In the land of World Heritage Sites- Aurangabad, Ajanta & Ellora- 18-02-21 to 21-02-21

April 4, 2021

1219

The new year 2021 came with a lot of prayers for a virus-free world. However as we stepped into February, the warning bell for the second wave of the Pandemic started ringing. For some time, I was contemplating a trip and decided to move fast before we are incarcerated back to our homes. I wanted to drive somewhere instead of taking public transport for safety reasons. Aurangabad was always in my mind and thus it became the natural selection. Finally, the opportunity came knocking as Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti (public holiday) fell on a Friday providing me a long weekend to fulfil my dream journey.

Trip Summary:

Total Timeframe: 4 night and 3 days
Day Zero- Started from Mumbai on Thursday night at approximately 23:25 Hrs
Mumbai To Aurangabad– 350- 400 Kms
Driving time: 8 Hours approximately
Day 1- Bibi Ka Maqbara and Doulatabad Fort
Day 2- Ajanta Caves
Day 3- Ellora caves and drive back to Mumbai

Driving Routes:

Mumbai Pune Expressway- Ahmednagar to Aurangabad- This is the longest route but I will recommend this for night driving as the road won’t throw any surprises even at a fast pace
Mumbai – Igatpuri- Niphad- Bypass Nashik- Vaijapur- Aurangabad – Fantastic road till Nashik after that major part of the road is under construction and not suitable for night driving
The other option is to take the route to Sinnar from Igatpuri towards Kopargaon. Did not get any feedback about this road from travellers, thus if you have travelled, do let me know your comments

As mentioned earlier I started driving late in the night and thus choose the Mumbai- Pune Expressway. It might sound childish or superstitious but my first pit stop on this route is the Mc Donalds on Kalomboli. At times completely engrossed in the music I have driven here unconsciously and was startled to see the MCD arch. However, this time around I drove in my senses as I desired for a strong dose of caffeine.

I love the Americano at McD more than many of the renowned coffee joints. If you also want to follow the ritual please keep in mind that getting into this restaurant is a bit tricky. The service road leading to the restaurant is frequently under construction though it does not perturb me anymore. In fact, my imagination takes wings and makes me believe that I am driving on the moon.

After the coffee, the drive on the Expressway was as smooth as butter till Talegaon toll station. I have the privileged to experience unprecedented moronic behaviour by a homo sapien. His greatest thrill in life was to avoid paying the toll citing technical issues with the FASTag reader. In the hindsight, it was quite funny that even the symphony of honking from irate drivers behind him did not even bother him. He continued his act for at least 10 minutes as he ran out of excuses and finally had to pay. Utterly displeased that his act did not yield the desired results he shouted his favourite obscenities before fleeing away in the darkness.

The delay in the booth was getting on to my nerve too and my fingers were impatiently tapping over the horn. But, I resisted and reminded my oath of not honking while driving. Thus, I put up the volumes of my music and started singing along. It did help to calm down the frayed nerves and in a short time the incident was past me and the drive became enjoyable again

I kept driving passing Pune city in a hurry due to isolated roads. About 50 Kms to Ahmednagar the double lanes gave way to single and I decided to take a break. I parked on the edge of a crossroad and made myself a piping hot coffee. This simple act in the middle of the night felt so pleasurable and the chillness in the air made the coffee tastes better.

It was 03:30 in the morning and I was surprised to find few local bikers gathering with huge flags of Shivaji Maharaj. I could easily spot a boy as the centre of attraction. He was cracking jokes and keeping everyone together. I slowly walked towards him and offered a cigarette as I came in front of him. He seemed very pleased, lighted the cigarette from his own lighter and took a few long drags before speaking with a lot of enthusiasm.

” I have organised a rally in the honour of the Great King. We are a gang of 50 Bikers. We will start at 05:00 AM and scale the peak of Doulatabad fort and wave the flag of Shivaji Maharaj from its top.

