GUIDEBOOK : Caves of Ajanta and Ellora

Getting there: Aurangabad is linked to Bombay, Jaipur, Udaipur and Delhi by air. The flight by India Airlines from Bombay costs about $50 round trip. There are also good railway connections from Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta.

Daily tours by luxury coach to Ellora and Ajanta from Aurangabad cost $4 and $5, respectively. Book from any of the city hotels. Day-tours to Ellora usually include a stop at Bibi-ka-Maqbara, the “poor man’s Taj Mahal,” and at the magnificent 14th-Century fortress of Daulatabad.

When to go: October to March are the best months to visit the Maharashtra region. The weather is pleasant then, although light woolens may be required after sunset.

Where to stay: Double rooms at several world-class luxury hotels in Aurangabad cost $50 to $75 per night. There also are a number of more modest but comfortable, clean double accommodations at $20 and $30. Reservations can be made through the Government of India Tourist Office, Station Road, Aurangabad, local telephone 4817.

For more information: Contact the Government of India Tourist Office, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 204, Los Angeles 90010, (213) 380-8855.