From Aurangabad: 3-Day Tour of Shirdi Sai Baba, Ajanta, & Ellora.

Shirdi’s devotional pull and the astonishing rock-cut art of Ajanta and Ellora make this a strong three-day introduction to the Aurangabad area. The tour takes care of long road journeys in a private air-conditioned car, while you set your own pace at each monument rather than being tied to a large group.

I like the door-to-door transport and the practical touches, especially bottled water and flashlights for the caves. I also like the route itself: Shirdi on day one, Ajanta on day two, then Ellora, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara on day three. The main drawback is that the package is transport-led, not guide-led. You explore the monuments on your own unless you pay an additional ₹9,500 per booking for a guide.

Key points at a glance

• Shirdi is a full-day road outing: The temple sits about 115 kilometers from Aurangabad, with roughly two hours of driving each way.
• Ajanta gets its own day: You have time for the UNESCO-listed caves without trying to squeeze them into the Ellora visit.
• Ellora is paired with three nearby sights: Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, and Bibi Ka Maqbara fill the final day.
• Your own car and driver: Choose a sedan or SUV according to your group size, with only your party in the vehicle.
• Cave essentials are supplied: Bottled water and a torch are included, while monument tickets are extra.
• The schedule needs checking: Ajanta closes on Mondays and Ellora closes on Tuesdays, so the order may need adjusting.

Why this three-day route works

This is not a slow, stay-put holiday. It is a sightseeing circuit with several long drives, but the route makes sense. You begin with Shirdi, spend the second day at Ajanta, then use the third day for Ellora and Aurangabad’s nearby sights.

The private format matters here. You are not waiting for a bus to fill or following a large party through every room. Your driver handles the roads, parking, tolls, and fuel while you decide how long to spend at each site. That is useful in India, where distances on the map do not always tell you how long a road journey will take.

The service is designed for solo visitors, couples, families, and small groups. Cars are available as a sedan or SUV, and pickup can be arranged from an airport, railway station, hotel, or another agreed location in Shirdi or Aurangabad.

The price is listed at $87.95 per person, which is good value if you are sharing the car with several people and want transport across three long days. It is less of a bargain for one person once you add entrance fees and perhaps a guide. The value comes mainly from convenience, private transport, and a full route that would be tiring to arrange independently.

Day one: Shirdi Sai Baba and a long temple day

The first morning begins with pickup from your chosen location in Aurangabad. Shirdi is about 115 kilometers away, and the drive takes around two hours each way, making this an approximately eight-hour outing.

The Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is the emotional center of the day. It is a major pilgrimage site, so expect the visit to feel more devotional than archaeological. The tour includes admission to the temple area, but you can purchase a VIP pass for ₹200 per person if you want a faster or more organized entry option. The pass may be bought online or from the temple institute.

The exact amount of time inside the temple can depend on queues and crowd conditions. That is one reason the private car helps. You are not locked into a fixed coach departure after the visit, though the overall day still has a long return journey.

This day suits you best if Sai Baba is a main reason for visiting Maharashtra. If your priority is ancient art and architecture, the road time may feel heavy for a single temple stop. Still, placing Shirdi on its own day keeps the pilgrimage from being rushed and avoids trying to combine it with Ajanta or Ellora.

Day two: Ajanta’s painted chambers and carved cliffs

After breakfast, your driver is scheduled to meet you in the hotel lobby at 8:30 a.m. for the drive to Ajanta. The caves are about 100 kilometers from Aurangabad, and the journey takes roughly two hours. The day is planned for about eight hours.

Ajanta is the more intimate of the two major cave sites. The horseshoe-shaped group of caves is known for Buddhist shrines, monasteries, sculpture, and wall paintings. You move through spaces cut into the rock, with the artwork often appearing in dim interiors where a torch can be useful.

A flashlight is included, which is a small but valuable detail. It helps you see carvings and dark corners without relying entirely on whatever lighting is available inside. Bring the supplied torch, but use it with care around paintings and carved surfaces. The aim is to see details, not point a bright beam at other people or fragile artwork.

Ajanta admission is not included. The stated rate is ₹600 for visitors from non-SAARC countries and ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors. Confirm the current fee when booking, since monument prices can change.