In my mind, I thought it was a better idea to raise the flag at Singhad Fort than Doulatabad but I purposely avoided the topic. I had no intention to teach history in the middle of a night that too at a ratio of 50:1. After a few minutes of vapid chat, I wished them luck and shook hands out of our old habit and immediately realising the mistake started laughing. We both took our Hand sanitiser from our trouser’s pocket and sanitised our hands, smiling and bidding a goodbye

My next stop was 05:25 AM about 150 Kms from my previous stop. I was neither sleepy nor tired. But as I got out of the comfort of the car, the cool breeze of passing vehicles hit me and the sight of a hot warm bed pass by flashed past my eyes. I emptied my bladder and compensated it with a Red bull as I stood and watched numerous vehicles zip past me. While driving, we do not realise the pace at which we are moving but standing there I could see some sense of a Speed limit. Most of the time we callously ignore it citing and inventing new excuses for such actions! I am glad this noble thought crossed my mind albeit quite late in my years. Nevertheless, a sign of wisdom at any age is welcome, isn’t it?

The mosquitoes did not let me introspect for too long. I am an intrepid traveller but could not bear the torment these insects leashed on me and scooted back to the comfort of my vehicle. I started to drive slowly as the daylight started to break and my eyes were looking to get adjusted to it. I drove non stop till I reached the Lemon Tree Hotel at Aurangabad at 0730 AM

Day 1: 19.02.21

Check-in at Hotel Lemon Tree: Early check-in is basis a small additional token payout. This is quite common in this part of the country, thus please confirm it with your hotel during booking
Breakfast and Catch up on much-required Sleep
Visit Bibi- Ka – Maqbara and Doulatabad Fort
Rest of the day in Leisure

I somehow love the Lemon tree brand as it provides great hospitality at a budgeted price. However, this time the location of the hotel was an important factor in the decision. There are many hotels in this area and I will recommend picking yours in this area which will provide you easy access to all parts of the town.

On checking in to my room I did not waste a minute and ordered the breakfast. In the meantime, I took a good hot shower and gulped down a dose of caffeine down my throat. That’s when the calling bell rang with the smell of Dosa lingering in the air. I always carry a camping chair( refer to the checklist for self-driving checklist)! To thank my stars my room was on the ground floor facing the huge pool. I gathered my camp chair and the coffee table from the room and placed them outside the room.

The air outside was fresh and chilly though the sun was blazing on a clear day. A leisure breakfast in the open with the morning news on my mobile was the perfect recipe to start a holiday. As the stomach got its dose of energy it corrupted my mind and longed for the bed. As I laid down on the white sheets, slumber embraced me in its arm while the slow country music from my Ipad kept singing; though I could hear it no more…

I woke up around 1230 PM and due to habit picked up my mobile to glance through all the notification. As I was brushing my teeth I suddenly felt an urge for a sumptuous meal, probably the side effects of a night drive. After a quick search on the google map, my eyes froze upon a restaurant called “Shahi Bhoj” in close proximity to my hotel and I decided to try my luck out.

The restaurant was less than 5 minutes drive and Parking was easily available. As I walked in I could hear the buzz inside. I am sure our paranoia due to pandemic might view it as a danger but I did not mind. I strongly believe the best measure of a good restaurant is the sound of chatter of its patron, the louder the better. There were a few minutes of waiting before I was assigned a seat and food was served from all direction till I can eat no more. The taste was heavenly and the entire exhaustion of night driving vanished in a trice. My picture below probably express demonstrates what I am trying to say better !

The meal augmented my appetite to travel and I was ready in spirit for the remaining part of the day. I drove straight to “Bibi Ka Maqbara” also popularly known as “Taj of Deccan” or ” Poor Man’s Taj”. It is believed to be constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother “Rabia- Ul- Durani”. She was the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Interestingly, the Tomb of Aurangzeb is also located in Khulatabad which is part of Aurangabad district about 45 Kms from Aurangabad.

