What to Eat in Ajanta Today?

Near the caves

Ajanta sits in farm country, and the eating near the site is plain and filling. The best meal nearby is a Maharashtrian thali: bhakri (a flatbread of jowar or bajra) or chapati, pithla (a thick gram-flour curry), a dry vegetable, dal and rice (varan-bhaat), and a small salad called koshimbir. It is vegetarian, cheap and quick, which suits a day of caves. Eat it in Fardapur or at the T-junction before or after your visit, not halfway through.

Snacks between caves

Vada pav, a spiced potato fritter in a soft bun with chutney, is Maharashtra's everyday snack, and stalls near the shuttle stops sell it with tea. Don't eat inside the caves or on the painted terraces. Bring water and a light snack in your bag for the walk and the viewpoint.

Back in Aurangabad

Naan qalia is the dish Aurangabad is known for: a spiced mutton curry, thin and rich, eaten with naan from the tandoor. Aurangabadi biryani, layered and fragrant, comes from the same Mughal and Nizam-era kitchens. Neither is really a dish of the cave villages, so plan to eat them in Aurangabad on the evening you return.

Something sweet

Shrikhand is thick strained yoghurt sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom and saffron. With hot puris it is a festive Maharashtrian meal, and some thali places add a scoop on the side. Ask for it at lunch.

Practical notes

Menus near the caves are short, and kitchens can run out late in the day. Carry cash, as small places may not take cards. If you need pure vegetarian food, the thali places are the safe choice. For specific places to eat, see where to eat.