November to February is the best time to visit. Temperatures drop to a comfortable 10–25°C, the air is dry and clear, and the caves at both Ajanta and Ellora are visited in genuinely pleasant conditions. December and January are peak tourist season — expect more visitors at the major sites but also good transport connections.
March to June is hot and increasingly uncomfortable, with temperatures climbing to 40°C or above by May. If you visit in this window, go to the caves early in the morning (they open at sunrise) before the heat builds. The mango season — April and May — is one consolation: the alphonso mangoes from this part of Maharashtra are among the best in India.
July to September is monsoon season. Aurangabad receives moderate but reliable rainfall. The caves themselves are unaffected — the rock protects them — and the countryside around Ellora turns dramatically green. However, the road to Ajanta can become difficult after heavy rain, and Lonar Crater Lake is at its most beautiful filled from the monsoon. Humidity is high but temperatures are cooler than in the pre-monsoon months.
October is a transitional month: the rains are mostly finished, the landscape is still green, and the heat has not yet fully subsided. It is an underrated time to visit, before the peak-season crowds arrive.
Ajanta is closed on Mondays; Ellora is closed on Tuesdays. Plan your itinerary accordingly.