Bibi- Ka- Maqbara

Important information:

Distance from Lemon Tree: 8 Kms approximately
Driving time: 20 mins
Ticket: Rs 20/- per Adult.
Better to buy it through ASI Website. You can scan the QR code at the entry gate to enter.
Ticket counter also available at the monument to buy your coupon by cash
QR code installed beside ticket counter for DIY(Do it yourself) journey too
Caution: There are touts loitering around to make a quick buck. They will claim that the official guide charges Rs 1800/- while they will show you around at Rs 100-200/- only. The value of the deal surely makes tourists fall for it and agree. After that, there will be a 5 minutes monologue in front of the main gate followed by a photo session. After that, they will inform that they are not allowed inside and their services are over.

As I walked in through the main entrance my mind raced back in time to recollect my first view of the spectacular “Taj Mahal” in Agra. It was a flashback like a movie where I could see myself spellbound, jaws wide open admiring one of the Wonders of the world. Nevertheless, this time around there was no such melodrama when I caught the first glimpse of the Maqbara. It definitely looks similar to the Taj Mahal but far from the splendour of it. Only the dome is made of marble and the remaining structure is made of Plaster of Paris. Therefore the name ” Poor Man’s Taj Mahal” is probably apt

Having said that due credit should also be given to this Maqbara because it is definitely a great architectural marvel. Importantly, there are various instances where stunning pictures can be taken for Instagram post. In fact, the back end of the Maqbara has a wonderful view of mountains which provides an amazing panorama for photo lovers.

I looked around in leisure and completed the tour in an hour. The sun started to tilt towards the western sky, allowing me enough time for my next stop” The Daulatabad Fort”.

Doulatabad/Devgiri Fort

The trek to the summit of the Fort and to return back takes 2 hours for an athletic person. Yes, I am surely boasting about my athleticism but on a serious note, it’s better to set aside at least 3-4 hours to trek the entire fort. For travellers who do not exercise regularly it would be quite strenuous and especially climbing down in a hurry can really do permanent damage to the knees. Caution advised.

Important information:

Distance from Bibi Ka Maqbara: 16 Kms approximately
Driving time: 30 mins
Ticket: Rs /10 – per Indian Adult.
Better to buy it through ASI Website. You can just scan the QR code of the ticket to enter.
Ticket counter also available at the monument to buy your coupon by cash
QR code installed beside ticket counter for DIY journey too
Plastic water bottle not allowed inside
The fort closes at 1800 hrs and thus the summit is closed at 1730 hrs providing just enough time for tourists to scale down to the gates before the scheduled closure of the fort

Daulatabad Fort also called Devgiri ( Deogiri) Fort is an impenetrable fort unless otherwise there is an inside help to breach the security. The Fort is built on a hill of around 600 feet and thus trekking to the top is not for the faint-hearted.

There are a lot of stories about the early days of Deogiri but what seems to be constant is that the entire region was under the Chalukyas of Kalyan. Over a period of time, the Kalyan empire lost its edge and the region came under the powers of the Yadavas dynasty. The name Daulatabad( land of wealth) evolved due to the immense gold, silver, pearls, jewels accumulated during this time. It was riveting to know that in some text it was also referred to as the El Dorado of Southern India

Later in 1294, Allauddin Khilji sent his army and took Deogiri rulers by surprise and captured it. The Yadavas came under the tutelage of the Sultans of Delhi due to lack of unity between the ruler and his ministers. In 1307 when the Yadavas failed to pay the requisite tax, Allauddin again sent his army headed by Malik Kafur who not only won but looted and plundered Deogiri and brought it to ruins. In 1327 Deogiri was renamed as “Daulatabad” and made the capital of Delhi by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq. Ultimately the fort went to the Mughal empire during Shah Jahan’s rule

As I entered through the entrance I came across a small courtyard where ASI have displayed the various forts of Maharashtra and the unique canons in front of them.I loved it and spent time reading about them to enhance my knowledge and creating my new bucket list to travel.

