AURANGABAD :- Aurangabad city is located in the northern part of the state of Maharashtra in the western region of India. It is 403 km from Mumbai (Bombay). Surrounded by hills, the city is on the banks of the Kham River.
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. The city boasts of Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, a tomb that has some resemblance to the Taj Mahal. The importance of Aurangabad is great, owing to its proximity with world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora. These sites have Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu temples. Aurangabad is also famous for its silk and cotton textiles.
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. Many tourists visit this place due to its proximity to some of the world famous heritage sites of India. This has helped in increasing the popularity of its locally produced traditional textiles and handicraft items too. The Aurangabad Caves were built during the 6th and 7th centuries.
AURANGABAD SIGHTSEEING
BIBI KA MAQBARA AURANGABAD : Bibi-ka-Maqbara is a tomb that bears some resemblance with the Taj Mahal. This Maqbara attracts the tourists due to its wonderful architecture and historical importance. It is a mausoleum built in memory of Aurangzeb's wife Rabia-ud-Daurani Begum.
PANCHAKKI AURANGABAD : The word Panchakki literally means water mill. It is another major attraction of Aurangabad. The mill gets its share of water that travels through an underground channel from a source which is 6 km away in the mountains.
HIMROO FACTORY AURANGABAD : The Himroo Factory is another tourist attraction of Aurangabad. The traditional Himroo fabric which is a blend of cotton and silk is famous for its quality. You can also find here famous Paithani saris, traditional handloom shawls and other textiles material of Himroo fabric and silver threads. Interestingly, the designs and patterns made on these fabrics are inspired by Ajanta frescoes.
KILLA ARRACK AURANGABAD : The citadel built by Aurangzeb in 1692 is mostly in ruins now. At its prime, however, the citadel was capital of Aurangzeb where over 50 kings and princes attended his court. The Killa lies between the Delhi and Mecca Gates of the city.
AURANGABAD CAVES : Lies 3 km north of Aurangabad. They were excavated out of a south facing hill side overlooking the town. These caves fall into two groups about 1.5km apart. These are 10 caves belong to the Buddhist era and were excavated between 3rd and 11th century. Caves 3, 6 and 7 are specially worth visiting.
ELLORA AURANGABAD : The world-heritage listed cave temple of Ellora, about 30km from Aurangabad, are the culmination of Deccan rock-cut architecture. There are 34 caves cut out of the sloping side of the low hill. Another 28 caves have been discovered later by the archeological Survey of India.
DAULATBAD AURANGABAD : 13 Km between Aurangabad and the Ellora caves is the magnificent hilltop fortress of Daulatbad. The fort built by Bhilam Raja of the Yadava dynasty in 1187 was earlier called Deogiri. This fort is considered as one of the oldest existing and impregnable forts of India. One of its attractions is the tower, Chand Minar.