Maharashtra

Why visit

Ellora's Kailasa temple was carved downward out of a single rock face rather than built up, and the Ajanta caves lay hidden under forest cover until 1819. Pairing them with a Mumbai city stretch and a short break in the Western Ghats at Lonavala covers the state's coast and its history in one trip.

• Elephanta Caves by ferry from the Gateway of India
• Kailasa temple (Cave 16) at Ellora
• The painted caves at Ajanta
• Bhushi Dam and the Karla-Bhaja caves at Lonavala

Places covered

MumbaiLonavalaElloraAjanta

Suggested itinerary

1. Day1

   Arrive Mumbai

   Gateway of India and Marine Drive; evening at Bandra.

2. Day2

   Mumbai

   Elephanta Caves by ferry, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Crawford Market.

3. Day3

   Lonavala

   Drive via the Western Ghats; Bhushi Dam and the Karla and Bhaja caves.

4. Day4

   Travel to Aurangabad

   Onward journey to Aurangabad; afternoon at Bibi Ka Maqbara.

5. Day5

   Ellora Caves

   Full day at Ellora, including the Kailasa temple and the Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave groups.

6. Day6

   Ajanta Caves and depart

   The horseshoe-gorge caves at Ajanta, then transfer to Aurangabad airport.