Gateway Aurangabad
Aurangabad

A Serene Luxury Hotel near Ajanta & Ellora Caves

There’s something about arriving at Gateway Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) that feels like stepping into a slower, gentler rhythm. Set amidst two hectares of peaceful, manicured gardens, the wide lawns and flowering trees wrap around the building like a quiet secret. The service has an old-world ease; warm, instinctive and never overfamiliar. Tucked away just a short drive from the Ajanta and Ellora Caves – two of India’s most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites – this hotel is the ideal luxury hotel in Aurangabad for discerning travellers seeking heritage, comfort and location without ostentation.

Previously known as Vivanta, this Taj Group property has returned to its Gateway roots, bringing with it a renewed sense of purpose: unfussy comfort paired with understated charm. The architecture has the air of a low-slung palace with pale stone corridors, long colonnades and green lawns where peacocks occasionally wander. Inside, the 63 rooms are spacious and soothing, with private balconies overlooking the gardens or pool, and all the practical comforts a traveller could want from a five-star hotel in Aurangabad after a long day exploring ancient temples or Mughal tombs.

Gateway Aurangabad’s location makes it ideal for those delving into the cultural and architectural legacy of the Deccan plateau – from the rock-cut grandeur of Ellora to the delicate Buddhist murals at Ajanta. Yet returning here feels like a balm, a retreat shaded by neem trees, where the pace softens and staff greet you like a returning guest rather than a passing visitor.

It’s not showy and that’s its strength. There’s a soft, old-fashioned hospitality here; flower garlands at check-in, glasses of nimbu pani, and the scent of frangipani and sandalwood drifting through the air. The signature restaurant, Latitude, serves a mix of Indian and international dishes, while the Garden Café is best enjoyed at dusk with something grilled and smoky, fresh from the tandoor. The outdoor swimming pool is large and refreshingly shaded, and the small but well-kept spa and gym make for a perfect wind-down after a day of sightseeing. Though not overtly opulent, this is a luxury heritage hotel in Maharashtra that delivers on space, style and soul.

This is a place for cerebral travellers, not tourists – those with dog-eared books on Buddhist frescoes and an interest in the Deccan’s complex history. It’s not a hotel trying to be somewhere else, it knows exactly where it is, and honours it, quietly and without pretence.

To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.
Bill Bryson