Aurangabad city was founded in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki by Malik Ambar - the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar’s son turned successor in 1626, he gave the city the name ‘Fatehpur’. Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangabad became Viceroy of the Deccan, he made the city his capital and called it Aurangabad.

Aurangabad district has always been a prominent region on the Deccan Plateau. Having been inhabited since the Stone Age, it was a long artistic and cultural history - to which several dynasties have made major contributions over the years.

Maurya rule marked the arrival of Buddhism in Maharashtra. The earliest caves at Ajanta and Pitalkhora were excavated during the Satvahana period (in the 2^nd Centuary BC). Pratishthana, now known as Paithan, became an important center of trade around the same time. During the Chalukya reign, Buddhism continued to flourish. This resulted in several ‘viharas’ (monasteries) and ‘chaitayas’ (chapels) being excavated at Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora . In later years the Rashtrakutas built several temples, the most significant being the Kailas Temple - an unrivalled example of Indian architecture.

Caves
The  almost forgotten caves of Aurangabad lie just outside the city. Excavated between the 2^nd and 6^th century AD. they reflect tantric influences in their iconography and architectural designs. In all, there are nine caves, which are mainly viharas. The most interesting among these are Caves 3 and 7. The former is supported on 12 highly ornate columns and has sculptures depicting scenes from the legendary ‘Jataka’ tales. Cave 7 with its detailed figures of bejeweled women also has a dominating sculpture of a ‘Bodhisattva’ praying for deliverance.

Bibi-Ka-Maqbara
A replica of the Taj Mahal, the Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the only example of Mughal architecture of its kind in the Deccan plateau. It was built in 1979 by Aurangzeb’s son, as a  tribute to his mother Begun Rabia Durani/Rabia-ud-Durani.

Pan Chakkai
A 17^th century watermill takes its name from the mill, which used to grind grain for the pilgrims. The water distribution system built in 1695 was the engineering feat of Malik Ambar, architect of Aurangabad city. In 1624 a Sufi saint, a spiritual guide to Aurangzeb, was buried here. The gardens with its several fish tanks serve as his memorial.

Excursions
Nestling in an inner fold of the Sahiadri hills, 100 Kilometers, from Aurangabad in the shape of a mammoth horse-shoe, are the 30 rock hewn caves of Ajanta, dating from the 2^nd century B.C. discovered in 1819, by a group of British officers, these starting achievements took around 6000 years to create. Carved with little more than a hammer and chisel, Ajanta, once the retreat of Buddhist monastic orders features several ‘chaityas’ and 'viharas’. The exquisite paintings and sculptures of Buddha’s life belong to the Mahayana period.

Ghirishneshwar Temple
Half a kilometer from the Ellora Caves and 30 Kilometers from Aurangabad lies this 18^th century temple with its beautiful architecture and carving; one of the five ‘Jyotirlingas’ in Maharashtra, where Shiva is worshipped. While you are here, another place worth visiting is Holkar temple nearby.

Khuldabad
Khuldabad or the ‘heavenly abode’ is a walled town only 3 Kilometers from Ellora. It is the Karbala town or holy shrine of Deccan Muslims. Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor is buried here. He built the crenellated wall around the town, which was once an important center.

Bani Begam Gardens
Just 24 Kilometers from Aurangabad are the Bani Begam Gardens. At the center of these large artistically laid-out gardens is the tomb of Bani Begam - consort of one of Aurangzeb’s sons. Built in varied styles, the fluted pillars, massive domes, fountains exhibit the splendid architecture of the time.

Pitalkhora
In the Satmala range of the Sahyadris, 78 Kilometers from Aurangabad are 13 cave sanctuaries "chaityas and viharas" that date from the 2^nd century BC to the 5^th century AD.

The relief work at Pitalkhora is richer and more elaborate, the carving more precise than that of earlier times.

