Aurangabad- Ajanta & Ellora

On 25th June 2009 I, Parul and Daksh set out for Jalgaon. We arrived sharp at 10.15 p.m. Dadar to catch the Nagpur Special departure at 10.25 p.m. Next day morning at 6.30 a.m. we arrived at Jalgaon station. We proceeded towards east side and outside the station there was a rickshaw stand and SBI ATM. There is a single straight parallel road outside the station and after walking for 2-3 minutes we arrived at Anjali Restaurant (based on locals recommendation).We had idli sambhar and the restaurant was no cheap as compared to Mumbai ones. Unfortunately the restaurant does not serve tea, however there a numerous tea stalls .After having breakfast we caught auto to proceed to New Bus Stand. Total Damage: INR 15.00. There is also old bus stand, which is for intercity travel. The shops were closed and usually open at around 9-9.30. Within 10-15 minutes we arrived at the bus stand. The bus stand was quite clean and organized as compared to normal upcountry bus stand. We were advised to wait near stand no.7 and the bus was at 8.00 a.m. Finally the bus arrived at 8.00 a.m. and was 2*2, much comfortable then normal ST bus. Finally at 9.25 we arrived at Ajanta and the bus dropped us on the main road –towards Aurangabad. Total Damage: INR 100.00 and the distance is 55-60 K.M The place was great as we can see mountains on all the sides. We proceeded towards the main gate and after taking left arrived at the entrance and were asked for entrance fee. Total Damage: INR 14.00. There was this straight road without any vehicle noise and took right to arrive at entrance –various shops were present selling maps, stones, paintings, eatables etc. We proceeded towards the bus stand and after passing through the shops arrived at the bus point. There are 2 options available: A/c and Non A/c: INR 12.00 and 7.00 accordingly. Total Damage: INR 14.00. We caught the bus and it was remarkably good one and once sufficient passengers had aboded we set out for AJANTA. After travelling for 10-15 minutes we arrived at the entrance of Ajanta. There is an entrance of 10/person Total Damage: INR 20.00. There is a restaurant named Ajanta and one can have some stuff before proceeding since it’s the last place where u can eat something. There is a cloak room where we kept our luggage and it also has toilet facility available. Charges: INR 4.00 for Cloak and INR 8.00 for bath facility. There are pottery facilities for elders and for small children’s. Charges are INR 300.00 negotiable. There is a giant banyan tree right at the entrance and we rested for around 30.00 minutes and had bhel.
Right at the start on the left side there is a lonely wooden bridge which is used while coming out and the official journey starts with a climb on stairs. Everywhere there were mountains and after walking for 5-7 minutes we arrived at the entrance where the entrance tickets are checked. Thus we started our Ajanta journey with all the caves in sequences numbered from 1 to 30. The caves are great with paintings which still seem live and the initial caves have lights since its quite dark inside. We were not alone, but accompanied by numerous tourists i.e., Indians and foreigners. The caves were not on even base, however one has climb up and down. It was really tiring since it was quite hot and I was carrying daksh most of the times. In between we halted numerous times to rest and have some food. Finally we finished at around 3.45 p.m.and one has to travel the same route to come back. There was a waterfall on the extreme right towards the final caves, however we dropped the plan since there were no waters, and it would have been great in Aug. we arrived back and reached the main road at around 4.45 p.m.we waited on the main road and after waiting for 15 minutes got a lift from GATI logistic TATA 407.We were seated beside the driver and was an amazing experience. Total distance is 98 K.M. from Ajanta to Aurangabad. Total Damage: INR 160.00 finally at 8.10 p.m. we arrived at Aurangabad bus stand and after asking parul we wait at the stand I started the search for the hotel. I got a hotel near the bus stand –SHANGRILLA INN. Total Damage: INR 250.00. The room was nice and big with toilet and TV facility. We had dinner at Paradise restaurant near the bus stand. All the hotels are near the bus stand in a single lane and there is no good restaurant for dinner except for Paradise and Manjeri near the bus stand. Manjeri is pure veg.

Next day on 27th June 09, after taking bath and other morning chores we proceeded towards the bus stand for Ellora 7.15 a.m. we took breakfast-poha at one of the tea vendors and decided to take an auto for sight seeing. The places to be covered were Ellora, biwi-ka-makbara, jyotirling, daultabad fort, tomb of Aurangzeb, pan chakki. After negotiation –Total Damage: INR 350.00 we proceeded first towards Daulatabad Fort which was at a distance of 25-26 k.m. from bus stand and finally we arrived at the fort. Being early morning it was not so crowded and after paying and entrance of INR 10.00 we went inside. It was a huge fort and believed to be one of the finest of that time and was quite huge. Just at the entrance there is big hall which has cannons of various types displayed with one big one at the centre. After proceeding inside on the left side there is a ‘’step-well’’ but in a depilated condition. After proceeding further there is big minar structure –red color which stands out. On the left side there is a huge structure which seemed like assembly hall and is connected to an old temple towards right side. Further walking for 5-10 minutes one arrives at the entrance of the fort. There are lots of monkeys inside the fort. On arriving inside this fort we came across a bridge which was to cross the water beneath –almost 30 feet and look marvelous with huge boulders. On crossing the bridge we arrived at a small entrance and took a guide to explain further—since there was a ‘’bhool-bholiya’’. Total Damage: INR 50.00. He took a mashal and explained us each and every intricacy and it’s impossible to go without a guide. We came out and there is a big cannon- 14ft which is worth a look. One can climb 750 steps to the summit –however there is nothing worth going except for scene. We proceeded towards Ellora and after travelling for 20 minutes arrived at Ellora. Entrance fee: INR 20.00 + 10.00 for auto. We were asked to visit Cave 16. First since it was the best one. Indeed the same was the case and we were left speechless. One should not miss this cave and we saw all the caves till 22. Caves 22-32 were slightly far off—walk of 1.00 k.m. and since it was quite hot we dropped the plan. However I found Ellora much better then Ajanta. We proceeded to jyotirling which was at 10 minutes from ellora. Since it was afternoon it was not so crowded and after spending 20 minutes in queue we arrived at the main entrance. Mens are supposed to remove their upper clothes and we took darshan in flat 30.00 minutes. We proceeded towards the tomb and after travelling for 10-15 minutes arrived at the mosque where we saw Aurangzeb, his son, wife and gurus tomb. The mosque was quite calm and pleasant. We moved towards Biwi-ka-maqbra and arrived in 30.00 minutes. Entrance fee: INR 10.00. While moving towards biwi, we took lunch on the highway and there are good restaurants. Biwi-ka-maqbra looks like taj mahal however cannot be compared in the real sense. The marbles are giving away to rugged looks and appear brownish. On the entrance there is water pool with ducks quacking and daksh enjoyed a lot and was infact not moving from there. The walk towards the main building takes 5 minutes and has a bi garden on the left side. The main building has a mosque on the left side and few buildings on the right and behind. The structure is big and has its own importance. Finally we arrived at PanChakki and since we were late we couldn’t see as there was no electricity and one has to arrive before 4.30 P.M. or after 7.30 P.M. we arrived at 5.00 p.m. in our hotel and after resting checked out at 8.25 p.m. and arrived at Aurangabad railway station –distance 3-4 k.m. Total Damage: INR 20.00 –Auto. There are restaurants near the station and the station building is quite good. Finally our train arrived at 11.45 p.m.and we boarded the train and thus our journey to Aurangabad came to an end.
Key Take aways: Take any means from Ajanta, Bargain hard, carry sufficient waters, food.
For more pictures please follow the following link:http://www.flickr.com/photos/30002962@N05/