There was a village named Khadki where the city stands today. According to some historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagar, the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India). It is widely believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Ambar's rule. Initially, it was named Fatehpura (city of Victory), probably after Ambar's son Fateh Khan.

In 1634, Aurangzeb was sent to Khadki as Governor of the Deccan. In 1644, he moved to Agra to play an active role in Mughal politics. In 1681, the city again became the residence of Aurangzeb, who had now become the Mughal Emperor. He used the city as a base for his campaigns to conquer the last remaining Deccan sultanates until his death in 1707. The modern name of the city was probably taken during his period. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city which is also known as Saints valley. Important places in and around Aurangabad include Bibi Ka Maqbara (a replica of the Taj Mahal), the Ellora, Aurangabad and Ajanta caves, the Ghrishneshwar Shiva temple and the Daulatabad fort.

Aurangabad is a very historical city along with its surrounding towns and villages. It receives tourists and surveyors from all over the world.

Aurangabad : (meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb) is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments including the Ajanta and Ellora World heritage sites, and is the administrative headquarters of the Aurangabad Division, or Marathwada region. Aurangabad is said to be a 'City of Gates' as one can not miss the strong presence of these as one drives through the city.

Ajanta Caves : Is world's greatest historical monument recognised by UNESCO far near from Jalgaon city of Maharashtra, India. There are 30 caves in Ajanta of which 9, 10, 19, 26 and 29 are chaitya-grihas and the rest are monasteries. These caves were discovered in AD 1819 and were built up in the earlier 2nd century BC-AD. Most of the paintings in Ajanta are right from 2nd century BC-AD and some of them about the fifth century AD and continued for the next two centuries. All paintings shows heavy religious influence and centre around Buddha, Bodhisattvas, incidents from the life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The paintings are executed on a ground of mud-plaster in the tempera technique.

Ellora Caves : Ellora Caves are renowned throughout the globe for their excellent artwork and prehistoric temple. Portraying the rich tradition of India, Ellora Cave Temples have been declared as the World Heritage Site. Located in Aurangabad district, Ellora Caves can be reached by taking regular tourist buses or by hiring taxis from anywhere in Maharashtra. The nearest airport is sited at Aurangabad that is hardly 18 kms from Ellora caves.

Reminiscent of the cave temples of Ajanta, these are too excavated out of the solid rock. In total, there are 34 cave temples that are divided into three groups, Buddhist, Hindu and Jain respectively. These three groups can be further termed as three periods, which sustained from 200 - 600 AD (Buddhism) to 500 - 900 AD (Hindu) and finally 800 - 1000 AD (Jain). Every year, Ellora festival of classical dance and music is organized at these caves by MTDC.

Positioned in the lap of the Chamadari Hills, the temples appear as a lop-sided ridge of rock budding vertically from the ground. Ellora Caves celebrate the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The exotic sculptures and intricate carvings of these temples depict the affluent culture of India. The enormous artistry of these caves is the result of the various experiments done in the period of 300 years.

Bibi Ka Maqbara : Is a magnificent mausoleum, situated at a distance of approximately 5 km from the Aurangabad city of India. It entombs Rabia-ul-Daurani, alias Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

The construction work on the mausoleum was started in the year 1651 and it took approximately 10 years to complete it. Prince Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb, got the tomb built in the memory of his mother. The main entrance door of Bibi ka Makbara is adorned with an inscription.

Daulatabad Fort : Daulatabad village, Maharashtra state, W central India. Its 13th-century fortress is built atop a conical rock c.500 ft (150 m) high. The Chand Minar (1294), a minaret of Turkish style, is an outstanding example of Islamic art.

Daulatabad was established as capital by the Delhi sultanate in 1327. Its importance declined in the 17th cent., when Mughals moved the capital to Aurangabad. In ancient times the village was called Deogiri.

Panchakki : Panchakki otherwise known as the water mill was built during the early years of the 17th century. The mill used to grind grains for the pilgrims. It was so designed that it generated energy through water which was brought from a spring on a mountain.

These pipes are lined up at particular distances. To allow the water to flow through the pumps masonary pillars are erected. Water through the pipes flows with a force and it rises to a huge raised masonary pillar and from there it falls to make an attractive water fall.

The entry fee is Rs 5 for Indians and Rs 100 for Foreigners and the time is from sunrise to sunset.

Gateways : The city is also famous for the 52 gateways built during Mughal era which gives it the name of "City of Gates".

Salim Ali Lake & Bird Sanctuary : Popularly known as Salim Ali Talab is located in the northern part of the city near Delhi Darwaza, opposite Himayat Bagh. During the Mughal period it was known as Khiziri Talab. It has been renamed after the great ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali. It also has a bird Sanctuary and a garden maintained by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.

Tomb of Aurangzeb : The tomb of the last Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is located in the village of Khuldabad, 24 km (15 mi) to the north-west of Aurangabad in Aurangabad district. It is located in the south-eastern corner of the complex of the dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin.

Kachner Jain Temple : This is a 250 years old temple dedicated to Parshvanath. The idol here is called Chintamani Parshvanath.

Soneri Mahal (Golden Palace): Bundelkhand chief who accompanied Aurangzeb into the Deccan erected the Soneri Mahal in the University Campus. It is now in the ruinous condition. It is said to have derived its name from the painting of gold, which at one time decorated it.

Jaikwadi Dam: It is about 50 km from Aurangabad, built on river Godavari and about 110 km from Ahmednagar. Its area is 1300 km². It supplies water to Aurangabad City and generates power.The power station is at the foot of dam and is generating 12 MW power with reversible type generator. The generator is from Japan, FUJI company.

