CAVES HERITAGE TOUR
Aurangabad | Maharashtra | India
3 Days 2 Nights
10 PAX Private Group
Bangkok
2 UNESCO Heritage sites
Per Person | Private Group of 10 pax
“Chiselled in rock — a civilization’s immortal brushstroke.”
Step into one of humanity’s most astonishing artistic legacies on this exclusive 3-Day / 2-Night Heritage Tour departing from Bangkok (BKK), crafted for a private group of 10. The Ajanta Caves — 29 rock-cut Buddhist monuments with breathtaking 2,000-year-old frescoes — and the Ellora Caves — 34 astonishing temples carved by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain artisans — represent the absolute pinnacle of ancient Indian art and architecture. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, set in the dramatic volcanic Deccan landscape near Aurangabad, Maharashtra. An intimate, unhurried private tour with an expert art-history guide, luxury air-conditioned transport and a handpicked 4-star hotel base — a journey into the soul of ancient India.
3 Days / 2 Nights
3 Days / 2 Nights
Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)
Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India
Ajanta Caves + Ellora Caves (both UNESCO
Private AC Vehicle Throughout
5-Star Hotel, Aurangabad
Daily Breakfast + Selected Meals
Expert Art-History & Heritage Guide
October to March
2nd Century BCE – 6th Century CE
Buddhist Rock-Cut Monastery Complex
29 rock-cut cave monuments carved into a dramatic horseshoe-shaped cliff above the Waghora River — the world’s finest surviving examples of ancient Buddhist art. The fresco paintings (Jataka stories, Bodhisattva figures, court scenes) are extraordinarily vivid after 2,000 years. The sculptural work in the Vihara (monastery) and Chaitya (prayer hall) caves is reathtaking. UNESCO inscription: 1983.
Must-See Caves: Cave 1 (Bodhisattva Padmapani), Cave 2 (ceiling frescoes), Cave 10 (oldest chaitya), Cave 16 (Dying Princess), Cave 17 (best paintings), Cave 19 (elaborate facade), Cave 26 (reclining Buddha)
6th – 11th Century CE
Buddhist, Hindu & Jain Heritage Complex
34 rock-cut cave temples representing the three great religions of India — Buddhist (Caves 1–12), Hindu (Caves 13–29) and Jain (Caves 30–34) — carved over 500 years by multiple dynasties. The centrepiece is the Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) — the world’s largest monolithic rock excavation, carved top-down from a single basalt cliff. A staggering achievement of human ingenuity. UNESCO inscription: 1983.
Must-See Caves: Cave 10 (Vishvakarma), Cave 12 (Teen Tal, 3-storey), Cave 16 (Kailasa Temple — the unmissable centrepiece), Cave 21 Rameshvara — finest Hindu sculpture), Cave 29 (Dumar Lena), Cave 32 (Indra Sabha — Jain masterpiece)
All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle. Expert art-history and heritage guide throughout.
Your Heritage Tour begins at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, where the group boards the flight to Aurangabad — the heritage capital of Maharashtra and the base for exploring both Ajanta and Ellora. Known as the ‘City of Gates’, Aurangabad was the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s capital and is home to remarkable monuments of its own. The afternoon is spent exploring the city’s own heritage treasures before settling in for the two-night cave exploration ahead.
Meals: Dinner | Accommodation: Lemon Tree Aurangabad / WelcomHotel Rama International (4-Star)
An early start for the most extraordinary art gallery in the ancient world. The 29 Ajanta Caves — cut into a dramatic U-shaped gorge above the Waghora River in the 2nd century BCE — contain some of the world’s most extraordinary artistic achievements: vividly coloured fresco paintings depicting the Jataka tales of the Buddha’s previous lives, scenes of court life, nature and devotion, executed with a mastery of perspective and storytelling that rivals the Renaissance. Your expert art-history guide brings each cave alive with context, symbolism and narrative.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Accommodation: Lemon Tree Aurangabad / WelcomHotel Rama International (4-Star)
The third and final day is dedicated to the Ellora Caves — perhaps the most astonishing archaeological site in all of India. Unlike Ajanta’s painted Buddhist caves, Ellora presents a panoramic sweep of 34 rock-cut monuments representing Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism side by side, carved over five centuries. The day’s centrepiece is the overwhelming Kailasa Temple (Cave 16) — the world’s largest single-rock structure, carved downwards from a cliff face to create a freestanding temple, dwarfing everything around it. The group departs Aurangabad in the evening for the return flight to Bangkok.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Accommodation: — (Departure Day)
| HOTEL | NIGHTS | HIGHLIGHTS | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyatt Hotel Aurangabad | (or WelcomHotel Rama International| or Vivanta Aurangabad) | 2 (Nights 1 & 2) | Central location near historical monuments | Pool & spa | Multi-cuisine restaurant | Conference facilities | Airport transfers | Heritage views | 5-Star |
| Included | Not Included |
|---|---|
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| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Best Time | October to March is ideal with pleasant temperatures (18–28°C). The caves are open year-round, but monsoon season (July–September) can be humid. Ajanta is closed on Mondays, and Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. |
| Dress Code | Comfortable, modest clothing recommended, with covered shoulders and knees. Flat non-slip shoes are essential due to uneven and slippery cave floors. A small torch or phone light is useful inside dimly lit painted caves. |
| India Visa | Apply for Indian e-Tourist Visa at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4–5 days before travel. Cost ranges from USD 25–80 depending on nationality. A single-entry visa is sufficient, and the passport must be valid for 6 months beyond travel. |
| Photography | Permitted outside caves. Flash photography is strictly prohibited inside painted caves at Ajanta to prevent damage to ancient pigments. Camera permit fees (INR 25–200) may apply inside some caves. Professional equipment may require separate permission. |
| Health | Cave walks involve moderate uphill paths. Comfortable walking shoes, bottled water, sunscreen, and a hat are recommended. Basic medicines are available at Aurangabad pharmacies. Emergency medical facilities are located in Aurangabad city. |
| Currency | Indian Rupee (INR). Thai Baht can be exchanged at Aurangabad Airport or hotels. ATMs are widely available in Aurangabad city. Carry INR 500–1000 cash per person for entrance fees, tips, and purchases. Credit cards are accepted at 4-Star hotels and major shops. |
| Shopping | Aurangabad is known for Himroo shawls and sarees (gold-thread brocade), Paithani silk (peacock-tail weave), Bidriwork (silver-inlay metalcraft from the Deccan), and Ajanta replica art prints. Himroo cooperative workshops near hotels offer authentic products. |
| Connectivity | Purchase Indian SIM at Aurangabad Airport (Airtel / Jio, 4G coverage). Wi-Fi is available at the 4-Star hotel. Mobile signal may be weak inside cave gorges. Prime Value Tours uses a WhatsApp group to keep all guests connected throughout the tour. |
| Booking Steps | Payment & Cancellation |
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