At a glance Aurangabad is an offbeat destination in the state of Maharashtra. It attracts attention of tourists because of its many famous historical and religious architectural sites. It is true that Aurangabad is not a green hilly destination, though it has a good number of gardens giving you a comfortable stay in the town. It is fringed by the Satmala Hills, by the Kaum River.
About the city Aurangzeb Tomb,Aurangabad, Aurangabad Travel, Aurangabad Tour, Aurangabad India, Aurangabad Tourism, Aurangabad Hotels The city of Aurangabad is known for its medieval monuments and cultural heritage. It was the seat of the Mughal Empire for a short period.Clay and mud huts and depressing acres of empty sunburnt land lie along side spanking new-cemented buildings, industrial estates, and luxury hotels. Yet, few buildings rise above three storeys, the streets remain sparingly filled, and traffic jams do not exist. It would appear to be a city sleeping in the sun, though, in fact, this is not so. It is an industrialized, competitive city, and within the walls of various structures, men work towards ambitious goals. Aurangabad cannot be called green, in spite of the several gardens. Its ambience is earthy, a blend of dust and brown soil and warm sunshine, accented by brilliant gulmohar (Delonix regia) blossoms in scarlet and orange. Aurangabad was an important seat of the Mughal Empire during the Mughal rule in India. The town holds a good number of Mughal architectural marvels making it an important historical destination of Maharashtra. The town is situated on the banks of the Kham River. The medieval monuments and cultural heritage, the silk and cotton textiles and its proximity to the famous world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora attract a good number of tourists towards it every year. Though the city looks calm and quiet with not much humdrum on the streets, it is an industrialised, competitive city making its own mark on the tourist and industrial map of India. It is also interesting to note that Aurangabad was formerly known as Khirki (meaning window) because of its strategic position that provided a window view of the Deccan plateau. Aurangabad, like most Mughal-trodden spots on the Indian map, is two-faced. The old wrinkles of a bygone era enhance the youthful flush of this tourist-driven economy, like the rambling fort wall of the city or the sun-bleached dargahs that promise to be the keepers of more of the prodigious history that sustains this city. The age-pocked walls of the old city, erected by Aurangzeb, can be sighted from the car itself by lazy archaeologists. Aurangabad’s strategic position in the Deccan earned it the name of "Khidki" meaning window, serving as it did, as an opening through which North India could look into the Deccan.
How to reach Road: Car: Quite a drive but good because of the number of excursions around. Take the expressway to Pune; catch the state highway to Ahmednagar via Shirur. Then take the Ahmednagar-Aurangabad state highway via Pravara Sangam to Aurangabad. En route halts lots of options in Pune and Ahmednagar. Bus: Catch an overnighter from Mumbai Central (departures 6, 6.15 and 8.15 pm) Rail: Aurangabad Station: Best option TO Devagiri Express (dep: Mumbai CST 9.05 pm, Dadar 9:20 pm, Thane 9:45 pm; arr: Aurangabad 4.50 am) Best option FROM Devagiri Express (dep: Aurangabad 11.20 pm; arr: Thane 7.23 am, Dadar 7.48 am, Mumbai CST 8.20 am). Rail is by far the best option. Air: Chikalthana Airport. Serviced by Indian Airlines and Jet Airways. Journey Time Road: 8 hrs from Mumbai Rail: 7 1/2 hrs from Mumbai Air: 45 mins from Mumbai
Distances 390 km North East from Mumbai From Mumbai Expressway to Pune State highway to Aurangabad via Ahmednagar
Best Seasons Preferably in winter; summers are scorching. Aurangabad is best after the rains from Aug to Sept. Whatever the season, carry a sun hat and sunglasses. The weather of Aurangabad is temperate with moderate winters (November-February) and summers (April-June). This region experiences good south-western monsoon rains between June and September. Though the weather of Aurangabad is moderate, it is advisable to visit it in the winter season between November and February.
