Two UNESCO World Heritage sites sit within a morning of this city, and almost nothing else does. Gateway Aurangabad is the sensible base: sixty-three keys in landscaped gardens on Dr Rafiq Zakaria Marg, low-rise and quiet, with the airport nine kilometres off and the station eight.
Ellora is around half an hour, Ajanta a little over two. Both reward an early start and a long day, which is what a hotel in this city is for.
Why We Place Guests Here
- It is the only property in the city at a standard that matches the rest of our journeys.
- Sixty-three keys and garden grounds make the return from a full day at Ajanta restful rather than institutional.
- The Tea House is a proper Oriental speciality room — unusual for a hotel this size, and welcome after a week of Indian menus.
The Table
- Latitude — all-day dining
- The Tea House — Oriental speciality
- Garden Café — seasonal, open-air
- Tease — the bar
The Elevated India Signature
Ajanta on the early run, reaching the cliff before the heat and the coaches both.
Questions, Answered
Where do you stay to visit Ajanta and Ellora?
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly Aurangabad, is the base for both. Ellora is around half an hour away, Ajanta a little over two hours. Gateway Aurangabad is where Elevated India places guests.
Was this hotel called Taj Aurangabad?
It has been through several IHCL brands — Taj Residency, then Vivanta, now Gateway, with the city's new name in the title. It remains an IHCL property.
Journeys That Take You There
Explore the destination guide: Aurangabad, Deccan ↗
Photography: Photograph courtesy IHCL