Shirdi Temple: Shirdi, a village of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra, is situated at a distance of nearly 104 kilometres from Aurangabad. This town is known to have a popular shrine and temple of Sai Baba, a revered saint of 20th century. Each nuke and corner of this small town oozes with spiritual fervor. Hoards of devotees throng this town each year to worship and get blessings of Sai Baba. Special pujas are held on Thursdays in the temple of Sai Baba. There is believed that Sai Baba spent a great part of his life in Shirdi.

He was a great saint who worked for the spiritual upliftment and benefit of needy as well as spiritual seekers. Tourists from all across India and world visit Shirdi to see his Samadhi. Shani Mandir, Gurusthan, Narsimha Mandir, Kandoba Temple, Changdev Maharaj Samadhi and Sakori Ashram are some other Shirdi attractions where tourists can visit. Visitors can easily find accommodation and transport services in Shirdi. Aurangabad airport is the nearest airport to Shirdi. Shirdi railway station which lies on Manmad Daund section is the nearest railway station to Shirdi. State transportation buses operate on regular bases which connect Shirdi with nearby cities. How to reach Shirdi is a hassle free task owing to well connected modes of transportation.

Various attractions in Shirdi are : Shani Shingnapur, Samadhi Mandir, Abdul Baba Cottage, House of Laxmibai Shinde, Dixit Wada Museum, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Gurusthan, Chavadi, Dwarkamai, Thursday Palki Procession, Jangli Maharaj Ashram, Khandoba Mandir, Upasani Maharaj Ashram, Lendibagh etc. Best time to go Shirdi is June - August.

Siddharth Garden & Zoo

Prozone Mall

Getting Around

There are several government and local buses in Aurangabad for traveling to Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Private auto rickshaws are the easiest way to travel for local transport. But one can also hire cars and local taxis to travel within the city and to its surrounding. Tour to Ellora includes Grishneshwar Temple, Daulatabad Fort, Aurangzeb's Tomb at Khultabad, and Panchakki and Bibi ka Maqbara in Aurangabad.

Weather

Tourist season extends almost through out the year. April to July is the summer months, which are fairly warm. August to October is rainy season, and is very pleasant, and November to March are the winter months, which are the coolest.

Tourist Offices
Government of India (Tourist Office)
Station Road (West)
Aurangabad
Open: 8.30am to 6pm
Up to 1.30pm on Saturday
MTDC Holiday Resort,
Station Road (East)
Aurangabad
Open: 7am to 7pm

Ajanta Caves

Ajanta Caves top the list of favorites when one visits Aurangabad. Declared as World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Ajanta Caves have been visited by tourists from all parts of the world. The mural paintings in Ajanta Caves display unique style that cannot be seen in any part of the world. The paintings depict the events on the life of Buddha and there are illustrations on Buddhist deities. The stunning paintings reveal the skills and artistry of the artists and they effectively narrate the events without the need for words. A lot of researches were undertaken to learn about the mystery behind the life of paintings. The paintings have withstood the test of time and the colors are fresh and glowing.

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves throw light on the tolerance of the people of ancient India who were ready to accommodate other beliefs and faiths. Ellora Caves are spaced over 2 kilometers and there are 34 caves representing three religions namely Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The monuments date between 600 A.D. and 1000 A.D. All the 34 temples and monasteries were dug adjacent to each other in the walls of a cliff. The first 12 caves are Buddhist Caves and they are the oldest. The next 17 caves are the Hindu Caves. The last 5 caves are Jain Caves. The architectural expertise and the efforts taken by the artisans in constructing buildings out of rocks have no words to admire enough.

Devgiri Fort

Devgiri Fort is situated in the village of Daulat. The massive fort immediately attracts you and has you spellbound the moment you set your eyes on it. The fort was considered to be constructed by Billamraja who ruled Daulatabad during 1187 A.D. The most interesting fact about the fort is that it remained unconquerable throughout. The architectural wonder was built to provide the best defense to the rulers and it was very well achieved, as the fort was never won.

Bani Begam Bagh

The beautiful garden was created by the grandson of Aurangzeb in memory of Bani Begum, his wife. This is a perfect place if you want to relax on your tour and keep your spirits soaring. The lush greenery and the landscape help you experience inner peace. The garden reflects the style of Mughal architecture. You will find waterfall near the garden. Not much activity for you here except to relax and enjoy.

Ghrishneshwar Temple

Ghrishneshwar Temple belongs to 18th century. It is just half a kilometer from Ellora Caves. The marvelous architecture is awe-inspiring though you cannot hope to see the complete ancient architecture here owing to the damage caused by Aurangazeb. A peaceful place and it is frequented by tourists, as it is one of the twelve Siva temples.

Khultabad

The place is a holy shrine for Muslims. It is a wonderful place surrounded by mountains and it offers scenic view. The city walls constructed by Aurangazeb were ruined and you could see ruins of ancient buildings. The Tombs of Aurangazeb, Khan Jahan’s Lal Bagh and various other Tombs are found here.

Pitalkhora Caves

You will love the location of Pitalkhora Caves. They are located in the most picturesque setting under the valley. It consists of 14 Buddhist Caves. They are grouped into two sets with the first group consisting of 10 caves and the second group consisting of 4 caves. You can find traces of excellent paintings here. The architecture and sculpture are beyond words.

Aurangabad offers you clear insight into the glories of the past and the effects of wars as well. The cultural heritage and the architectural excellence of the early days and the centuries old monuments are something that remains in your memory forever. You will love the tourist places of Aurangabad for the stunning landscapes and the show of excellence in various art forms.