West
India Travel Guide
Aurangabad Tourism
A city known for its
medieval monuments and rich cultural heritage. Aurangabad, the city named after
the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, is more than just simply a place to stay while visiting
famous cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora.
Under Aurangzeb, Aurangabad
became the seat of the powerful Mughal Empire for a short while. His predecessors
preferred Agra, Delhi or Lahore - all in the north, and Aurangzeb's move was not
unopposed. But the autocratic Emperor's will prevailed.
The Mughal court
moved to Aurangabad and remained there till his death. Built during his years
in Aurangabad were such architectural gems as the Bibi-ka-Maqbara, a mausoleum
with a marked resemblance to the Taj Mahal and a medieval watermill. Aurangabad
became a thriving industrial center with many fine academic institutions.
Its
textiles became much sought after and even today, the weavers of Aurangabad produce
fine textiles like pathani, himroo and kimkhwab.
Aurangabad city is located
in the northern part of the state of Maharashtra, in the western region of India.
It is 375 km from Mumbai (Bombay). Today, Aurangabad is a bustling city of Maharashtra
with diverse big and small industries, fine silken textiles, and exquisite hand
woven brocades of silver and gold fabrics, Himroo of world frame. To scholars
and lovers of art and culture the city is more familiar as the gateway to the
ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora, both famous as treasure houses of Indian Art
and Sculpture.
Places of InterestAurangabad
CavesJust outside the city, lie the Aurangabad caves, excavated between
the 2nd and 6th century AD. Tantric influences can be discerned in their architecture
and iconography. There are twelve caves in all, a major chunk of which are viharas,
of which Caves 3 and 7, are the most fascinating. Cave 3 stands supported by 12
finely carved columns, and sports sculptures portraying scenes from the Jakarta
tales. Cave 7 houses an imposing sculpture of a Bodhisattva, praying for deliverance.
Pan Chakki Pan Chakki, the ingenious watermill which was designed
to generate energy from water, brought down from a spring on a mountain, located
nearby. The energy generated was, further, used to turn the large grinding stones
of the flour mill. From my guide I came to know that it was built by Malik Ambar
in 1695. The gardens and fish tanks around this place serve as a memorial to a
Sufi saint who was much venerated by Aurangzeb.
How
To Reach Aurangabad Air:Aurangabad airport is conveniently
located 10km from the city and has direct flights to and from Delhi and Mumbai.
Rail:Aurangabad
is well connected to Mumbai and other cities. There are two trains that depart
daily from Mumbai, the Tapovan Express and the Devgiri Express is an overnight
train.
Road:There are several luxury and state run bus services
that ply between Mumbai and Aurangabad and the Ajanta/Ellora Caves
