Kannad is a taluka town in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) district, in the northern part of the Marathwada region, at about 630 m above sea level. It is not a headline destination, and that is the reason to come: the hills around it hold some of the least-crowded heritage in the Ajanta-Ellora region.
The main reasons to visit are in the Satmala range. Antur Fort, near Nagapur village, is a ruined hill fort with double walls, rock-cut cisterns and a lake. Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary, declared in 1986, covers about 260 sq km of forest with birds, langurs and chinkara. Inside the same hills are the Pitalkhora Buddhist caves, among the oldest cave sites in the region, and the Patnadevi temple across the district line near Chalisgaon.
Facilities are modest. Roads into the hills are narrow in places and the final approach to Antur is unpaved, so a hired car and driver, with fuel and water in hand, matters more here than in a city. Most travellers stay at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar or in Kannad itself and use the town as a base, adding Ellora for a famous day out.
Before you plan
Kannad at a glance
- Best months
- October to FebruaryOctober to February; March is workable, April to May is very hot, and the monsoon brings waterfalls but slippery roads
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 days as a base for Antur,…1 to 2 days as a base for Antur, Gautala and Pitalkhora; add a day for Ellora
- Airport
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar AirportChhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport (IXU); roughly 80 km by road, about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic
- Railway station
- Chhatrapati SambhajinagarChhatrapati Sambhajinagar (AWB) and Chalisgaon Junction (CSN) are the main railheads on this corridor
- Getting around
- A hired car with a driver is the…A hired car with a driver is the practical option for Antur, Gautala and Pitalkhora; public transport thins out beyond the villages
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person per day excluding stay, mostly for a hired car and meals; varies with distance covered
- Senior comfort
- Limited: Antur Fort is demandingLimited: Antur Fort is demanding, forest roads are narrow and facilities are few; Ellora and Patnadevi are easier
- Language
- Marathi locallyMarathi locally; Hindi widely understood; English limited outside hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Kannad: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Kannad itinerary
One good day
1 day in Kannad
Fill the tank and pack water, then drive into the Satmala hills for the Pitalkhora caves in the morning, taking the steps down beside the waterfall. Continue through the Gautala sanctuary roads at a slow pace, watching for langurs, peafowl and birds. If time and energy remain, end at the Patnadevi temple, otherwise return to Kannad before dark.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Kannad
Leave early for Nagapur and the base of Antur Fort. Allow about four hours on site, carrying your own water, and keep clear of steep edges. Rest in the afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Kannad
Start early at Nagapur and spend the morning walking the fort. Use the afternoon to rest.
Day-by-day plan →