Places in and around Bibi-ka-Maqbara This elegant structure, which the locals proudly call Twin of Taj Mahal and outsiders call Poor Man's Taj, was built by Aurangazeb's son Azam Shah as a tribute to his mother Begum Rabia Durani. Bibi-ka-Maqbara can be quite a trek into nostalgia, well-preserved and retaining the luminosity of all Mughal structures. The marble's ivory shade and the geometric designs still survive despite the intermittent vandalism of the decades. The monument's delicate minarets preen in the sky, while close by the pretty mosque declares the Mughal heritage louder than a muezzin's call. Sunheri Mahal completes the pretty picture with its remnants of a grandeur that refuses to fade. Entry fee & timings: Rs 10 (Indians), Rs 100 (foreigners); 8 am-6 pm. Panchakki Another pretty picture is this water-wheel, with a healthy ecology of its own! Large khol fish glide gracefully in a tank that was part of a snazzy engineering marvel in those days, built by the slave-king Malik Amber. Water, drawn from a reservoir 6-km away, was drawn into a tank and an elaborate assemblage of ceramic pipes and an iron fan churned the water to create energy used by the flour mill to grind grain for pilgrims. This spot on the left bank of River Kaum was also selected as the burial shrine of Baba Shah Musafir, Aurangzeb's favourite saint. In its ordinary red marble structure it shares the attributes of severe austerity so true of Aurangzeb himself. Entry fee & timings: Rs 5 (Indians), Rs 100 (foreigners); sunrise to sunset. Cameras Not allowed. City ruins For romantic tourists, for whom ruins have more than a macabre interest, Aurangabad is strewn with such reminders. The years have battered down the old city's walls with even greater force than the attacks of the Marathas. The Delhi, Jalna, Paithan and Mecca darwazas have withered with age, as too the nine gateways. Rubble is all that remains of complexes like Naukonda Palace, Killa Arak, Damri Mahal and the Baradari Iwaz Khan Aqueduct. Places of worship Scattered in and around the old city these masjids and dargahs, because of continued usage, are better preserved. Jama Masjid takes the lead, having been favoured by both the Nizams and the Mughals. The Shah Ganj Masjid rises majestically against the clutter of the market, the metal spire looms over the Chauki-ki-Masjid (built by Aurangzeb's uncle) while the emperor's tutor lies buried in Dargah of Pir Ismail in the north of the city. Bani Begum Gardens These elegant gardens, about 24 km from Aurangabad, house the tomb of Bani Begum, the consort of one of Aurangzeb's sons. Built in various styles, equipped with massive domes, fountains and fluted pillars, these gardens are a fine specimen of Deccan-influenced Mughal architecture. Aurangabad Caves Though these caves, situated a couple of kilometres north of the city, always lose out to the splendour of Ajanta and Ellora, their place in the annals of Buddhist art cannot be discounted. It is also a good spot from which to view the Bibi-ka-Maqbara shimmering 2 km away. There are 10 caves, split into east and west wings, with the fourth and also the oldest among them, belonging to the Hinayana phase of Buddhist architecture. Though the caves show different degrees of wear and tear, friezes from the Jataka tales and other artwork survive. Cave 5 is particularly interesting, where the Buddha has been painted over as a tirthankara by the Jains. Entry fee & timings: Rs 10 (Indians), Rs 100 (foreigners); 9 am-5 pm . Daulatabad Also called Devagiri, Daulatabad was always a coveted stronghold as it passed through the hands of different empires. But it is most remembered as the Great Folly of Delhi Sultan Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, who forced his subjects on a long and arduous trek across the North Indian plains and into the Deccan Plateau, to populate his new capital Daulatabad. Just a few years passed and they were forced to make the trek back, when the monarch decided that life on a hot and dusty plateau was far worse than hot and dusty Delhi. Check out the free-standing Jama Masjid close by, its companion Chand Minar and take a peek into Chini Mahal. MTDC is very organised in Aurangabad, so you can always catch a bus to Daulatabad if you are scrimping (Rs 85 to and from, with guide). ITDC also has a similar service at Rs 125. But the most hassle-free way to travel is to hire a private vehicle Rs 1,200 approx, to and from the fort; a city sightseeing package for Rs 2,000 for the day covers trips to the Ellora caves, Daulatabad Fort and Aurangabad. Entry fee & timings: Rs 5 (Indians), $5 (foreigners); 9 am-6 pm.