As I passed the courtyard and came in front of the Main entrance ( Mahakoot), I found the wooden doors spiked with Iron rods to nullify the power of the elephants to break open the gate. The other interesting aspect is that just after the main gate the path turns an immediate right creating an open passage after the Mahakoot. Thus, if any enemy breaches the gate there would be soldiers waiting on the terrace to kill them with boulders, rocks, bow and arrow etc

Continuing further I came across a large Orange structure called “Chand Minar” which stands around 210 feet in height. It can be scaled up to the top through a spiral staircase which unfortunately was closed, during my visit. On the opposite side, I found one of the unique concepts I have ever come across. There is a Cannon museum conceptualised and executed by one of our archaeologist Dr Dilip Kumar Khamari. My heartfelt tribute to his idea that allowed me to see 56 different types of Canons of different sizes and built for different purposes

The trek continued till I came across the Chini fort, the name being derived due to Chinese tiles used inside the Palace. Importantly, the spot is amazing to get a few clicks of Chand Minar.

Henceforth, the terrain will continue to be steep and treacherous so brace yourself mentally and keep your body moving. It is better not to sit else to restart your body will be a mental war of its own. Soon, I reached the Saraswati Well which is a Moat, normally found in all Forts.

This is probably the most difficult breach for the enemy if they even manage to reach here. Unlike today, there was no bridge to cross the moat. The soldiers used to swing in with the help of a Leather belt and few would unsuccessfully land in the moat. I learnt this from the security guard who also volunteered to show me the Andheri(Dark) Passage. He showed me various vantage points where soldiers were waiting to behead the enemy if they breach by chance. Leaving behind a video for you to understand the pitch darkness inside this passage.

As I continued further I came across a Ganesha temple where an old lady was sharing tales of a bygone era to whoever willing to lend a patient ear. I listened to her for some time allowing me to catch some precious air. As I moved ahead my heart started to beat much faster as the terrain got steeper with every step. Finally, it was a relief when I reached “Baradari” a fantastic Palace with a 360-degree view from the fort. I was lost marvelling at the beauty of nature when a Security guard tapped on my shoulder to tell me that the fort will close in 20 minutes. Thus I pushed myself for the next 200 steep steps.

After 150 steps, I was greeted by the Kala Pahad canon placed in a viewpoint. A wonderful spot to watch the sun bid farewell for the day. From here the summit is just 50 steps away. The thrill was catching on to me as I moved every step close to the summit. At the summit, I was greeted by a magnanimous cannon called “Durga Canon”. The emotions slowly moved from thrill to contentment. I have quite a vivid sense of imagination and I personified myself to an eagle and the view of the world around me just became better.

The entire fatigue of the journey vanished because of the magnificent view while the wind rejuvenated me to take the steps downward. But before that, I stood there for some time capturing the view in my camera. I also gave a pat on my back and rewarded myself a few gulps of water. The return was tougher than climbing up and thus I walked on the stair railing( wherever possible) than taking the steps, fearing that I might hurt my knees

As I reached the Parking spot I turned around and took a long look back at the Fort and felt proud of what I have achieved. It was time to bid goodbye with thought and gratitude for our ancestors for building a fort town so unique and an engineering marvel on a hill with no modern tools and equipment.

After the trek I decided to drive straight to the hotel to get a cold shower to wash away the fatigue of the trek. I ordered an early dinner so that I can sleep early and be ready for another day of exploration in one of the most important site of India

Day 2: 20.02.21

Important information about Ajanta:

Aurangabad to Ajanta caves : 100 Kms
Time to destination: 3 hrs to 3 hrs 30 minutes
Most part of the road is under construction and thus please be mentally prepared for a horrendous ride.
Ticket cost: For Indians Rs 40/- and Rs 600/- for foreigners
Closed: Monday
Driving to the top of the hill is not allowed. Govt provided buses to be boarded to reach the top
Tickets for the bus trip is over and above the Entry ticket cost. Its Rs 30/- per person on an AC coach while the Non-AC coach costs Rs 20/-
Recommended duration– 3- 4 hours

Ajanta Caves:

After a good sleep and a hearty breakfast, I started my drive towards Ajanta Caves with alacrity in my heart. I could feel a spring in my steps as I have been waiting for this moment for so long. However 30 Kms on the road I was struggling to balance the excitement with the high tide of annoyance which was drowning me due to the horrible road conditions. After about 60 Kms and approximately 2 hours of driving, I decided to take a break.

