Aurangabad means "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb), is a city in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara. The centerpiece of attraction of the Aurangabad district is the city of Aurangabad which is also its headquarters.
The city lies in the western part of the state and is about 403 km from Mumbai, the capital city of the state. Aurangabad is rich in heritage and culture and is popularly known for its cave temples. The cave temples describe the excellence of art and architecture that flourished during the ancient period, when these temples were built. Aurangabad contributes a large portion of Tourism in Maharashtra. Aurangabad is also known as the City of Gates as the old city is dotted with numerous gates which were erected by Aurangzeb in around 1682 AD. The monuments in and around the city have lured the tourists from all over the world and made Aurangabad a major tourist destination. Ajanta Caves are a group of caves situated about 107 km northeast of Aurangabad. This group of 30 caves belong to a period ranging from 200 BC to 250 AD and were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Ajanta Caves lie within the Sahyadri hills, above the Waghora River and consist of chaitya-grihas (prayer halls and viharas (monasteries). The caves provide a unique combination of exquisite architecture, detailed sculptures and beautiful paintings. All the paintings show great religious influence and are centered on Buddha, incidents from the life of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and the Jataka tales. The Ellora caves, locally known as ‘Verul Leni’ are also a group of caves located at a distance of 30 km from the city of Aurangabad. Ellora is also world famous for the largest single monolithic excavation in the world, the huge Kailasa temple present in the Cave 16.
The majority of the caves are devoted to Buddhism and Hinduism while few caves are dedicated to Jainism. Thus the caves have one of the greatest religious conglomeration at a single place, signifying the religious tolerance and solidarity of different faiths. The Pitalkhora Caves also known as Brazen Glen are a group of caves nestled in the Satmala ranges of the Sahyadris, located near Kannad at a distance of 78 kilometres from Aurangabad. Pitalkhora consisting of 14 Buddhist Caves and it forms one of the earliest centres of the rock-cut architecture. These monasteries embedded with rich carvings with elaborate details date back to the 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. The sculptural representations here are similar to that of found in the stupas of Sanchi, Karla, Nasik, of the same period. Aurangabad Caves are situated at a distance of 5 km, nestled amidst the hills are 12 Buddhist caves probably dating back to 3 A.D. Of particular interest are the Tantric influences evident in the iconography and architectural designs of the caves. One is also treated to a panoramic view of the city from this point. Lonar crater, located about 122 km away from Aurangabad is one of the world's 5 largest craters, formed by the impact of meteorite nearly 50,000 years ago.
It is also believed that impact craters like the Lonar crater is one of the probable causes for the extinction of dinosaurs. The surface diameter of the crater is nearly 1.75 km., and its depth is nearly 132 metres. At its base has formed a beautiful lake, formed over thousands of years by the perennial streams flowing into the crater. On the periphery of the lake are temples built in the 12th - 13th century. Their exquisite carvings are remnants of their glorious past. The Bibi Ka Maqbara is a beautiful mausoleum of Rabia ul Daurani also known as Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. This mausoleum is believed to be constructed during 1651 to 1661 A.D by Prince Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb in memory of his mother. The mausoleum draws its inspiration from the world famous Taj Mahal of Agra and hence it is known as the "Taj of Deccan"and Mini Taj or Baby Taj. Khuldabad is a walled town lying at a distance of 24 km. from Aurangabad. The town of Khuldabad contains the shrines of the most famous saints of the Dakhan. Initially it was known as Rauza meaning Garden of Paradise. It is known as the Valley of Saints, or the Abode of Eternity, because in the 14th century, several Sufi saints chose to reside here. The tomb of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and his trusted general Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I first Nizam of Hyderabad are located in this town, so is the tomb of Malik Ambar. Daulatabad is a 14th century fort city located about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad. The place, once known as Deogiri or Devagiri remained the capital of Tughlaq dynasty, under Muhammad bin Tughluq, who also changed its name, and forcibily moved the entire population of Delhi here, before it was finally abandoned. Paithan is a historic city located 56 km south of Aurangabad on the banks of Godavari River. Previously known as Prathisthan, it served as the capital of the Satavahana dynasty of ancient India that ruled from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. Paithan was home to the great Maharashtrian saint Eknath of Hindu religion. Lots of people flock every year to his samadhi during the time of Paithan Yatra, also known as NathShashti. The town is also famous for the Jain temple dedicated to Bhagwan Munisuvratnath who was 20th Jain Tirthankar.
Gates in Aurangabad are one of the various things that makes Aurangabad stand out from the several other medieval cities in India are its 52 gates each of which have a local history or had individuals linked with them. Not many people are aware of the fact that Aurangabad is also known as the City of Gates. Quila-E-Ark was built in 1692, when Aurangzeb ordered a palace to be built and named it as the Killa Arrak. The space enclosed by the Killa Arrak or citadel covered nearly the whole ground between the Mecca and Delhi gates of the city. It had four or five gateways and a nagarkhana for the musicians. The Am Khas or the Darbar Hall, and the Jumma masjid are the only remains of interest. Barra Darri along with the Damri Mahal are loacted close to the Delhi gate in Aurangabad. The Mahal is new occupied by the Collector’s Office. The Barra Darri and the adjoining buildings were erected by Ivaz Khan. A covered aqueduct passes over one of the buildings and in the olden days water descended in a shower into an oblong cistern below containing several fountains. It is now inoperative. Damri Mahal was built after the completion of the Barra Darri. It is so named because it was constructed by levying a contribution of a ‘damri’ or the quarter of a dub, on an labourers employed on Barra Darri. The Naukhanda palace was built by Malik Ambar in 1616 upon the summit of a rising ground. The massive portal gateway leading to this, over which the Naubatkhana sounded, was called Barkal. According to one account a noble of Aurangzeb’s court named Alam Khan, made additions to this Palace; and further additions were subsequently made by Asaf Jah I. Ghrishneshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located in Verul very near to the Ellora Caves and about 30 km from Aurangabad. The present structure is an 18th century temple constructed by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva and presents outstanding architecture and carving. Shahganj Masjid occupyies the largest market squares of Aurangabad and is one of the finest edifices of its class to be found in India. The mosque built in about 1720 A.D. by Khafi Khan, constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style, and supported on stone pillars. The interior contains twenty four pillars, which with six pilasters in the back wall, are arranged in the form of a square. Pariyon ka Talab (Fairies Lake) situated at a distance of 30 km from Aurangabad at Khuldabad, is a large lake with steps all along its western shore and a stage like platform which bears great resemblance to the ancient Roman Amphitheatre. On Its banks is the mausoleum of Ganj Rawan Ganj Baksh, believed to be the earliest Mohammedan saint of the Deccan. Pari-ka-talab is also known as Ganj Rawan Talab. Gautala Sanctuary is a sanctuary situated at a distance of 65 km from Aurangabad. Spread in the hill ranges of Sahyadri in the proximity of Aurangabad and Chalisgaon. The diversified vegetation scattered intermittently support rich faunal and floral diversity. Particularly it is good for the development of sloth bear habitat and for resident and migratory birds.
Mhaismal is a hill station located 33 km from Aurangabad, is another tourist spot. Mhaismal originally called Maheshmal. An ancient temple of Girijamata is in the village and an exact replica of Lord Balaji temple, Tirupati is located at the top of hill. It is a small but beautiful hill station situated in the vicinity of Ellora caves has also become a hotspot for adventure sports like paragliding and parasailing.
