pithampur. This would bypass Indore too.

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by comfortablynumb

If you can start early from Pune, say at 5 AM or so, you'll be able to do Ellora + Daulatabad on the same day. Next day can be used for visiting Ajanta. I haven't been to Aurangabad in ages, so please get this double checked from someone who has been there recently.

Cheers,
Vikram

Originally Posted by ampere

Only point is not to go via Shirdi. One can get stuck.

Roads around Aurangabad quite pathetic.Kopargaon bypass to Vaijapur is just about OK. But roads around Ellora again quite bad. In spite of that it's still worth a visit. Daultabad fort looks beautiful from a distance.

Originally Posted by ranjitp1

These threads have more info http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...urangabad.html

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...onar-back.html

Thank you friends. I completed the trip. Did it over the new year weekend. Details can be found here
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ora-caves.html

Thanks again.

[FarPatel]

Guys, am reviving this thread to ask if anyone has recent info on the road to Aurangabad from Mumbai. I'm planning to go during the Diwali break, via the Eastern Express Highway to Igatpuri, turn right at Ghoti and head east, past Vaijapur, to Aurangabad. I've been to Igatpuri-Nasik a few months ago and the roads were excellent then but I have no idea what to expect from Ghoti to Aurangabad, as well as Aurangabad to Ellora, Ajanta and Lonar Lake.
I've read up on the various travelogues here but couldn't get any current gyaan on these roads.
Have any of you been on these roads in the recent past? I believe the roads in Aurangabad are in a bad state, so any advice on whether it would be a good idea to hire a vehicle in Aurangabad to see these sights, rather than risk hurting my Ford Classic? I do want to return without problems or rattles, (or 'I told you so' from the family).

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by FarPatel

Guys, am reviving this thread to ask if anyone has recent info on the road to Aurangabad from Mumbai. I'm planning to go during the Diwali break, via the Eastern Express Highway to Igatpuri, turn right at Ghoti and head east, past Vaijapur, to Aurangabad. I've been to Igatpuri-Nasik a few months ago and the roads were excellent then but I have no idea what to expect from Ghoti to Aurangabad, as well as Aurangabad to Ellora, Ajanta and Lonar Lake.
I've read up on the various travelogues here but couldn't get any current gyaan on these roads.
Have any of you been on these roads in the recent past? I believe the roads in Aurangabad are in a bad state, so any advice on whether it would be a good idea to hire a vehicle in Aurangabad to see these sights, rather than risk hurting my Ford Classic? I do want to return without problems or rattles, (or 'I told you so' from the family).

The Nashik-Vaijapur-Aurangabad route is to be avoided. The Vaijapur-Aurangabad sector has some of the worst roads in MH.