Ajanta is best approached with patience. You may find the paintings difficult to appreciate at a quick glance, especially if you are trying to see every cave. Since the tour is self-guided unless you add a guide, it helps to read a little about Buddhist cave layouts before you go. The optional guide fee of ₹9,500 per booking is a major extra cost, but it may be worthwhile for a group that wants the art and religious symbolism explained rather than simply viewed.

The strongest point of giving Ajanta a full day is breathing room. You are not trying to see Ajanta and Ellora in one hurried outing. The return to Aurangabad is still part of the day, so wear comfortable footwear and keep your expectations realistic. This is a sightseeing day with substantial road time, not a short local excursion.

Day three: Grishneshwar Temple before Ellora

The final day begins after breakfast, with an 8:30 a.m. hotel pickup listed. Grishneshwar Temple is about 35 kilometers from Aurangabad, or around one hour by car.

Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is an important Hindu temple and a natural first stop before Ellora. It is only about half a kilometer from the caves, so the route is efficient. The planned visit lasts around two hours, although temple customs and queues can affect your pace.

This is another religious site rather than a museum stop. Dress respectfully and be prepared for a different atmosphere from Ajanta and Ellora. The tour includes admission to the temple, but it does not promise a temple guide or a reserved entry arrangement.

The close distance between the temple and Ellora is one of the day’s best features. You avoid spending another hour on the road between major attractions and can shift quickly from active worship to monumental rock-cut architecture.

Ellora Caves: a grander, more varied site

Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 34 caves representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions. The site’s most famous structure is the enormous monolithic Kailasa Temple, carved from a single mass of rock.

The scale is different from Ajanta. Ajanta rewards close attention to paintings and quiet interiors, while Ellora gives you large courtyards, sculpted facades, temple forms, and the sheer wonder of rock removed to create a building. You will want time to walk, look up, and understand how the parts relate to one another.

The schedule lists only a few minutes for the transfer from Grishneshwar to Ellora, not for the cave visit itself. Plan on using the wider day for sightseeing, lunch, and the next stops. The tour description does not give a fixed sightseeing duration at Ellora, so confirm your preferred timing with the driver at the start of the day.

Ellora admission is extra. The stated price is ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors. Ellora is closed every Tuesday, so do not book this route without checking the calendar. If your dates place Ellora on a Tuesday, the operator needs to adjust the order or schedule.

Daulatabad Fort: a change of pace

After Ellora, the car continues about 13 kilometers to Daulatabad Fort. The fort dates from the 12th century and passed through the hands of the Yadava, Khilji, Tughlaq, and Mughal rulers.

The planned visit lasts around two hours. That is enough to get a feel for the site, but the fort is not a simple roadside photo stop. You may find steep paths, uneven ground, and exposed sections, depending on how far you choose to walk. The tour information does not promise a guided climb, so your driver’s role is transport rather than historical interpretation.

Daulatabad breaks up the cave visits nicely. After two days centered on temples and rock-cut interiors, the fort gives you a different kind of monument and a wider view over the surrounding area. It also adds physical effort to an already full day, so tell the driver if you need a shorter visit.

Entry is not included. The listed monument ticket information gives a price of ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors where applicable, though the inclusion sheet specifically names Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara as extra-cost sites. Carry some cash and confirm the exact current fee.

Bibi Ka Maqbara, Aurangabad’s Mughal-era finale

The last stop is Bibi Ka Maqbara, about 16 kilometers from Daulatabad and roughly 6 kilometers from Aurangabad city. Built in the 17th century by Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb, it was made in memory of his mother.

It is often compared with the Taj Mahal because of its white-domed form and formal garden setting. The comparison is useful only up to a point. This is a smaller monument with its own place in Aurangabad’s story, and it makes a fitting final stop because it is close to the city and takes about an hour to visit.

The entry fee is listed as ₹300 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹30 for SAARC-country visitors. Like the other monument fees, it is not part of the advertised tour price.

By this point, you will have had a full day at Grishneshwar, Ellora, Daulatabad, and Bibi Ka Maqbara. That is a lot of ground. If you care most about the caves, ask to protect your Ellora time first, then treat the fort and mausoleum as flexible stops.

