Understanding how Aurangabad moves
Aurangabad — officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar — is a compact but spread-out city in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, and its main visitor sights (the Ajanta and Ellora caves, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and the Aurangabad Caves) sit both inside the city and well beyond it. That shapes how you get around: short hops within town are usually handled by auto-rickshaw or bus, while the big cave excursions are best done by hired car or organised tour.
One thing to set expectations: there is no metro, tram or suburban rail network in Aurangabad, and no stored-value transit card system. Getting around is largely cash-based, and bargaining is normal.
Rail connections
Aurangabad's railway station (formerly Aurangabad Railway Station, now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, station code CPSN) is the city's rail gateway, with direct trains from Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Amritsar. The station has an information booth, waiting rooms, rest rooms, book stalls, a canteen and a computerised ticket booking office. Wheelchairs are available on request from the Station Master's office on Platform No. 1, but there are no trolleys; porters can be hired at fixed rates and generally expect a small tip.
If you are arriving by long-distance train, Manmad is the nearest major junction on the Central Railway, with connections onward to Aurangabad by train or road. If you have a connecting train, leave a generous buffer between arrival and departure — and note that if you miss a connection because your previous train ran late, you can claim a full refund at the connecting or destination station.
Buses and public transport
City buses are the cheapest way to move around. Intra-city services are owned by the municipal corporation but privately operated, and AMT (Aurangabad Municipal Transport) buses ply throughout the city and its outskirts, connecting different neighbourhoods and adjoining suburbs. They are affordable and heavily used, which means they get crowded during morning and evening rush hours.
Smart City buses, run by municipal bodies at subsidised rates, cover much of the city too and are generally less crowded and better equipped than AMT buses. Fares are low and paid in cash to the conductor, so carry small denominations. Buses run on fixed routes with roughly early-morning to late-evening operating hours, and frequency varies by route. Route maps are usually available at major bus stops, though signage is not always in English — asking the conductor or a fellow passenger is the quickest way to confirm you are on the right bus. Real-time tracking apps are not fully reliable here.
The Central Bus Stand (CBS) is the main hub for both city and long-distance services. A second depot, the MSRTC CIDCO Bus Stand, operates city buses and long-route services to other districts and towns. Private operators run from their own depot, but state-owned MSRTC buses are the better bet for punctuality on shorter journeys; private buses can be delayed and sometimes wait until seats fill.
For sightseeing further out, MSRTC and ITDC run daily conducted tours by semi-luxury bus to Ellora, Ajanta and Daulatabad, with city stops included. These can be booked at the Central Bus Stand. They suit travellers short on time, but the schedule is tight and you will not have long at each site. A budget tourist bus also runs from the city to the Ellora Caves, and long-distance state buses to Ajanta depart from the central bus stand.
Auto-rickshaws
Auto-rickshaws — locally called "tum-tums" — are the workhorse of short-distance travel in Aurangabad. They are three-wheeled, open-air, easy to flag down at almost any hour, and rarely more than a minute's wait. They seat two comfortably and three tightly.
Meters are fitted by law but almost never used, so agree on the fare before you board. As a rough guide, a short hop within the city centre is inexpensive, and a cross-town trip costs more; a half- or full-day sightseeing hire covering places like Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and the Aurangabad Caves can be negotiated as a package. Drivers often claim not to have change, so keep small notes handy. If a quoted price seems inflated, walk away — another driver will usually appear quickly.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Traditional metered street taxis are less common than auto-rickshaws. You will find them at designated stands or can hail one in busier areas, but for unmetered rides you should negotiate and agree on the fare before starting. Chauffeur-driven taxis and cars with drivers are widely available through hotels, travel desks and local operators, and are the recommended option for tourists — especially for day trips to Ajanta and Ellora. Air-conditioned sedans and SUVs are easy to arrange. When booking, confirm whether tolls, parking and waiting time are included, and make sure the day rate covers the return journey.
App-based ride-hailing works in Aurangabad. Ola is the most reliable option and offers both autos and cars with fixed, pre-calculated fares, so there is no haggling. Uber's presence is thinner, and cars can be hard to find outside central areas. Availability can be patchy at peak times and in quiet neighbourhoods, and you may wait a while for a driver to accept. Payment can be by cash, card or UPI wallet.
For evening and night travel, app-based services or transport arranged by your hotel are safer and more dependable than flagging an auto on the street, particularly if you are travelling solo. Hotels can arrange trusted drivers for late-night or early-morning transfers.
Walking and cycling
Aurangabad is not a broadly walkable city. The sights are spread out, pavements are inconsistent, and many main highways and congested commercial arteries lack sidewalks altogether. The heat makes long walks impractical for much of the year, so plan any walking for early morning or late afternoon, and carry water and a hat in the dry season.
That said, there are genuinely pleasant pockets on foot: the Gulmandi and City Chowk markets, the lanes around the old gates that earned Aurangabad its "City of Gates" nickname, and the immediate surroundings of monuments such as Bibi Ka Maqbara. Local guides offer walking tours of old Aurangabad and its markets, which is a good way to see these areas with context.
Dedicated cycling infrastructure is limited and cycling on main roads is risky, though rural roads around the caves may offer some opportunities. Rented scooters and motorcycles are available from a few rental outfits and some hotels; a helmet is legally required, and you will need a valid licence and an international driving permit. Inspect brakes and tyres before you set off. Self-drive cars are available but challenging given local traffic conditions.
Getting from the airport into the city
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU), still widely known as Aurangabad Airport, sits on Jalna Road at Chikalthana, east of the city centre. Air India flies here from Mumbai and Delhi, and IndiGo serves Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad.
The airport is a short distance east of the centre, so the transfer into town is quick — typically well under half an hour depending on traffic. The practical options are a prearranged taxi or an app-based cab such as Ola. There is no metro or rail link from the airport into the city, so plan on road transport. If you would rather not negotiate on arrival, arrange your pickup through your hotel or a taxi operator in advance.
Practical tips for visitors
- Carry small-denomination notes. Large bills are often refused for lack of change, and auto drivers frequently claim to have none.
- Agree on auto-rickshaw fares before boarding, and confirm day-hire routes and prices in advance.
- Use Ola for fixed, no-haggle fares; treat Uber as a backup rather than a primary option.
- Download offline maps and use a maps app for planning, since bus routes are not always signposted in English.
- Travel outside rush hours — roughly mid-morning and late evening — for a more comfortable ride, especially near markets and the railway station.
- Keep your hotel's name and address written in Hindi or Marathi script to show drivers.
- Verify opening hours of attractions independently; some drivers may claim a sight is closed in order to divert you to commission shops.
- For day trips, a private car with driver is the most practical choice for Ajanta and Ellora; the budget alternative is the tourist bus to Ellora or the state buses to Ajanta from the central bus stand.
- Accessibility is limited: public buses generally lack wheelchair access, and many older historical sites have stairs and uneven terrain. If you have mobility needs, arrange a private car with driver in advance and communicate your requirements clearly.
- The city is generally safe, and women travellers report comfort using rickshaws during the day. At night, use booked taxis or app-based rides rather than flagging autos.