Ellora Caves
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India
वेरूळ लेणी (Verul Leni)
Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples cut into one cliff, crowned by the Kailasa temple.
Checked 7 October 2026
Ellora is a 2 km line of 34 rock-cut monasteries and temples, carved between about AD 600 and 1000, 29 km north-west of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). Its centrepiece, the Kailasa temple (Cave 16), is a full temple carved downwards out of a single hill. The site is closed on Tuesdays, and the nearby Ajanta Caves on Mondays, so plan your days around both before you book anything else.
About Ellora Caves
Ellora (Verul in Marathi) is a row of 34 numbered caves cut side by side into a basalt cliff in the Charanandri hills, stretching over more than 2 km. Caves 1–12 are Buddhist monasteries and halls, caves 13–29 are Hindu temples and caves 30–34 are Jain. They were carved over roughly four centuries, from about AD 600 to 1000, and UNESCO listed the site in 1983.
What makes Ellora unusual is that three faiths worked here next to each other, often in the same decades, and borrowed ideas from one another. The Buddhist Cave 10 is a vaulted prayer hall with a carved ribbed ceiling and a seated Buddha in front of a stupa. The Hindu Cave 29 is a huge pillared hall with giant Shiva panels, and the Jain caves at the far north end are small, two-storey halls covered in fine carving.
The reason most people come is Cave 16, the Kailasa temple. It is not a cave at all but a complete, free-standing temple with a courtyard, gateway, pavilions, a Nandi shrine and a tower, all carved from the top downwards out of one block of rock. The work is attributed to the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I in the 8th century, and an estimated 200,000 tonnes of stone were removed to free it. Its courtyard is about 82 by 46 metres, and the cliff walls around it rise 30 metres.
An inscription from AD 812 describes the architect himself being astonished at what he had built, and visitors still feel the same. Ellora was on an old trade and pilgrim route, which is why it kept being visited and added to; today it is busy with Indian families and pilgrims, but still sees relatively few foreign visitors.
What to see
Kailasa temple (Cave 16)
The monolithic Shiva temple right by the main entrance. Walk the courtyard, then climb to the upper level of the main hall for the remains of ceiling paintings (bring a torch), and look along the side galleries for the long Ramayana and Mahabharata panels and the scene of Ravana shaking Mount Kailasa. Go here first, at opening, before the crowds.
The view from above Kailasa
The famous photos of Kailasa from above are taken from the cliff top. A path leads up from beside the temple towards Cave 16A, with views over the roof of the main hall and the tower. The staircase to the opposite side was reported closed in 2025, so you may only get the Cave 16A side.
Cave 10, the 'Carpenter's Cave'
The only Buddhist prayer hall (chaitya) at Ellora, from about AD 650: a two-storey facade, a ribbed ceiling carved to look like timber beams, and a large seated Buddha in front of a stupa. Caves 11 and 12 next door are huge three-storey monasteries.
Caves 14, 15 and 21
Early Hindu caves close to Kailasa. Cave 15 (Dashavatara) is up a staircase, with a dance pavilion in its courtyard and Shiva and Vishnu panels inside; Cave 21 (Rameshwar) has a Nandi platform and fine river-goddess figures at the entrance.
Cave 29 (Dhumar Lena)
A vast pillared hall with giant carved scenes of Shiva, similar to the main cave at Elephanta near Mumbai. It is a 10–20 minute walk beyond the main group; in the monsoon a waterfall runs down the cliff next to it.
The Jain caves (30–34)
At the north end, about 15–20 minutes' walk past Cave 29 or a short ride on the site's electric vehicle. Cave 32 (Indra Sabha) is a two-storey hall with intricately carved pillars, figures of Mahavira, and the goddess Ambika under a mango tree. Cave 30 (Chhota Kailasa) is a small copy of Kailasa. Many visitors skip them; don't.
Ganesh and Jogeshwari caves
A path branching uphill from the Hindu group leads to a cluster of extra, unnumbered caves around a pool. Little carving, but few people and a view over the site.
Ellora Caves tickets: which to buy and where
Buy the ASI e-ticket for 'Ellora Caves' in the Aurangabad circle: ₹550 for foreigners and ₹35 for Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals online, ₹600 and ₹40 at the counter. One ticket covers all the caves including Kailasa; there is no separate Kailasa fee. The thing that catches people out is the day: Ellora is closed every Tuesday, and online booking does not offer Tuesdays at all.
