Khuldabad: The Valley of Saints Near Ellora Caves

Here's a detail that surprises most visitors: the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, one of history's most powerful rulers, chose to be buried in an open-air grave so simple it has no dome, no marble, not even a roof — just earth, in accordance with his own wishes for humility in death. That grave is in Khuldabad, a small walled town just 3 km from Ellora Caves, and it's one of the more genuinely striking historical footnotes on the entire Aurangabad circuit.

What to See

Khuldabad is known as the "Valley of Saints," home to the deliberately simple, unmarked grave of Aurangzeb alongside the tombs of several Sufi saints that give the town its name. It also houses the Bhadra Maruti Temple, notable for its unusual reclining Hanuman idol — one of very few of its kind anywhere in India, and worth the short stop on its own merits.

Why It's Worth the Short Detour

Most travellers rush past Khuldabad on the way to or from Ellora without stopping — which means you'll likely have the town's narrow lanes and quiet shrines mostly to yourself. The contrast between an emperor's real, humble grave and the elaborate monuments built by his predecessors elsewhere in India is the kind of detail that sticks with you long after the trip.

Timings

The town and its shrines are generally open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily, with free entry.

How to Reach

Given its location just minutes from Ellora Caves, Khuldabad is almost always visited as a short add-on to an Ellora Caves trip rather than a separate journey — it adds barely 20 minutes to your day.

Plan Your Visit

Read our Ellora Caves guide and book a car rental in Aurangabad to combine both stops, or call us and we'll route it in for you.