Place: Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Month : November
Venue: Soneri Mahal
Genre: Dance & Music Festival 

It is a festival of dance and music held in November in the magnificent Soneri Mahal in Aurangabad. Dating back to 17th century, this architectural marvel was built by Pahadsing, an Orchha chieftain. 

The festival was previously held in the splendid surroundings of the World-heritage listed cave temple of Ellora, about 30km from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Ellora comprises of about 34 caves cut out of the sloping side of the Chamadri hills. Excavated between 600-1000 AD, the caves belong to Buddhists, Jain and Hindu faiths. Ellora represents some 300 years of experiments carried out by different faiths with their very different iconography and structural compulsions. Another 28 caves have been discovered later by the archeological Survey of India. The masterpiece of Ellora is the Kailash Temple. It is the world's largest monolithic sculpture, sculpted out of a rock by 7000 labourers over a 150 year period.

This festival showcases a mix of classical and folk- dances, instrumental, vocals, milajula mushaira etc from the best talents in Indian music and dance. The Festival aims to put the historical and pictorial sites in and around Aurangabad in the spotlight. It is a unique and charming way to experience some of them such as Daulatabad, Bibi-ka-Maqbara, Panchakki (A watermill), Lonar, Shirdi, and the magnificent caves of Ellora and Ajanta, imbibing centuries of history and culture. The Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival is organised by Aurangabad Festival Committee under the chairmanship of the Divisional Commissioner Aurangabad in association with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) where India's renowned artists perform their talents in music and dance.

Contact Address

• Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival
  Chief Co-ordinator & Dy.Secretary (Housing Dept.)
  Mantralaya, Mumbai.
  Ph.: 022 - 22024678, 22871515

• Chairman Sub Committee & District Magistrate
  Office of the Collector, Aurangabad.
  Ph.: 0240 - 2331200
  E-mail: jaiswal_s72@hotmail.com

• Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (M T D C) 
  Express Towers, 9th Floor,
  Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021 
  Ph: 022 - 22024482/ 4522 / 4584
  Fax: 022 - 22024521
  Email: webmaster@maharashtratourism.gov.in
  Website: www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
  

How to get there

Air:  The nearest airport is Aurangabad.
Rail: Aurangabad is the nearest railway station on South Central Railway Line. Mumbai - Aurangabad via Manmad (388-km) and via Pune (400-km).
Road: Aurangabad, is well connected by road. Tourists can take taxi from Aurangabad to access Ajanta and Ellora Caves.