The official ticket site
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) e-ticketing
The ASI sells tickets on asi.paygov.org.in and asi.payumoney.com (which forwards to the ASI booking page at eticket.webfront.in/asi). Both are linked from the ASI's own site, asi.nic.in. Ellora is listed as 'Ellora Caves' in the Aurangabad circle, with a forenoon (6:00–12:00) and an afternoon (12:00–18:00) slot. The QR boards near the ticket windows lead to the same system.
ASI ticket, foreign visitor, online
₹550; under 15 free
(€5)
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- All 34 caves including the Kailasa temple, for the date and slot you book (forenoon 6:00–12:00 or afternoon 12:00–18:00). Up to 5 adults and 3 children per booking. The electric vehicle inside the site is extra
- Best for
- Most foreign visitors: ₹50 cheaper than the counter and no queue at the ticket windows, which get crowded at peak times
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)ASI ticket, foreign visitor, at the counter
₹600; under 15 free
(€6)
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Same as the online ticket. Bought at the ticket windows by the main entrance near Cave 16
- Best for
- Visitors without card, UPI or mobile data; carry cash in case the card machine is down
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)ASI ticket, Indian citizens, SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals
₹35 online; ₹40 at the counter; under 15 free
(under €1)
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Same caves. Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC countries (e.g. Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand, Myanmar) pay the Indian price with proof of nationality; OCI cardholders pay the Indian price too (carry the card)
- Best for
- Indian nationals and visitors from neighbouring countries
ASI (official) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Electric vehicle (e-vehicle) inside the site
about ₹40 per person (visitors report, August 2026)
(under €1)
ResellerDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- A ride from the E-vehicle point to the far sections (Cave 29 and the Jain caves 30–34) and back towards the entrance. Sold separately at the site, not with the entry ticket
- Best for
- Visitors short of time or energy, families and older visitors; saves a long walk to the far caves
On-site counter (not part of the ASI ticket) · as of August 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara day tour with guide
from €41 per person (private group); entry tickets and the electric vehicle not included
ResellerDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Private air-conditioned car from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (hotel, airport or station), an English-speaking guide for about 3 hours at Ellora, then Bibi Ka Maqbara; torch and water. You still pay the ASI tickets yourself
- Best for
- Visitors with one day who want transport and a guide sorted in one booking
GetYourGuide (TourMyChoice) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Open asi.paygov.org.in (or asi.payumoney.com) and choose the Aurangabad circle, then 'Ellora Caves'.
- Pick the date (Tuesdays are not offered) and the forenoon or afternoon slot, then your nationality group: Indian, Foreigner, SAARC or BIMSTEC.
- Enter the visitors' names: up to 5 adults and 3 children per booking. Children under 15 go free but are added to the booking.
- Pay by card or UPI. Save the QR ticket on your phone (screenshot it in case there is no signal at the gate); a printout is not needed. Carry the passport or ID for the nationality you chose.
Look-alike sites
Ellora's tickets are sold only by the Archaeological Survey of India. The official ASI booking sites are asi.paygov.org.in and asi.payumoney.com (which forwards to eticket.webfront.in/asi), both linked from asi.nic.in. In 2026 the ASI warned that a fake website had sold invalid tickets for the Taj Mahal, and the same trick works for any ASI site: be wary of any '.com' site with 'Ellora' or 'tickets' in its name, and never pay more than ₹550 (foreigner) or ₹35 (Indian) for the ticket alone. Tour listings that promise 'skip-the-line entry' usually do not include the ticket at all.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Ellora Caves
Ellora has little signage and almost no on-site explanation, so a guide makes a real difference, especially at Kailasa, where the panels tell stories you will not decode alone. Visitors report government-approved guides at the entrance at a fixed ₹1,500 per group (April 2026), but they can be hard to find on the day. If you want transport as well, a private car from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with an optional guide is cheap by European standards. There are no shared group tours with fixed departures, and no audio guide on site.
Private guide on site
Government-approved guide at the entrance
Approved guides at the site (Ministry of Tourism / ASI licensed)Hire at the entrance near Cave 16. Approved guides carry a government ID card: ask to see it and agree the price and length of the tour before you start. Visitors say they are hard to find at busy times, so arrive early or ask your hotel to arrange one. The ASI publishes no guide rates, so treat the figure as a guide only.