A sip of hot coffee and the chillness of the air brought me back to my cheerful state. Before resuming my journey I thought of relieving myself and was trying to find a spot when I hit the Eureka moment. Out of nowhere, I found a huge farm of sunflowers swinging in the air. The green leaves and the yellow flowers brought the child in me and I trespassed into the field to enjoy the beautiful sight and got my camera click uninterruptedly

This entire experience cheered me to persevere the remaining half of the journey through dilapidated roads all the way up to Ajanta. As I parked my vehicle a few folks came in offering to clean the vehicle which I refused politely. They did not hassle me and in spite of my refusal, they guided me towards the bus stop.

After 10 minutes of wait, I was lucky to get an AC coach. The drive to the Ajanta cave entrance takes about 10 mins through a narrow road. I wish the fuel-driven buses are replaced by battery-operated buses soon. This would probably increase the time of the ride by a few minutes but it is the right thing to do in the times we are living. At the entrance, there were a lot of hawkers who approached trying to sell various artefacts and mementoes. I refused politely and they did not linger on.

In the initial climb, there are both stairs as well as a podium to reach the first cave. I decided to walk up the ramp and soon a horseshoe-shaped mountain appeared in front of me. There are a total of 30 caves but if you take a guide, they will not only charge Rs 1800/- but will also insist that nothing worthwhile to dwell on is present in most of the caves. I always believe the world is too big to cover in my lifetime and thus if an opportunity knocks I should see every inch of it.

If you are fit I would appeal to cover all the caves. The guides will take you to Cave no 1,2,4, 16,17, 19 and if you are insistent to 26 too. I would recommend buy a book from any shop at Rs 50/- and read it as you walk to each of the cave. There will be a security guard at every cave and even if you do not want to entertain you can always overhear them explaining to other tourists who shares their knowledge for a small tip. I hope one-day audio trails are established so that tourists can use them as a DIY journey

The best mural paintings are in 16, and excellent work in 1,2,16,17 and 19. Apart from this the sculptures in 1, 4,17,19,24 are world-class. Caves 1,2,6,7 have spotlights but please use your mobile flashlights to see around. There are treasures at all corners and angles

Cave 1- is extremely beautiful and ornamented. Keep an eye for a portrait of Lord Buddha in preaching postures with his 5 disciples around him, symbolically suggesting the first sermon in Sarnath. The walls are painted with Jataka tales. The cave contains the masterpieces of world painting, to name Padmapani and Vajrapani. You can request the watchman to show you the masterpieces and they would oblige with a small token of appreciation
Cave 2: Keep a look for outstanding painted ceilings. You have to use a mobile torch to be able to view it
Cave 4- Largest Vihara in Ajanta. The decorated main entrance leads to a hall with 28 pillars
Cave 6: Its two-storied and climbing up and down might not be easy for most people as I found many crawling instead.
Cave 7- Unique cave with pillar and plan looking different from others
Cave 9: There are some stones where it illuminates as light falls on it. I found it by luck as the guide was showing a few tourists
Cave 12: Its like a monastery where there are bed rooms for monks
Cave 13- Used by archaeological staff for their purpose
Cave 16- Wonderful view of the river below especially during Monsoon. Ask the guard for “The dying princess” and they would show you
Cave 17- Similar like Cave 16 and has lot of paintings too
Cave 18- Smallest in size
Cave 19: Will remind you of Petra if you have been. This has a large gate and is decorated through sculptures. Just mind-blowing. Its also called the Sculptures Treasure chest
Cave 26- A sculpture of resting Buddha. The amount of work on stone makes you wonder how skilled the artisans were! There are not only pillars cut from a single rock but each of them are symmetrical to each other and to bring out intricate carvings speaks volume about the quality of artisans at that point of time

