One of the major issues I had during my recent visit to Ajanta & Ellora caves and Daulatabad Fort was transportation
.
Typical private cab [4 seater] from Aurangabad to Ajanta Caves [apx 102 KM / 64 miles] cost INR 3500 and to Ellora and Daulatabad Fort [ apx 30 KM / 19 miles] cost INR 1800. Unfortunately; there are no cab sharing options and is cost effective; only if you are traveling in a group.
This becomes prohibitively expensive for a solo traveler like me. So i decided to search the internet for alternative options. It is quite strange that State Tourism board [MTDC] or Indian Tourism board [ITDC] do not have any conducted guide tours to either Ajanta or Ellora or Daulatabad !! So much for tourism promotion !
Thankfully; got to know that Maharashtra State Transport [MSRTC] has bus trip to these places. Unfortunately; there are no guide on these buses. They just pick you from Aurangabad city & bring you back. Still; its better than paying expensive cab fares !
The next challenge was to get information about the bus service. MSRTC website is pathetic and totally user unfriendly. Calling up MSRTC helpline was a wrong idea - it was perpetually either ringing or engaged !! I had a Aurangabad based friend to go to local MSRTC bus stand to get information; but then even he got sketchy information in a typical Indian bureaucratic fashion !!
Thus with total lack of information about commute option to Ajanta & Ellora; I landed in Aurangabad. Mentally; i was prepared to hire a cab as a last option; cringing at paying exorbitant cab fares !!
So that evening; while i was casually exploring the area where i was staying [Station Road, Aurangabad]; I come across MTDC office / hotel . Was quite happy to see a hoarding advertising air conditioned Volvo bus services to Ajanta & Ellora and Daulatabad starting from MTDC office itself.
The guys at MTDC office were quite friendly and answered all queries. There is no guide on the bus and personal guide will have to be hired.
Happy at the viable option of traveling to these World Heritage sites; i come back next day to travel to Ajanta caves.
I shall just mention about the journey in this blog and will write a separate blog on Ajanta,Ellora & Daulatabad
Ajanta Caves:
So next day [Sunday]; i reach MTDC hotel / Office at 07.45 AM. Even tourists going to Ellora board the same bus. They are later separated and put on to a different Volvo at MSRTC bus stand.
Only return tickets are issued costing INR 695 . So; if you plan a one way trip and hang around in Ajanta; you still have to pay the amount. Only remember - you are not allowed single return journey and will have to arrange for own transport back to Aurangabad.
The prices mentioned on the hoarding are old and quite typically not updated !
Later; i got to know that you can also book ticket in advance at the MSRTC bus stand . This is advised during the tourist season. One can also directly buy the ticket in the bus itself.
The bus typically starts at 8.00 AM from MTDC hotel / office [recommend that you reach the place at least 15-20 minutes in advance] and reaches MSRTC bus stand. in apx 10 minutes
Again; there is no separate bus bay or any signage advertising bus services to these two World Heritage sites.
Here; tourists going to Ellora are shifted to a separate bus.
The air conditioned bus is very comfortable and great relief;since the road to Ajanta is under repairs and the 2.5 hrs journey can get quite bumpy !
Another advantage is that traveling by this bus; you get off at the main entrance to caves. Other visitors have to get off at a point apx 4 km [15 min journey] from main entrance and have to take a shuttle bus for apx INR 30.
Another advantage [if you are staying in station road area] is that you dont have to shell INR 30-50 to commute to MSRTC bus stand; since you shall be directly boarding at MTDC point and same bus goes to bus stand.
The driver mentions the departure time which is typically 14.30 / 15.00 hrs . Ensure that you reach the departure point well in advance.
As mentioned earlier; there is no guide on the bus. One has to hire a approved guide at the information counter or better still purchase a guide book from archaeological Survey of India [ASI] counter located after the security check point.
Please note that Ajanta Caves are closed every Monday
Ellora Caves:
The tickets cost INR 350.
Repeated the same process of boarding the bus at MTDC point at apx 8.00 hrs and was put on to a separate bus at bus stand. The driver/ conductor informs the passengers to shift to adjacent bus.
This tour starts with Gireneshwar Temple [45 min halt] moves to Ellora Caves [apx 3 hr halt] I personally found Ellora more beautiful than Ajanta caves. There is a shuttle bus to visit the the Jain caves - the fare is covered in the ticket prices.. Post Ellora; the bus stops at a Paithani Saree weaving centre [30 min] and then moves to Daulatabad fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara and then back to base.
These buses are a great help to solo travelers and save the pain of paying exorbitant cab fares. The only drawback is that there is no guide on the bus and one has to hire a guide. A audio book would also have been a great help.
Please note that Ellora Caves are closed every Tuesday.
MTDC contact details:
Address: Railway Station Road, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
415510
Phone: 0240 234 3169