₹1,500 per group, fixed (visitors report, April 2026); tips optional
(€14)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private day tour with car and guide
Aurangabad: Ajanta or Ellora with Bibi Taj – Guided Day Tour
TourMyChoice (on GetYourGuide)Pickup from your hotel, the airport or the station in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; about 3 hours at Ellora with an English-speaking guide, then Bibi Ka Maqbara. Sedan for 1–2, SUV for larger groups. Entry tickets, the electric vehicle, meals and tips are extra. 'Skip the ticket queue' on the listing does not mean the ticket is included.
from €41 per person
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private car and driver over two days, guide optional
Private 2 Days Tour: Ajanta Ellora Caves and Aurangabad City
Jk Tours travels LLP (on Viator)A Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-based operator: day one Ajanta, day two Ellora, Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara, with airport or hotel pickup. Transport only: entry, shuttle bus, guide and meals cost extra. Check the days: Ajanta is closed Mondays, Ellora Tuesdays.
from €83.99 per group of up to 3 (sedan); €135.76 by SUV
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private car for Ajanta and Ellora in one day, guide optional
Private Ajanta Ellora Guided Day Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry
Tour My Choice (on Viator)Pickup 7:30 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ajanta in the morning, Ellora in the afternoon. Both sites in one day means only about 2 hours at Ellora, in the hottest and busiest part of the day; two days is better. Despite the title, the ₹600 entry tickets are not included.
from €29.97 per person car only; €82.79 per person with an English guide (2 travellers)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Ellora Caves deals and discounts
Ellora is cheap: the official ASI ticket is the best buy, and buying it online saves ₹50 (₹5 for Indians). Tours cost more because of the car and guide, not because of better entry.
Buy online: ₹550 instead of ₹600
The ASI portal charges foreigners ₹550 and Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals ₹35, against ₹600 and ₹40 at the windows. The same discount applies at Ajanta, Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara.
Under-15s go free
Children under 15 enter free, both Indian and foreign. Add them to the online booking (up to 3 per booking) or tell the window, and carry their passport or ID.
One ticket for all 34 caves
There is no separate fee for the Kailasa temple or any other cave; the only extra on site is the electric vehicle (about ₹40, visitors report, August 2026) if you take it.
ASI free-entry days
On a few days a year the ASI waives entry at its monuments and closes online sales for those dates; at Ellora that happened on 21 June 2025, 19 November 2025 (start of World Heritage Week), 8 March 2026 and 18 April 2026 (World Heritage Day). The ASI announces each one separately, so check its announcements before planning around one, and expect big crowds when it applies.
Best time to visit Ellora Caves
Time of day: be at the gate at opening and go straight to Kailasa. The ticket slots start at 6:00, but gates may open later: visitors report being let in from about 6:45–7:00 (2025–26). By 10:30–11:00 the car park, entrance and Kailasa fill up, and the midday sun on the open courtyards is fierce. Kailasa looks its best again in late-afternoon light, when it is also at its busiest.
Season: October to February is the most comfortable, with dry, warm days. March to May is very hot and visitors find the walking hard even in February. The monsoon (June to September) brings green hills and the waterfall beside Cave 29, but also rain on the open walkways between caves.
What to avoid: Tuesdays (closed), Indian public holidays and the Christmas and New Year school holidays, when crowds have been described as overwhelming, and weekends generally. If you plan Ajanta too, remember it is closed on Mondays.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Start at Kailasa, then work outwards
Cave 16 is right by the main entrance. See it first while it is empty, then the Buddhist caves to the south (1–12), and take the electric vehicle or walk north to Cave 29 and the Jain caves. Come back past Kailasa at the end of the day for the afternoon light.
From Sailing Stone Travel Ellora guide, 2025; TripAdvisor Ellora Caves reviews, 2026
Climb above Kailasa for the overview
Leave the temple and follow the path up towards Cave 16A to look down on the roof and tower. It is the only way to grasp that the whole temple was cut from one rock. The staircase to the opposite side was reported closed in 2025.
From Sailing Stone Travel Kailasa guide, 2025
Bring a torch
The upper hall of Kailasa still has fragments of ceiling paintings, and many cave interiors are dark. A phone torch is enough; flash photography is not allowed inside the caves.
