About Aurangabad :
Aurangabad city serves as the headquarters of the district of the same name. Located on the right bank of the Kham River, the city is visited by a large number of tourists every year. One of the major attractions of Aurangabad is that it serves as the gateway to the exotic caves of Ajanta and Ellora, two of the World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra. Apart from that, there are a number of other tourist places near the city that make excellent excursions from it. These excursion places, combined with the attractions of the Aurangabad city itself, make it so popular amongst visitors. Given below is information on the major excursions from Aurangabad.
Places to visit :
Khuldabad
The holy village of Khuldabad, meaning the Abode of Eternity, houses the tomb of Aurangzeb, the last Mughal Emperor. A simple structure, it serves as a reminder of the frugal life led by the great ruler. It was constructed, as per his instructions, with the few rupees he had earned by stitching cloth caps.
Lonar
Situated at a distance of almost 122 km from Aurangabad, Lonar forms the site of one of the world’s 5 largest craters, with its diameter being nearly 1.75 km, and depth being nearly 132 m. It was formed nearly 50,000 years ago, by the impact of a meteorite. One can find a beautiful lake at its base, which was formed over thousands of years, by the perennial streams flowing into the crater. This lake has become a preferred retreat for birds like flamingoes, moorhen, coot, peacocks and dabchicks. A number of temples, with exquisite carvings and built around 12th-13th century, can be found on the embankment of the lake.
Shani Shignapur
Shani Shignapur is a village, situated 68 km from Aurangabad. It is famous for housing a splendid temple, dedicated to Shani Dev. One of the remarkable features of the village is that in it, none of the houses have locks and it hasn’t witnessed a single theft till date. The villagers say the houses are protected by Shani Dev himself.
Pariyon ka Talab
Pariyon ka Talab, meaning the ‘Lake of Fairies’, lies around 60 km from Aurangabad. Situated on the banks of the lake is a beautiful temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Paithan
Paithan is an ancient city, located 56 km away from Aurangabad. It has been constructed on the embankment of Godavari River and is known for its beautiful ‘Paithanis’ – silk sarees woven with elaborate zari borders. One of the major attractions of the city is Jayakwadi Dam, which comprises of a garden and dancing fountains in its complex.
Pithalkora
Pithalkora is nothing but, a group of 13 cave sanctuaries. Located on the ancient trade route, these sanctuaries have been found to dates back to as far back as the 2nd century BC.
Panchakki
One of the major attractions of Aurangabad is Panchakki, which literally means ‘Water Mill’. Indeed, it a mill in the city that receives water from an underground channel, with its source being 6 km away in the mountains. An artificial waterfall has been created near the mill, through which this water is discharged on to the wheel. The other attractions of Panchakki comprise of a lush green garden and a beautiful fountain. The water tanks of the fountain are filled with fish and are a hit amongst kids. Situated near the mill is the tomb of Baba Shah Muzaffar, a Sufi Saint who served as the spiritual adviser of Emperor Aurangzeb.
Jama Masjid
The Jama Masjid of Aurangabad is very popular amongst tourists. The mosque was constructed under the patronage of Emperor Aurangzeb and is located in Killa Arrack. Encircled by groves, it has a low building that stands adorned with slender minarets and a broad band. The band has been inscribed with Koranic inscriptions that have been carved through the length of the portico.
Chauk Masjid
Chauk Masjid is another splendid mosque situated in Aurangabad. It was built by Shayista Khan, the uncle of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the year 1665. This masjid has been embellished with five beautiful domes.
Lal Masjid
Lal Masjid is located in the old city area of Aurangabad. The mosque is a red-painted basalt building that dates back to the year 1655.
Museums
There are three museums in the city of Aurangabad, through which one can glimpse into its art legacy. These museums include Sunheri Mahal Museum, University Museum and Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum.
General Information about Aurangabad :
Location: Aurangabad
State: Maharashtra
Capital: Mumbai
Language: Marathi, Hindi, English
Temperature: Max 42˚C, Min 27˚C (summer), Max 26˚C, Min 14˚C (winter)
Best Season: September to March
How to Reach Aurangabad :
By Air
Aurangabad city has its own airport, which is located at a distance of approximately 10 km from the city center. The airport is well connected with the major cities of India, like Delhi and Mumbai, by direct as well as regular flights.
By Rail
Aurangabad also has a railways station of its own, which is well linked with Mumbai and other major cities in and around Maharashtra. You can easily get direct trains from Aurangabad for most of the parts of the country.
By Road
Aurangabad has good road links with most of the cities in and around the state. Private as well as State Transport buses ply from the city, for Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, etc. Taxis are also easily available.