Daultabad
Once known as 'Devgiri’, this magnificent 12^th century fortress stands on a hill just 13 Kilometers from Aurangabad. It was given the name Daulatabad, the ‘city of fortune’, by Muhammad Tughlaq, sultan of Delhi. Initially a Yadav stronghold, it passed through the hands of several dynasties in the Deccan. A 5-kilometer sturdy wall, artificial scarping and a complicated series of defenses made Daulatabad impregnable. The 30-meter high Chand Minar - built much later with 3 circular galleries had a defensive and religious role in this fortress.

Paithan
An ancient Taluka town, 56 Kilometers south of Aurangabad, Paithan is particularly well known for its Paithani silk saris. Once a center of trade, it was also the capital of the Satvahanas. Today, it is an important excavation site. Eknath, the Marathi poet-saint, lived here centuries ago. Jayakwadi dam close by is an ideal observation point for bird watchers. Also located nearby is the Dhyaneshwar Udyan - Maharashtra’s largest garden, styled on the line of Mysore’s Vrindavan Gardens.

Himroo
The district is famous Mashru and Himroo fabrics made of cotton and silk, having the luster of satin. Himroo is an age-old weaving craft of Aurangabad.

Bidri
Another one of Aurangabad's ancient precessions in Bidri - ware is made with a combination of zinc and copper. It usually has intricate workmanship of pure silver, embossed, overlaid or inlaid on the surfaces.

Originally Bidri-ware was used while smoking the ‘hookah’, offering ‘paan’, and ‘supari’ etc. Now a days it is more often sold as souvenirs.

Paithani
Paithani is the famous silk saris of Paithan. The art of weaving Paithani saris is at least 2000 years old. The yarn used is pure silk and the 'zari’ drawn from pure gold. A heavily brocaded Paithani takes anywhere from six months to one and a half years to get weaved.

MTDC Resorts
A comfortable and convenient place to stay in Aurangabad is the MTDC resort near the station. It provides a wide option of rooms. Some suites are air-conditioned. Facilities like restaurant and bar are also available.

At Ajanta, MTDC runs the Ajanta Traveler's Lodge. It has a restaurant serving Indian and continental cuisine.

Similarly at Ellora the MTDC restaurant serves appetizing fare. MTDC resorts at Jayakwadi (Paithan) and Fardapur (1.5 Kilometers from Ajanta) provide clean and comfortable accommodation. Jayakwadi also has water sport facilities. 

(There are several other hotels to suit every budget.)

Shopping
Paithani saris, Himroo shawls, Mashru and Kimbkhab weaves, Bidri - ware and agate stones make excellent buys.

Local Transport
MTDC and MSRTC buses operate to Ajanta, Ellora and other places of tourist interest. Taxis, autorikshaws, tongas and buses can be hired from local operators.

Getting There
The Deccan city of Aurangabad is a convenient base for visiting its ancient environs. It is accessible by air, rail and road from Bombay and Delhi.

By Air: Aurangabad airport is 10 Kilometers from the city and is air-linked directly to Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Bombay.

By Rail: Aurangabad is a section on the Manmand-Kachiguda line on south Central Railway. Now a direct train service operates between Bombay and Aurangabad. Bombay - Aurangabad (via Manmad) is 375 Kilometers. Delhi - Aurangabad (via Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhusawal, Manmad) is 1,395 Kilometers. Jalgaon a railhead on the Central Railway is only 59 Kilometers from Ajanta.

By Road: Bombay - Aurangabad is 388 Kilometers (via Manmad). Bombay-Aurangabd is 400 Kilometers (via Pune). Delhi-Aurangabad is 1,323 Kilometers (via Mathura, Agra, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Indore, Dhule, Jalgaon, Ajanta)

Sate Transport buses run from Bombay, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nashik and Dhule to Aurangabad, and from Jalgaon to Ajanta. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) operates a bus service and conducts tours from Bombay to Aurangabad by luxury coach.

General Information
The tourist season extends right around the year. The best time to visit is October to March. But the monsoon months i.e. July - September are highly recommended. These are cooler months and the maximum temperature is 34º Celsius while the minimum is 12º Celsius.

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