What to Eat in Ellora Today?

A village, not a food town

Verul is small, and its restaurants mostly serve people coming to the caves and to Grishneshwar. Expect honest vegetarian food, fast service and a menu built around thalis and snacks. Around the temple, many places keep to vegetarian food. If you want the richer Mughlai cooking this region is known for, eat it in Aurangabad.

Misal pav for breakfast

Misal pav is sprouted beans in a spicy, oily gravy, topped with crunchy farsan, onion and lemon, with soft pav on the side. It is a proper breakfast before a long day on your feet. Ask for it less spicy if you are not used to Maharashtrian heat.

The Maharashtrian thali

At lunch, a thali is the easy choice: bhakri or chapati, pithla (a thick gram-flour curry), a dry vegetable, varan-bhaat (plain dal and rice) and koshimbir (a fresh salad). It is good value and quick, and it will not slow you down for an afternoon of caves.

Naan qalia and biryani

Naan qalia is Aurangabad's own dish: mutton cooked with many spices, eaten with tandoori naan. It came out of the city's Mughal-era kitchens and is at its best in the old parts of the city. Aurangabad's biryani, layered with spiced meat, is the other dish to try. Plan these for dinner once you are back.

Shrikhand

Shrikhand is strained yoghurt sweetened and flavoured with cardamom and saffron. It is served on its own or with hot puri, and it is a cool finish after a spicy meal.

Practical

Carry water and a snack into the site. There are stalls for tea, water and snacks near the entrance, but nothing between the cave groups. Keep food out of the caves themselves, and watch for monkeys around bins.