Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Kailasa Temple
The city long known as Aurangabad and now also called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is the practical base for a day trip to the Ellora Caves.
Google Maps ↗ ASI source listing ↗
Independent guide · Page reviewed 9 November 2026 · ASI listing consulted 2026-10-29
Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) is one monument within the UNESCO-listed Ellora Caves. Prices, opening status and routes are dated listings to re-check, not live confirmations.
Two names, one gateway
ASI’s Ellora page uses the older Aurangabad name and places the complex about 30 km north-northwest of the city. Travel bookings, maps and hotel listings may use either name, so confirm you are looking at the same place.
Kailasa Temple is Cave 16 inside the Ellora Caves property; asking a driver for “Ellora” or “Verul” is usually clearer than asking for a single cave number.
Arranging the day
Fix the outward route, the return route, the vehicle, the waiting arrangement and the charge before departure. A one-way drop can leave you dependent on whatever is available at the site. This guide does not publish taxi fares or bus numbers because they have not been independently verified.
Check the ASI sunrise-to-sunset window and the weekly Tuesday closure first, then work backwards to a departure time. Include admission, the walk inside the property and any other caves in the schedule.
Combining regional stops
Travellers sometimes pair Ellora with Daulatabad Fort or Bibi Ka Maqbara. Each is a separate destination with its own travel, admission and timing; a list of nearby places is not a claim that they are within walking distance or that all fit comfortably in one day.
Confirm current opening and ticket arrangements for each stop independently. See the parking guide for drop-off considerations at Ellora.
Reviewed 9 November 2026. Distances, fares and timetables are not published here because they are not independently verified.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ellora from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar?
ASI describes the complex as roughly 30 km north-northwest of the city it calls Aurangabad. Treat that as a regional description, not a door-to-door distance.
Are Aurangabad and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar the same place?
Yes, they refer to the same city under different names. ASI uses the older name; many current listings use the newer one.
Can I combine Ellora with Daulatabad in one day?
It is a common combination, but it needs separate checks of travel, admission and time. This guide does not promise an easy all-in-one day.
Sources and review limits
Page reviewed 9 November 2026. The ASI Ellora Caves page was consulted 2026-10-29; that review is not an on-site inspection, and no clear page-update date was visible on the ASI listing. A Google Maps snapshot or a UNESCO property coordinate is not a verified entrance, ticket counter or accessibility survey.
- Archaeological Survey of India: Ellora Caves — identity, historical attribution, listed opening hours and admission categories.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Ellora Caves — the 1983 inscription, the ensemble and its artistic significance.
- ASI official ticket service — check the actual visit date, eligibility and current charge.
- Google Maps: Kailasa Temple — dated manual snapshot, not site-collected reviews.
No business name, price, timetable, distance, star rating or review score is published here without verification. Temporary closures, conservation work and special orders may override any general listing.