Plan your trip · Ellora
Best time to visit Ellora
October to February is the easiest time for Ellora, with dry weather and cool mornings for the long walk between cave groups. The monsoon is the most beautiful season, and the hot months work if you start at the gate at opening time.
❄️ Winter
RecommendedOct – Feb
Warm and still humid in October, then dry and mild from November to February — the comfortable season, with cool early mornings.
Pack: light cottons, with a light layer for early mornings and after dark.
Plan a winter day →☀️ Summer
Mar – May
Hot and dry from March, peaking in the high 30s °C in April and May. Mornings and evenings are the time to be out.
Pack: loose light cottons, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Plan a summer day →🌧️ Monsoon
Jun – Sep
The rain arrives in June and runs to September — steady through July and August, heaviest towards the Ghats, with local flooding after a big downpour. Much cooler and greener than the summer.
Pack: an umbrella or rain shell, quick-dry clothes and grippy footwear.
Plan a monsoon day →October to February
This is the main season. Days are warm and dry, nights are cool, and the air is clear for photos from the rim above Kailasa. October still has green on the ridge from the rains. December and January bring school trips and holiday crowds, especially at weekends and over Christmas and New Year. Mornings in these months can be chilly, so bring a layer.
March to May
The Deccan plateau gets very hot, and by May the afternoons are often above 40 °C. The caves themselves stay cooler than outside, but the courtyards and the walk to the Jain caves are open to the sun. If you come now, be at the gate at opening time, finish by midday and return for the late light if you have the energy. Carry more water than you think you need.
June to September
The monsoon here is moderate compared with the coast. Rain comes in bursts, the ridge turns green and small waterfalls pour over the cliff, including the one beside Cave 29 at the north end of the Hindu caves. It is a good time for photos, and crowds are lighter on weekdays. The rock steps get slippery, so wear shoes with grip, and expect some paths to be muddy.
Days of the week
Ellora is closed every Tuesday. Weekends and public holidays bring day-trippers from Aurangabad and beyond, so a weekday is always calmer. At Grishneshwar, Mondays are busier than other days.
Time of day
Be at the gate when it opens for quiet caves and cool air. The caves face west, so late afternoon gives the warmest light on the carved fronts. Midday is the time for cave interiors, not courtyards.
Questions
Ellora — FAQ
Is Ellora worth visiting in the monsoon?
Yes. The ridge is green, waterfalls run over the cliff and weekdays are quiet. Wear shoes with grip, as the rock steps get slippery when wet.
Is Ellora too hot to visit in May?
It is hot, often above 40 °C in the afternoon. It is still doable if you arrive at opening time, see Kailasa first and rest through the middle of the day.
Which day of the week is quietest at Ellora?
Any weekday except Tuesday, when the caves are closed. Avoid Sundays and public holidays if you can, when day-trippers arrive from Aurangabad.
When are the Ellora waterfalls running?
During and just after the monsoon, roughly July to early October, depending on the year's rain. The best-known fall is beside Cave 29.