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Aurangabad

Aurangabad, named after Aurangzeb, has held importance for its Silk Trade. Its the city Connecting Ajanta & Ellora to all major cities. The city is known for its medieval monuments and cultural heritage and was the seat of the Mughal Empire for a short period. When Aurangzeb became the viceroy of Deccan, he made Aurangabad his capital. Today it is known for the fine colleges and universities and a fast growing industrial town.

Attractions
  • Aurangabad Caves : Buddhist Chapels and monasteries which are known for their sculpture. They lie just beyond the city, nearly forgotten - The Aurangabad Caves, excavated between the 2nd & 6th Centuries AD. Tantra influences echo in the highly ornate and strikingly detailed sculptures and architecture.  Opens at Sunrise and closes at Sunset.
  • Bibi ka Maqbara : Mausoleum of Rabia Durrani, wife of Aurangzeb modeled on the Taj Mahal. In 1679, Aurangzeb's son built a tribute to his mother, Begum Rabia-ud-Durani the hauntingly beautiful Bibi Ka Maqbara. A replica of Taj Mahal, it stands out as the only piece of Moghul architecture on the Deccan Plateau. Opens at Sunrise and closes at 2200 hours.
  • Panchakki : An intriguing water mill dating back to the 17th Century. 
    Open from Sunrise to 2000 hours.
  • Siddharth Garden & Zoo : This late 17th Century Water mill displays the engineering skills of Malik Ambar - architect of Aurangabad City. It is surrounded by a picturesque gardened landscape, dotted with fish tanks. The site also serves as a memorial to a sufi saint, a spiritual guide to Aurangzeb. A famous picnic spot. Also has musical fountain. Garden & Musical fountains closed on Tuesdays. Open from 0900 to 2000.
  • Museums : History museum of Dr. B A Marathwada University. 
    Timing 1030 - 1700 hours. Closed on 2nd & 4th Sat / Sun & Public Holidays
    State Archaeology Museum, Sonehri Mahal, Shivaji Museum 1030 to 1300 & 1400 to 1800hrs.
  • Daulatabad Fort : 13 Kms from Aurangabad. This fort was built by the Yadava Dynasty in 1187 and was known as Deogiri. It was renamed Daulatabad by Mohd-bin-Tughlaq who shifted his capital temporarily here in 1326 AD. Open : Sunrise to Sunset.  Entry Fee - Nominal.
  • Khuladabad : 26 Kms. The simple tomb of Emperor Aurangzeb is situated here.
  • Ellora Caves : 29 Kms. A mere 30 kms from the city are the equally impressive Ellora Caves. What makes this group of 34 cave temples unique is that they are dedicated to 3 different religions - Hinduism, Budhism and Jainism. There are in all 34 caves, of which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. The most remarkable of the carved shrines at Ellora is the Kailasa Temple, chiselled out from a single rock & is lavishly carved and scuplted. 
    Open between 0900 to 1730 hours. Closed on Tuesdays. 
  • Grishnewshwar Temple : 30 Kms. Just half a Kilometre from the Ellora Caves is this magnificient temple, built in the 18th Century. It is one of the five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. 
  • Maheshmal : 50 Km. A beautiful hill resort at an altitude of 913 mts.
  • Paithan : 56 Kms. Situated on the banks of the river Godavari, is this ancient city of Pratishthan, also famous for its association with the renowned Marathi Poet Saint Eknath, whose shrine is located here. Paithan is also famous for its gold and silver embroidered saris called "Paithanis". 4 Kms north of Paithan town is the Jaikwadi Project and the area around Jaikwadi has been developed into the Gyaneshwar Udyan, planned along the lines of Brindavan Gardens at Mysore. 
  • Pithalkhora Caves : 75 Kms. A group of 13 Caves - Chaityas and Viharas, dating back to the 2nd Century BC with additions in the 5th & 6th Centuries. The relief work is strikingly richer and more elaborate, the carvings more precise, than in earlier work.
  • Shani Shingnapur : 75 Kms. Famous for the much venerated Shani Shrine.
  • Sindhked Raja : 90 Kms. Sindkhed Raja is famous as the birth place of Rajmata Jijabai, the mother of great Maratha Warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
  • Ajanta Caves : 104 Kms. In 1819, 100 Kms from Aurangabad, a group of British Officers stumbled upon a secret held by the Sahyadri Hills for Centuries. The horseshoe-shaped gathering of the 30 rock hewn caves of Ajanta. Dating back to the 2nd Century BC, the exquisite legacy of paintings, sculptures, chaityas (Halls), and Viharas (Monasteries) took around 800 years to complete. On the walls of the caves are paintings, many still glowing with their original colours. The outer walls are covered with brilliantly executed sculptures. The Buddhist theme of the Ajanta paintings recounts the life of Lord Buddha and tales of his previous earthly experiences. Closed on Mondays. Timings 0900 to 1730 hours.
  • Lonar Crater : 145 Km. The crater was formed by the impact of a meteorite, nearly 50,000 years ago. The Lonar crater, said to be among the five largest in the world, has the distinction of being the only natural impact crater in basalt rock.
  • Aundha Nagnath : 203 Kms. One of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is an important place of pilgrimage.
  • Pat & Yawal Wild Life Sanctuary : 248 Kms. The tropical dry deciduous forest of Pal and Yawal of Jagaon district, constitute this sanctuary which covers an area of 177.52 Sq. Km. Many species of birds and animals are found here including the panther, jungle cat, neelgai, langur, wild dog, sambar, hyene, tiger, chital and chinkara and birds like the peafowl, grey jungle fowl, red spurfowl, green pigeon, sandgrouse and grey partidge. Accommodation is available at the Forest Rest House.
  • Nanded (Huzur Saheb) : 277 Kms. The Sachkhand Gurudwara is an important place of pilgrimage for Sikhs. This Gurudwara was built to commemorate the memory of the tenth and last Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. 
General Information
Area 200 Sq. Km
Altitude 513 Mts
Summers Max 40 Deg C, Min 24 Deg C
Winters Max 30 Deg C, Min 12 Deg C
Rainfall June to Sept 557 MM
Season The city experiences extreme climate; hot summers and cold winters . The tourists season extends right through the year but the best time to visit is October to March.
STD Code 00 91 240
Road Distances Is well connected by road with Ahmedabad - 623 Kms, Bangalore 1004 Kms, Bhopal 644 Kms, Delhi 1371 Kms, Gwalior 950 Kms, Hyderabad 599 Kms, Jaipur 1013 Kms, Khajurao 1026 Kms, Mahabaleshwar 348 Kms, Mumbai 392 Kms, Nashik 204 Kms, Nanded 277 Kms, Panaji 730 Kms, Pune 233 Kms, Shirdi 121 Kms, Surat 379 Kms, Udaipur 886 Kms.
Air Access Aurangabad is connected by Jet Airways & Indian Airlines with Mumbai.
Rail Access Is directly connected with Bhopal, Gwalior, Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad.
What to buy Aurangabad is famous for its Himroo Shawls, Mashru & Kimkhab weaves, Bidriware artefacts, agate stones and Paithani silk sarees.
       
       

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