Aurangabad

Aurangabad, it is known for some of the finest colleges and university in Maharashtra. And it is the fastest growing industrial town in India. But the charm and glory of its long past has not been lost. And its heritage is rich and varied - the result of the artistic and cultural influences of several dynasties since its first Stone Age inhabitants.

 

 

Places of Interest in Aurangabad:

Aurangabad Caves

Aurangabad Caves are artificial caves, dug out of the rather soft rock during the 6th and 7th century. This caves are found on two separate locations, called Western Group Caves (caves 1-5) and Eastern Group Caves (caves 6-10), about 1km from each other.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, in Agra, in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz. His son Aurangzeb, who overthrew him, built the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as a mausoleum to his wife Rabia-ud-Durrani. This is the monument for which Aurangabad is best known, probably because it was obviously intended to rival the Taj Mahal, which it imitates.

Excursions in Aurangabad:

Ajanta

 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 'vihar as' (monasteries) took around 800 years to complete.

Ellora

 A mere 30 kms. from the city are the equally impressive Ellora caves. What makes this group of 34 caves temples unique is that they are dedicated to 3 different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism & Jainism. One of its key attractions is the monumental Kailas Temple - the largest single monolithic structure in the world.

Khuldabad

3kms. from Ellora Lies Khuldabad - literally 'heavenly abode'. The final resting place of Emperor Aurangzeb, this walled town was once an important center

Bani Begam Gardens

 24 kms. from Aurangabad, you can find the tomb of Bani Begam - companion to one of Aurganzeb's sons. It lies amidst sprawling landscaped gardens, interspersed with fluted pillars, elegant domes and aesthetic fountains - showcasing the splendid architecture of the times.
 

How To Reach Aurangabad

By Air : Aurangabad airport is situated 10 km east of the city. Both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have a daily flight to Mumbai (Bombay). The Indian Airlines has an evening flight to Delhi via Udaipur and Jaipur.

By Rail : Aurangabad can be easily approached by rail from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. There are regular trains available on South Central Railway to reach Aurangabad.

By Road : Aurangabad is well connected with major cities of the state by a good network of roadways. The distances for some of the major cities from Aurangabad are Pune (214 km), Nasik (218 km), Indore (402 km) and Mumbai (403 km).