Aurangabad Airport

Aurangabad Airport (IXU), officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport, sits about 11 kilometres east of the city centre on the Aurangabad-Nagpur highway. It is a relatively small facility handling domestic flights primarily from Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and a handful of other Indian cities. Despite its modest size, the airport has been designated as an international airport since 2017, though regular international services remain limited. The single terminal handles both arrivals and departures, and passengers will find that the entire process from kerb to gate is straightforward and efficient – a stark contrast to the chaos of larger Indian hubs.

Getting There

Reaching Aurangabad Airport is simple. The airport is located along National Highway 753F (Aurangabad-Nagpur Road), about a 20- to 30-minute drive from the city centre depending on traffic. Auto-rickshaws are the most common local transport – they are cheap and readily available, but negotiate the fare in advance; expect around ₹300-500 from the central railway station or bus stand. App-based cabs like Ola and Uber operate in the city but can be less reliable for timely airport pickups; it is safer to book a private taxi through a hotel or a local service. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) runs a limited bus service to the airport, but frequency is low – plan for a cab if you have a flight to catch. For those driving, the airport has a paid parking lot with reasonable rates (₹50 for two-wheelers, ₹100 for cars for the first few hours, with daily caps).

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Aurangabad Airport is a single-storey building that feels more like a bus station than an airport – compact, functional, and not particularly glamorous. Check-in counters are to the left as you enter, with most airlines providing two or three counters each. Security checks are quick, but note that the airport gets busy around 6 pm on weekdays (Monday to Thursday), so arriving two hours before departure is wise. The departure lounge has a handful of seats – often insufficient during peak times – and a single snack counter selling packaged chips, biscuits, and soft drinks. There is no full-service restaurant or bar. Wi-Fi is available but unreliable. On the positive side, the airport is wheelchair-accessible with ramps, accessible toilets, and designated parking. A baby-changing table is available in the washroom. Baggage storage is offered near the check-in area for a small fee (around ₹100 per bag per day). The arrival area is small; passengers exit directly to the car park and taxi stand. The entire facility is clean and well-maintained, though showing signs of age. Do not expect duty-free shops, lounges, or premium amenities – Aurangabad Airport prioritises function over frills.

Aurangabad Airport and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Aurangabad – recently renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – is a city of about 1.2 million people in central Maharashtra, best known as the gateway to two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Ajanta Caves (around 100 km to the north) and the Ellora Caves (about 30 km northwest). These ancient rock-cut cave complexes draw tourists, historians, and pilgrims from around the world. Ajanta features exquisite Buddhist murals and sculptures from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE. Ellora, a more diverse site, includes Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain temples carved into the basalt cliffs, most famously the Kailasa Temple – the world's largest monolithic structure. The city itself has a rich history as a Mughal-era capital, reflected in landmarks like the Bibi Ka Maqbara (often called the "poor man's Taj Mahal"), the Panchakki watermill, and the Aurangabad Caves. Culturally, the region is known for Himroo and Paithani silk textiles, handcrafted bidriware, and the spicy cuisine typical of Marathwada. The city is also a growing industrial hub for automotive and pharmaceutical manufacturing. For travellers, the airport serves as the most convenient entry point to these attractions, though the journey from Mumbai by road or rail takes considerably longer. Understanding the city's dual identity – modernising industrial centre and ancient heritage destination – helps explain why airport traffic is a mix of business travellers and tourists, with peak periods during winter (November to February) and the monsoon season (July to September) when the caves are at their greenest.

Practical Information

The airport is open daily from about 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, or until the last flight departs. It is not a 24-hour facility, so if you arrive late or have an early flight, make sure to plan your overnight stay elsewhere. The official website is https://www.aai.aero/en/airports/contact-us/aurangabad. For inquiries, call +91 240 247 7821. There is no currency exchange or ATM inside the terminal – the nearest ATM is a 5-minute walk outside the gate – so bring enough cash for your immediate needs. Touts and unofficial taxi drivers may approach you at the arrival exit; ignore them and use the prepaid taxi counter inside the terminal for a reliable ride. One concrete tip: if you are heading to the Ajanta Caves, allow at least 3 hours for the drive – the road is winding and slow – and hire a private car rather than relying on public transport, which can be unreliable. For Ellora, a taxi is also best, but the drive is shorter (under an hour). Carry water and snacks as options near the caves are limited. Finally, the airport has limited seating so if you are on a standby or delayed flight, consider arriving later rather than earlier – no one wants to stand for two hours in a small lounge.