AURANGABAD TOURISM Location : Northern Part of Maharashtra Famous For : Paithani Silk Sarees, Daulatabad Fort Distance from Mumbai : 388 kms Best Time to Visit : Winters (Oct to Feb)

Aurangabad – Window To History

Ajanta Caves

Places To Visit Getting There Mumbai Pune Nagpur

Nasik Landscape People & Lifestyle Mahabalshwar

Music and Dances Festivals Pilgrimage Monuments Heritage

The city of Aurangabad is famous all over the world for the two world heritages sites of ancient Ajanta and Ellora caves. But for enthusiastic traveler there is much more than these caves. The city with the rich medieval heritage has too much to offer to its tourists from historical monuments, religious places, royal gardens and its art and craft, all of national importance. The visiting the historical monuments of Bibi Ka Makabara, Panchakki, Daulatabad fort, Bani Begum Garden and other historical places of worship makes a perfect day itinerary. Plan a tour to this city and explore its every nook and corner and you will find many important tourist attraction overshadowed by the Caves of Satmala hills.

The Veiled Beauty of Aurangabad

In the heart of Maharashtra state is situated the city of Aurangabad actually named Khirki the dusty village was given to prince Aurangzeb to make it his capital later rechristened as Aurangabad. The seat of Mughal emperor has contributed to it many architectural wonders. The rambling forts and the sun bleaching shrines, the age – pocked walls of the city erected by the Aurangzeb all narrate the story of prodigious history.

A Gateway to Ajanta Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves

In the vicinity of this town lies the two world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves, take a tour to these caves and you will find what the human mind could hardly imagine. The rock cut caves carved by the Buddhist monks centuries ago as a secluded retreat is a real wonder. Intricate designs on walls of caves and the huge sculptures of Buddha inside them, arrest the attention of every visitor. Every year the Ellora caves form a backdrop for the Ellora festivals where the country's leading artists perform amidst these rock carvings. The festival is a must see experience for all tourists and is arranged by MTDC in the winter season.

Daulatabad Fort – The Invincible Fort

A visit to the Daulatabad fort will be the best experience, you will find the traces of the old city of Deogri enclosed in its 2.75 miles circumference of outer wall. Right from the outer wall to the base of the upper fort there are three lines of defense and the secret, quizzical subterranean passages that lie amidst the fort made it invincible. Once inside you will be stunned by the by the beauty of the 210 feet Chand Minar covered by the Persian glazed tiles, erected bu Ala-Ud-Din Bahamani to commemorate his capture of fort. Other several monuments of this fort are Chini Mahal or China Palace and Jamey Masjid built by Qutubdin Mubarak, Sultan of Khilji Dynasty of Delhi. Experience the magic of mighty fort of Daulatabad.

Other Attractions of Architectural Heritage

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Back in the city you can visit the elegant structure of Bibi – Ka – Maqbara, built by Azam Shah as a tribute to his mother Begum Rabia Durani. This monument is proudly called by the locals as Twin of Taj while outsider's call it Poor Man's Taj and is well preserved retaining the luminosity of all Mughal structures. Similarly, Panchakki a water mill is an engineering marvel built by the slave king Malik Amber. For this tank water is drawn from a reservoir six kilometers away and has a underground water supply that fills into its tank While discharging water from the tank the energy produced from churning of iron wheel was used by flour mill to grind grain for pilgrims.

There are also fountains and tanks filled with fish that adds to its charm. This spot is on the left bank of river Kaum and holds the shrine of Baba Shah Musafir, Aurangzeb's favorite saint. For the romantic tourists whom ruins have more meaning than simple rubble, they can watch the ruins of city walls that have battered with the age. The Delhi, Jalna, Paithan and Mecca Darwazas have withered with age. Rubble is all that remains of once splendid complexes like Naukonda Palace, Killa Arak, Damri Mahal and the Baradari Iwaz Khan Aqueduct.

There are also shrines and Masjids where you can pay homage these saints and spent some time in there parks away from the din and bustle of the city. The mosques and shrines of the city among which Jamma Masjid, Chauk Ki Masjid,Shah Ganj Masjid are famous and the Aurangzeb's tutor lies buried in Dargah of Pir Ismail in the north of city. From 24 kilometer of the city lies one of the beautiful garden and tomb of Bani Begum, companion of one of Aurangzeb's sons. This garden is a fine specimen of Deccan Influenced Mughal Architecture. The Aurangabad Caves is the other attraction but always loses out to the splendor of Ajanta and Ellora caves. Visit this place and see the Buddhist caves and the beauty of surrounding areas including the panoramic view of Bibi Ka Maqbara shimmering 2 kilometers away. Also check out the famous Jama Masjid standing close by, Chand Minar and Chini Mahal are other attractions.

The Shopping Thrill

For shoppers Aurangabad has a Kam Khab, the golden and silver thread mixed with cotton to make the exquisite Himroo shawls and sarees available in many showrooms around market area. Paithani sarees, combining pure gold zari with the pure silk t create a riot of colors and motifs. Intricate designs of Flowers, Peacocks, parrots and even Ajanta and Ellora caves are used along the borders and in the main body. The art of weaving Paithani sari is 2000 years old. Bidriware and semiprecious stones are other things that you can shop for in this city.