What the private car and driver add

The practical strength of this experience is transport. The car is air-conditioned, and the price includes fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, and service charges. You also get bottled mineral water, which is welcome during long road days.

The driver is described as speaking good Hindi and English. Several named drivers connected with this service include Mr. Mannan and Mr. Sher Khan. The service record places particular weight on punctual pickups, polite help, clean cars, and timely airport drop-offs. Those details matter more here than fancy extras, because a late start can shorten your time at Ajanta or Ellora.

This is a private activity, so only your group participates. You can book a sedan or SUV based on group size. The tour does not include a professional guide by default, and the self-guided format means you should not expect a detailed explanation at every cave, temple, or fort.

An optional guide costs ₹9,500 per booking. That fee is high compared with the base price, but it may make sense for a family or group that wants one person to explain the art, religious traditions, and architecture across several sites. If you prefer independence and have prepared in advance, the driver-only arrangement keeps the cost lower.

Costs, tickets, and the real value

At $87.95 per person, the tour is priced mainly around private transportation and three days of service. Fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, water, and a torch are included. Those costs can add up quickly if you arrange separate cars for Shirdi, Ajanta, Ellora, and the local sights.

Budget separately for:

• Ajanta entry: ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors, ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors
• Ellora entry: ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors, ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors
• Bibi Ka Maqbara: ₹300 for non-SAARC visitors, ₹30 for SAARC-country visitors
• Optional Shirdi VIP pass: ₹200 per person
• Optional guide: ₹9,500 per booking

The ticket information contains two different levels of detail, with the inclusion section naming ₹600, while the additional notes give SAARC and non-SAARC rates. Confirm current prices before departure.

The package is strongest for two or more people sharing a vehicle. Solo visitors still gain convenience and a private ride, but the per-person price feels less generous once tickets and optional services are added.

Timing, closures, and small planning details

The general start time is listed as 8:00 a.m., while the day two and day three hotel pickups are listed for 8:30 a.m. Confirm your actual pickup time after booking so you are ready in the lobby.

Ajanta closes every Monday. Ellora closes every Tuesday. These closures are the most important scheduling issue, since they affect the core of the tour. Ask the operator to confirm the order before you make nonrefundable hotel or transport arrangements.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The tour is suitable for most people, but the itinerary includes long drives, cave walking, and a fort visit that may involve uneven or uphill paths. The supplied information does not give detailed accessibility guidance, so ask directly if anyone in your group has mobility concerns.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this tour if you want to cover the major sights around Aurangabad without arranging several separate transfers. It is particularly useful for couples, families, solo visitors who want a private car, and small groups that value punctual transport over a formal guided program.

You should also book it if Shirdi is an important part of your trip. The temple receives its own day, while Ajanta and Ellora are not forced into one exhausting outing.

I would hesitate if you want slow museum-style visits or expert commentary at every stop. The schedule is full, the road distances are real, and the base price does not include a guide. You may prefer a shorter custom itinerary with fewer sights and a guide added for Ajanta and Ellora.

Overall, the tour offers a useful balance of reach and ease. The private car, clean vehicles, punctual drivers, and flexible sightseeing make the long route manageable. Book it after checking the cave closure days, confirm the pickup time, and decide in advance if the extra guide fee fits your budget.

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes private air-conditioned car transport, sightseeing transfers, a Hindi and English-speaking driver, fuel, tolls, parking, taxes, service charges, bottled mineral water, and a torch for exploring the caves.

Are monument entrance tickets included?

No. Ajanta, Ellora, and Bibi Ka Maqbara tickets are extra. The listed rates are ₹600 for non-SAARC visitors and ₹40 for SAARC-country visitors at Ajanta and Ellora, plus ₹300 or ₹30 at Bibi Ka Maqbara, depending on nationality.

Is a guide included?

No. The tour is primarily self-guided. A guide can be arranged for ₹9,500 per booking.

Can I get a VIP pass at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple?

Yes. A VIP pass costs ₹200 per person. You can obtain it online or from the temple institute after arriving.

Which days are Ajanta and Ellora closed?

Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday. Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and transport is provided in a private sedan or SUV according to your group size.