Located in the northern part of Maharashtra state, Aurangabad city is 375 kilometers away from the state capital Mumbai. This town is surrounded by lovely hills of Vindhya Ranges. It is also adorned by the River Kham which passes through it.
History:
There was a village named Khadki (Khadki) where the city stands today. According to some historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar. Malik Ambar was the Prime Minister ofMurtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagar, the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India). It is widely believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Malik Ambar's rule. Initially, it was named Fatehpura (city of Victory), probably after Malik's son Fateh Khan.
In 1634, Aurangzeb was sent to Kirki as Governor of Deccan. In 1644, he moved to Agra to play an active role in Mughal politics.
In 1681, the city again became the residence of Aurangzeb, who had now become Mughal Emperor. He used the city as a base for his campaigns to conquer the last remaining Deccan sultanates until his death in 1707 AD. The modern name of the city was probably taken during his period. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city.
Aurangabad has a temperate climate with moderate winter between November to February and hot summer from April to June. The city experiences Monsoon from end of June to September. It rains moderately, but the nearby areas vary from arid, semi-arid to fertile.
One may visit this city anytime of the year, but still it is best to travel between October and March when winter sets in and it’s pleasant to move out and enjoy the sight-seeing.
Good hotels in Aurangabad accept international credit cards. One can also find some ATMs of major banks around the city. So it is advisable to carry some money in cash and pay the rest by credit card.
All visitors who come to India are required to have a valid passports for at least for 6 months. However there are a few exemptions, like:
Natives of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives staying for less than 3 months
Transit Passengers with an onward ticket within 3 days of arrival as long as they are not going to leave the airport.
Also some extra restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghani Nationals. It would be better for them to check updated visa requirements before travelling.
By Air Aurangabad airport is situated 10 km away from the city towards the east side. It is well connected by daily flights to Mumbai, Delhi via Jaipur and Udaipur. One can find taxis and auto rickshaws easily outside the airport and anywhere around the city. The tourist can also have a pre-rented car at the airport on arrival.
By Train Though Aurangabad is not a major station, a lot of trains stop here. However, Manmad-113 kms northwest of the city is a major station from where one can get a train to anywhere in India. There are two trains directly to/from Mumbai and also a daily train to Hyderabad. Other direct connections are from Delhi (1395 km) and once in 5 days to Amritsar via Delhi route.
By Road Aurangabad has a good network of roads. One can drive in and around the city easily. Buses can be taken for Pune (5 hours), Nashik (5 hours) and Indore. Luxury buses are available for Mumbai via Pune or Manmad.
The most famous monument in Aurangabad is ‘Bibi ka Maqbara’. It is the mausoleum of the queen of Aurangzeb (a Mughal emperor). Inspired by the Taj Mahal, the emperor built this structure as final resting place for hir wife Begum Rabi’a Daurani.
Also check a poor but interesting replica of Taj, built by Ata Ullah khan for the emperor’s first or second wife (it is quite a myth).
Few kilometers north of Bibi ka maqbara is a cluster of Buddhist caves cut from rocks dating back to 4th-8th century when the Vakatakas and Chalukyas used to rule over this region. Aurangabad is an interesting place for historians and there is a lot which tells a story about the place and its destiny.
Panchakki:. It is a wonderful water-powered flourmill built in 17th century. It is quite an engineering masterpiece for its time. Its water is pumped from a reservoir located 6 km away, into a tank, which today houses entire shoals of the ‘khol’ fishes. There, one would also find the memorial of a Sufi saint ‘Baba Shah Muzaffar’ who used to be Aurangzeb’s spiritual guide.
In Aurangabad one can find a variety of dining options from restaurants to extensive a-la-carte selections which offer Gujarati, North Indian and rich Mughalai cuisine. Bars are in plenty both in hotels and in licensed ‘permit rooms’. Street food, which is quite a popular option in India can be found in and around every market place. It is tasty and cheap but not always very hygienic.
Where To Stay:
This city has a variety of hotel accommodation of all price range. Ranging from deluxe hotels with every comfort including conference and business facilities to reasonably priced standard hotels to very low budget no frill hotels. It all depends on how much you want to spend on your stay. There are plenty of hotels located near the bus stand and railway station. A few kilometers away from the west of railway station the tourists can find top five star hotels.
Some hotels worth mention are:
TAJ RESIDENCY - 5 STAR WELCOMGROUP RAMA INTERNATIONAL - 5 STAR THE MEADOWS - 3 STAR AMBASSADOR AJANTA - 5 STAR
Ajanta: These caves were discovered by a group of British officers hidden behind the dense jungles and excavated out of a steep horseshoe shaped gorge. These caves are chiseled out by Buddhist monks between 200BC and 650AD for prayer halls and monasteries. One would find fine sculptures and Buddhist architecture. Besides the caves there is a ‘view point’ on a hill opposite the caves showcasing the amazing scene of the caves and the gorge.
Ellora: These 34 monolithic cave temples have awesome architecture and carvings on a grand scale and brilliant designs. These temples were built earlier than the Ajanta (350 AD to 1000AD). It has monuments relating to the Buddhists, Hindus and Jains too. There is a Very Huge Kailash Temple which is also the world’s largest monolithic sculpture.
Daulatabad It is close to Aurangabad, around 13 kilometers on the way to Ellora. One would love to see the wonderful fort perched on the top of an 100 meter rock ‘hillock’. It dates back to 9th Century when it was known as Deogiri. The fortress has been a part of history. It has been under control by Yadavas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals and finally by the Marathas. But it is still most remembered for Mohammad bin Tughlaq’s attempt to shift the Capital from Delhi to Daulatabad.
Khuldabad Khuldabad is 22 km away from Aurangabad. It is a small walled town. Many historical figures of the Deccan are buried here including the last great Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. On special holy days qawwalis are performed in the Nakkar Khana.
Paithan Paithan is a hindu pilgrimage. It lies on the banks of river Godavari around 56 km to the south of Aurangabad. This place is famous for its ‘Paithani’ silk saris.
