Getting Your Bearings
Aurangabad — officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — is a compact city in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, and that compactness shapes how you move around it. Most of the famous sights people come for, the Ajanta and Ellora caves, lie outside the city on its outskirts, so a visitor's transport needs split neatly into two jobs: getting across town, and getting out to the caves and forts.
There is no metro, no tram and no suburban rail network here. Getting around means buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis and ride-hailing apps, plus a fair amount of walking in the right places. Fares are overwhelmingly cash-based, so plan accordingly.
Arriving by Air
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU), still widely called Aurangabad Airport, sits on Jalna Road at Chikalthana, east of the city centre. Air India and Indigo both serve it, with flights linking the city to Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.
From the airport into town, you have three practical choices:
- Auto-rickshaw — the cheapest option, but agree the fare before you get in.
- Taxi or app cab — more comfortable and air-conditioned, with fixed pricing if booked through an app.
- Hotel transfer — worth arranging in advance if you're arriving late or carrying a lot of luggage.
The drive into the centre is short, typically well under an hour depending on traffic. If you'd rather not negotiate after a flight, a prearranged taxi or an app booking is the least stressful route.
Arriving by Train
The main railway station (station code CPSN), formerly and still colloquially known as Aurangabad Railway Station, is on Bhanudas Sabhahgrah Railway Station Road. It has the facilities you'd expect on a busy Indian station: an information booth, waiting rooms, rest rooms, book stalls, a canteen and a computerised ticket booking office. Wheelchairs can be requested from the Station Master's office on Platform No. 1, though there are no trolleys. Porters are available at fixed rates, and it's customary to tip a small amount.
Direct trains connect the city with Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Amritsar, among other places. If your journey involves a change at Manmad, the nearest major junction on the Central Railway, leave a generous buffer between trains — at least a couple of hours — since connections can slip. If you miss a connection because of a delayed incoming train, you can claim a full refund at the connecting or destination station.
From the station, auto-rickshaws are the simplest way to reach city sights such as Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and the Aurangabad Caves on the northern hillside.
Arriving by Bus
The city is well connected by road, with national and state highways linking it to Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and beyond, plus direct services from Hyderabad, Solapur, Kolhapur, Goa, Ahmedabad and Indore.
- Aurangabad Central Bus Stand (CBS) is the main hub, near Siddharth Garden and Zoo. MSRTC buses arrive here from Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur and many other cities, and this is also where you book the conducted sightseeing tours.
- The MSRTC depot at CIDCO operates city bus services and longer routes to other districts and towns.
- The private bus depot near DMart and Dargah houses private operators and travel agents. Private services are best treated with caution: delays are common, buses may wait until seats fill, and punctuality is not their strong suit. For shorter journeys, state-run buses are the more dependable choice.
MSRTC "Red Buses" are safe, reasonably comfortable and run at regular intervals to nearby destinations including Grishneshwar Temple, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki, Daulatabad Fort, Khuldabad and Paithan. Tickets are issued on the bus itself, so no advance booking is needed.
Getting Around the City
Within Aurangabad, the practical choices are city buses, auto-rickshaws, taxis and app-based cabs.
City Buses
AMT (Aurangabad Municipal Transport) buses are owned by the municipal corporation but privately operated, and they ply throughout the city and its outskirts. They're affordable and heavily used, which means they get crowded during morning and evening rush hours. The Smart City bus service, run by municipal bodies at subsidised rates, is substantially less crowded and better equipped, and is readily available in most parts of the city.
Fares are low and paid in cash to the conductor, so carry small denominations. Buses generally run from early morning until around 9–10 PM, with frequency varying by route. Route maps are posted at major bus stops, though signage isn't always in English, and real-time tracking on apps can be unreliable. Public buses generally lack wheelchair accessibility.
Auto-Rickshaws
Auto-rickshaws — locally nicknamed "tum-tums" — are the workhorse of short-distance travel in Aurangabad. They're ubiquitous, rarely more than a minute's wait, and door-to-door. Meters are fitted by law but almost never used, so agree on a fare before you board. Short hops within the city are inexpensive; cross-town trips cost more, and half- or full-day hires covering Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and the Aurangabad Caves are common and worth negotiating in advance, including the route.