The exit is through a steel bridge over the river and is a great spot to relish a few moments before you leave this heritage site behind. There will be a lot of hawkers who will try and sell their goods. The amazing discovery I made is that the prices of the items keep reducing as you get closer to the outer exit gate. Bargaining is very much acceptable here!

As I came out of the exit I found a restaurant and went inside to use the restroom. It was quite clean and thus as a token of appreciation, I treated myself to an expensive coffee. As I came out of the restaurant I found a single queue for a bus and followed the queue. On the way back I got a Non- AC coach and trust me in peak summer it would feel like a blast furnace

As I came back to my car and started to drive back through the horrendous road I turned up the volume and played my favourite music to keep me motivated to reach back to Aurangabad. The ride was tough especially as it turned dark on a non-existent road. I picked up a wine bottle of my choice and headed back to my hotel room to make the best of the evening

Day 3:

Ellora Caves

Important information

Distance from Aurangabad: 30 Kms
Driving time: 45 Mins
Cave 1-12 is dedicated to Lord Buddha
Cave 14- 29 decimated to Hinduism and
Cave 30 – 34 dedicated to Jainism
Recommended duration: 3-4 hours

As it was my last day in Aurangabad I slept a bit late, took a long shower and a really heavy breakfast. After checking out I started driving to my first destination the special “Ellora caves” and if time permits I thought I will check out the Aurangabad caves too. But it was not to be…

There are total of 34 caves in Ellora. Parking is available with a fees and the parking spot is on the opposite side of the entrance to the Cave. Before you enter through the gate please carry a bottle of water as you would definitely need it . I always carry a steel water bottle and fill it up from the hotel and I would request my readers to do it as well because it would go a long way in reducing plastic wastage in our planet

As I walked straight from the gate I landed straight to Cave no 16, the biggest and the most prolific Cave. While I watched the climax at the beginning of my tour which I cannot reverse now but would request all of you to start from Cave 1 and then go with the sequence.

If you are fit please do cover all the caves by walking as this will allow experiencing one of the wonderful terrains with a pond and the roads passes beside the mountain wall. It’s a magnificent spot for photography and enjoy the rugged nature. As I still close my eyes I can visualise the beautiful spot in front of my eyes. All the caves are accessible by foot. In case you have mobility challenges you can take the bus near Cave no 16 to 30-34. But I would surely recommend not to miss out on the trek from Cave 28 to 30 on feet.

If you have limited time then do visit, Cave 2, 5, 6, 10 ( must see), 11- 12( 3 Storied structure and is easily accessible), 14, 15( double-storied, difficult to climb), 16( the best of the lot) 21, 25, 29 ( massive and has three entrants), 30-34( interconnected to each other). If you cannot find the interconnection ask the security guard who will direct you to the right stairs. Once you follow the path you will figure out the rest through your instincts