From TripAdvisor Ellora Caves reviews, 2026; GetYourGuide tour information, 2026
Don't skip the Jain caves
Caves 30–34 are a long way from the entrance and many visitors give up before them, but the carving in Cave 32 is among the finest at Ellora and the halls are quieter and cooler. There is a rest stop with toilets and drinks on the way.
From Sailing Stone Travel Ellora guide, 2025
Use the e-vehicle, but don't count on it
The electric vehicles run on a separate ticket (about ₹40, visitors report, August 2026) and take you to the far sections. On busy days they fill up with families and groups, and a solo visitor in 2025 found it hard to get a seat; allow time to walk if needed.
From TripAdvisor Ellora Caves reviews, 2026; Sailing Stone Travel Ellora guide, 2025
Carry water and snacks in
There are shops and small restaurants outside the entrance, and a refreshment stop near the Jain caves, but nothing among the main caves. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen even in winter.
From TripAdvisor Ellora Caves reviews, 2026
Split Ajanta and Ellora over two days
The sites are about 100 km apart. A one-day combination leaves only 1.5–2 hours at each, with Ellora in the hot, crowded afternoon. Visitors who did both in one day say two days, each starting early, work better.
From GetYourGuide reviews of Ajanta–Ellora day tours, 2026
Combine with Grishneshwar, but leave your phone
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple is 2 km away. Phones, leather belts and large bags are not allowed inside; men remove their shirts before the inner sanctum, and shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed. Mondays are busiest there. The lockers outside have been described as just tables, so leave valuables in your car.
From TripAdvisor Grishneshwar Temple reviews, 2024; Sailing Stone Travel Ellora guide, 2025
Book a car for an early start
The first MSRTC bus from the city is said to leave around 8:30, which gets you there after the best hours. An auto-rickshaw arranged through a hotel cost about ₹1,700 return including waiting time in 2025, with a 5:30 pickup.
From Sailing Stone Travel Ellora guide, 2025
How to get to Ellora Caves
- From Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad): Ellora is 29 km north-west, on the road past Daulatabad Fort. MSRTC state buses to Ellora (Verul) leave from the Central Bus Stand (CBS), reportedly every 15–20 minutes from about 8:30; tickets are sold on board. MSRTC and ITDC also run conducted day tours from the CBS that take in Ellora, Daulatabad and Bibi Ka Maqbara, with a tight schedule. Use the red MSRTC buses rather than the shared maxi-cabs outside the bus stand.
- By taxi or auto-rickshaw: hotels arrange cars and autos for the day. Expect roughly ₹1,700 return for an auto with waiting time (2025), more for an air-conditioned car. Book a return trip rather than hoping to find a ride back at Ellora.
- From further away: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar airport (IXU) has daily flights from Mumbai, Delhi and other cities and is about 36 km from Ellora. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar railway station (CPSN) has trains from Mumbai, including the Vande Bharat Express that leaves Mumbai CSMT at 13:15 and arrives at 18:43 (not Thursdays; returns at 08:25 not Wednesdays).
- Parking: the car park near the entrance fills by mid-morning at weekends and holidays, after which cars park along the roadside. Arrive early or have your driver drop you at the gate.
Scams and problems to watch for
Fake ticket websites
Look-alike sites have sold invalid ASI tickets (the ASI warned about one for the Taj Mahal in 2026). The tell-tale sign is any domain other than asi.paygov.org.in or asi.payumoney.com (eticket.webfront.in/asi), or a price above ₹550 for a foreigner's ticket alone.
Unlicensed guides at the entrance
Not everyone offering to guide at the gate is licensed, and approved guides can be hard to find at busy times. Approved guides carry a government ID card; ask to see it, and agree the price and duration before you start. Visitors report a fixed rate of ₹1,500 per group for an approved guide (April 2026).
Paid 'wheelchair service' and helpers
People at the entrance offer wheelchair pushing or assistance for a fee. This can be genuinely useful, but agree the price beforehand; it is not an ASI service.
Hawkers and 'friends of the driver'
Vendors and hawkers work the approaches to Ajanta and Ellora, and at Ajanta some claim to be friends of your driver or guide to sell souvenirs at high prices. Tour operators themselves warn customers about this. A firm 'no, thank you' works.
'Skip-the-line' tour listings
Several online tours are titled 'skip-the-line' or 'fast-track entry' but exclude the ₹600 ticket. There is no paid fast lane at Ellora: the only queue you can skip is the ticket window, by buying the ₹550 e-ticket yourself.