Two passengers sit comfortably, three at a squeeze. The vehicles are open-sided, so expect dust and noise. Drivers often claim not to have change, so keep small notes handy. If a quoted fare seems inflated, walk away — another driver will appear quickly.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Traditional metered street taxis are less common here than auto-rickshaws or app cabs. You can sometimes hail one in busier areas or find them at designated stands, but for unmetered rides you must agree the fare before starting.
Ola and Uber both operate in the city. Ola is generally the more reliable of the two and offers both autos and cars with the fare shown before you book; Uber's presence is thinner, especially outside central areas. Availability can be patchy at peak times and in quiet neighbourhoods, and payment can be made by cash, card or UPI wallet. Once surge pricing is factored in, app fares come out broadly similar to street autos.
For evening and night travel, app-based services or transport arranged through your hotel are the sensible choice, particularly for solo travellers.
Car and Two-Wheeler Rental
A car with a driver is the most comfortable way for a tourist to cover the region, and air-conditioned sedans and SUVs are widely available. Confirm upfront whether tolls, parking and waiting time are included, and check that the day rate covers the return journey.
Self-drive cars are available but driving here is challenging. Scooters and motorcycles can be rented from local shops or some hotels; a valid licence and international driving permit are required, and helmets are legally mandatory. Inspect brakes and tyres before you set off. Bicycle rentals are limited, though some hotels may offer them.
Walking
Aurangabad is not a city you can comfortably explore entirely on foot — the sights are spread out and the heat is punishing for much of the year. But walking works well in pockets: the market streets around Gulmandi and City Chowk, the lanes around the old gates, and the immediate surroundings of monuments such as Bibi Ka Maqbara. Local guides run walking tours of old Aurangabad and its markets.
Be realistic about the limits. Pavements are inconsistent, and main highways and congested commercial arteries often lack sidewalks altogether, making them less safe for pedestrians and cyclists. Dedicated cycling infrastructure is minimal, and cycling on main roads is risky, though rural roads around the caves offer better opportunities. If you're walking, go early morning or late afternoon, carry water and a hat in the dry season, and avoid midday heat.
Day Trips to the Caves and Forts
The big draws lie outside the city, and how you reach them matters.
- Ellora Caves — a short drive of well under an hour by hired car, or reachable on a budget tourist bus that runs from the city. A half-day visit is practical.
- Ajanta Caves — considerably further, with roughly two to two and a half hours of driving each way. A private car is strongly recommended, or an organised tour; either way, start early, as this is a full-day excursion.
- Lonar Crater — the longest haul of the common day trips, best done by private taxi or self-drive. Public transport is possible but inconvenient.
- Grishneshwar Temple and Daulatabad Fort — closer regional sites, easily combined with an Ellora trip.
MSRTC buses are very affordable and cover the major destinations reliably, but they're less flexible, slower and run to fixed schedules, which eats into sightseeing time. Private taxi day rates vary by vehicle category and season, so get a quote in writing.
Organised Tours
MSRTC and ITDC operate daily conducted tours by semi-luxury bus to Ellora, Ajanta and Daulatabad, and these can be booked at the Central Bus Stand. There's no formal hop-on-hop-off service, but MTDC and private operators run full-day organised bus tours to the caves. These tours suit travellers short on time who don't mind a quick glance at each stop — the trade-off is a tight schedule that doesn't let you linger.
Practical Tips
- Carry small denomination notes. Large bills are often refused for lack of change.
- Have your hotel's name and address written in Hindi or Marathi script to show drivers.
- Useful apps: Ola for rides, Google Maps for navigation (it works citywide and on surrounding routes), and UPI apps if you have an Indian SIM and bank account.
- Rush hours around 9–10 AM and 6–8 PM clog the city centre, markets and railway station.
- Avoid midday travel during the hottest months.
- Scams are relatively rare, but some drivers may claim a sight is closed in order to divert you to a commission shop — verify opening hours yourself.
- Women travellers generally report feeling comfortable using rickshaws during the day; at night, booked taxis or app cabs are advisable, especially when alone, and hotels can arrange trusted drivers for late or early trips.
- Accessibility infrastructure is limited. Public transit and many older historical sites — with stairs and uneven terrain — lack wheelchair access. A private car with a driver is the best option for travellers with mobility impairments; communicate your requirements when booking.
Aurangabad is landlocked, so there's no water transport, cable car or funicular. Every major attraction in the region is reached by road.