Cave 1: Plain Vihara with Eight Cell
Cave 2: There is a Buddha statue on a Lion throne denoting the Royal state. There are other statues of the Buddha seated in Lotuses. It is datable to the 8th century AD.
Cave 3: Slightly different than Cave 2 in terms of look, but the Buddha is supported with figures with a snakehead
Cave 4 & 5: This is a huge cave with 24 pillars holding the roof. I felt this is a hotel for pilgrims or a classroom for students
Cave 6: Lot of antechamber with sculptures. Interestingly the head of Saraswati ( Hindu Goddess of learning) can be seen here
Cave 7,8,9– Very plain and simple
Cave 10- This cave is dedicated to Vishwakarma( Hindu God of creation). A staircase leads to a large pillared court and to a gallery with a terrace
Cave 11 & 12: I was told that these 2 caves are by the far the most important in this group. Cave 12 is bigger than 11 and is much more stunning. The Buddha here is in a meditative state. These are 3 stories structure
Cave 14: This cave has an idol of Goddess Durga on the left side and the Vishnu on the third panel. It also has the Goddess of Wealth Lakshmi. On the other side of the wall is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati and various other Goddesses
Cave 15: This is the toughest cave to enter. The climb through steep stairs will definitely make you pant for breath, irrespective of your fitness level. The view from the cave to the outside is magnificent. Head straight to the upper hall which has wonderful sculptures, a few of which are Nandi Bull and the Shiva in a Natraj pose
Cave 16: Thus is the most amazing Temple in the entire Ellora caves. This Cave is called Kailash Temple – the abode of Shiva. To uncover it will take almost an hour if you decide to go around all the nooks and corner. Everywhere single piece of art will leave you astonished. The carvings are magnificent and one of the best you would have ever seen. It makes it special as it was built at a time with no modern tools or machinery. Naturally, I have shared a maximum number of pictures of Cave 16 for consumption. I overheard a Guide informing his clients that it is estimated that the task of quarrying its 30,00,000 cubic feet of rock would have taken hundreds of years!
Cave 17: There are huge pillars in this cave and there is a huge Shiv Ling and the images of Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesha
Cave 18: There are 4 pillars and a Shiv Ling
Cave 19: Another cave with a Shiv Ling
Cave 20: There is a bit of climb here before you encounter Gatekeepers and Gate Keeperesses. Inside you can find a Shiv Ling and images of Ganesha.
Cave 21: There is Nandi on a raised platform. Near to it is the figures of Ganga and Yamuna. Inside the chamber, Parvati’s marriage to Shiva is set in a panel filling almost an entire wall. There is another chamber with lots of panels
Cave 22: I am told it’s called Neelkanth which means a river. Could not follow what it means
Cave 23 and 24: There is an inner sanctum of the temple. Must be incomplete
Cave 25: This is a gigantic cave with the image of Sun God in a chariot
Cave 26: This is a copy of Cave 21
Cave 27: There are a lot of images of Balaram, Shri Krishna and many more which I could not identify due to my limited knowledge
Cave 28: This is an empty room. The security guard informed me that for 6-7 months water falls down here during the monsoon
Cave 29: Before speaking about the cave I think it’s worth mentioning the trek beside the beautiful terrain to reach here. There is a pond below and the rough rock cut mountains all around keeping a watch on you as you trek. It is a massive structure about 45 metres in width and about 6 metres in height. It has 3 entrance unlike any other cave at Ellora. However, I would always recommend getting here through the mountainside through a bit of a steep climb, because the view from here is incredible. Everything here is majestic. The main entrance is a pair of stone made crouched lions. The verandah has a colossal Shiva with 8 arms.
Cave 30- 34 quite a trek away from Cave 29. If you cannot locate it please ask the security guard. Cave 30 is called Chota Kailash. Cave 31 images of Lord Tirthankars. Cave 32 has Indra Sabhas. The entrance has stone elephants. From there you can take the stairs to the top floor and come out of Cave 34

Ellora is magnificent and if you love history and art you will easily take 6 hrs to complete it. For normal travellers, I have recommended 3-4 hrs in case you cover all the caves. A place to visit definitely in your lifetime

I finished my touring of Ellora by 3 PM. For some reason I had this misconception that Ellora is smaller than Ajanta but it turned out to be completely a wrong assessment on my part. Both of them are a gem of its own and I would never trade one for the other. Since I overshot my time I decided to drive back to Mumbai as I will have to be at work the next morning.

This time around I choose the road through Nashik and reached Mumbai by 1115 PM. If you have any questions please feel free to leave your comments and I would be more than happy to assist you