Shared maxi-cabs at the bus stand
Shared maxi-cabs (medium-sized black-and-yellow taxis) outside the Central Bus Stand tout rides to Ellora; travel guides describe them as unsafe. Take the MSRTC bus or a booked car instead.
Accessibility
The paths between the caves are mostly flat and paved, but many caves have steep steps, uneven rock floors and dark interiors. Kailasa's courtyard is at ground level, with a staircase and a ramp to its upper level. In 2022 the ASI announced small lifts on both sides of Kailasa; whether they are in service is not confirmed, so ask the ASI or your hotel before you rely on them. The electric vehicles (about ₹40, visitors report, August 2026) help with the long distances to Cave 29 and the Jain caves. Cave 15 and the upper floors of Caves 10, 11, 12 and the Jain caves are reached only by stairs. Paid wheelchair helpers wait at the entrance; agree the price first.
Combine it with
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga temple
One of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva, an 18th-century temple about 2 km from the caves. Easy to add after Ellora; mind the dress code and phone ban, and avoid Mondays.
Daulatabad Fort
A hilltop fortress 15 km from the city, on the road to Ellora, and an easy stop on the way there or back. ASI ticket ₹250 for foreigners and ₹20 for Indians online; open daily, 6:00–18:00 per its ticket slots.
Khuldabad and Aurangzeb's tomb
The town about 3 km from Ellora where the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb died in 1707 and is buried. A short stop on the way back to the city.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
The 17th-century mausoleum in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar often called the 'Taj of the Deccan'. ASI ticket ₹250 for foreigners and ₹20 for Indians online; open into the evening (to 21:30), so it fits after a day at Ellora.
Ajanta Caves
Buddhist caves famous for their ancient wall paintings, about 100 km from Ellora (107 km from the city). Give it a separate day; closed on Mondays, ASI ticket ₹550 for foreigners and ₹35 for Indians online.
Questions people ask about visiting Ellora Caves
Are the Ellora Caves closed on Tuesday?
Yes. Ellora is closed every Tuesday, and the ASI's online booking does not offer Tuesdays. The Ajanta Caves are closed on Mondays instead, so Wednesday to Sunday works for both (checked October 2026). The ticket slots run 6:00–18:00, but the gates may open a little later than 6:00.
How much is the Ellora Caves entry fee?
₹550 for foreign visitors online or ₹600 at the counter; ₹35 online or ₹40 at the counter for Indian, SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals. Children under 15 go free. One ticket covers all 34 caves including the Kailasa temple (October 2026).
Is there a separate ticket for the Kailasa temple?
No. Cave 16 is included in the ASI ticket for Ellora. The only extra you may pay on site is about ₹40 for the electric vehicle to the far caves (visitors report, August 2026).
How long do you need at Ellora?
Three to four hours for Kailasa, Cave 10 and the Buddhist group, Cave 29 and the Jain caves, using the electric vehicle. Allow five to six hours to see every numbered cave on foot.
Can you visit Ajanta and Ellora in one day?
Yes, many tours do it in about 10 hours from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, but the sites are 100 km apart and you get only around two hours at each. Two days, each with an early start, is far better.
Do I need to book Ellora tickets in advance?
No. Tickets do not sell out; buy online the day before or on the day to save ₹50 and skip the ticket window, which gets crowded at peak times.
Is a guide worth it at Ellora?
For a first visit, yes: there is very little on-site information, and a guide explains the stories in the Kailasa panels and the differences between the three faiths' caves. Visitors report approved guides at the entrance at about ₹1,500 per group (April 2026); check the guide's government ID card and agree the price first.
More sights in India
Amber Fort
Jaipur, India
The Kachhwaha kings' hilltop palace above Maota Lake, with its famous hall of mirrors.
- From
- ₹1,000 foreigners, ₹200 Indians(€9 · €2)
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours inside; half a day with the walk up, Panna Meena ka Kund and Jaigarh
Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)
Amritsar, India
The holiest gurdwara of the Sikhs: open day and night, free to all, with a meal for everyone.
- From
- Free
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the langar; come back before dawn or after dark for the Palki Sahib
Hidden gemHampi
Hampi, Karnataka, India
The ruined Vijayanagara capital, scattered among giant boulders on the Tungabhadra.
- From
- ₹550 foreigners online(€5)
- Time needed
- Two full days for the main ruins; one long day covers the highlights
Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.