Aurangabad's position in the Marathwada region puts it within reach of some of the most remarkable ancient sites in India, all accessible as day trips.
Ellora (30 km north-west) is the closer and more manageable half-day excursion. The 34 rock-cut caves were excavated over four centuries and span three religions — Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain — with the colossal Kailash Temple (Cave 16) as the centrepiece. Buses run regularly from the city bus stand; most visitors combine Ellora with a stop at Daulatabad Fort (15 km out, on the same road), a 14th-century hilltop fortress with a devious spiral entrance designed to confuse attacking armies. Ellora is closed on Tuesdays.
Ajanta Caves (100 km north-east) require a full day. The 30 Buddhist monastery caves cut into a horseshoe-shaped gorge of the Waghora river contain the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian painting — murals of extraordinary delicacy depicting the life of the Buddha and the Jataka tales. The drive takes around 2 hours each way; private car hire is the most convenient approach. MSRTC and MTDC tours also run from the city. Ajanta is closed on Mondays.
Lonar Crater Lake (140 km north-east) is less visited but extraordinary: a 50,000-year-old meteorite crater lake, one of only four hyper-saline impact craters in the world, surrounded by a forest reserve and ancient temples. The water is alkaline and turns a distinctive green. It can be combined with an Ajanta trip as an overnight, or done as a very long day from Aurangabad.
