Aurangabad Tour | Aurangabad Tourist Places | Aurangabad Travel Agents

By Air
Aurangabad is the gateway to the region, and is generally where you would arrive or depart from. Aurangabad airport is conveniently located, around 10 kms east of the town, and is directly air-linked to Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur.

By Rail
Aurangabad is well connected to Mumbai and other cities. There are two trains that depart daily from Mumbai. The Tapovan Express leaves Mumbai early morning arriving in Aurangabad by late afternoon, while the Devgiri Express is an overnight train.

By Road
There are several luxury and state run bus services that ply between Mumbai and Aurangabad and the Ajanta/Ellora Caves.

Aurangabad Caves
Aurangabad, too, has a group of Caves which are quite beautiful. These Buddhist Caves were carved out of the hillside in the 6th or 7th century AD.

Bibi ka Maqbara
Built by Azam Shah in 1678, the Bibi ka Maqbara is a son's loving tribute to his mother, Begum Rabia Durrani, the Queen of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Standing spectacularly on the lawns of the landscaped garden with ponds, fountains and water channels, the white marbled monument rises majestically in an intentional bid to copy and rival the world famous Taj Mahal of Agra.
The central tomb, distinguished by elaborate surface ornamentation and intricately perforated marble screens, is framed by four towering minarets.

Panchakki
An engineering feat of the time is the Panchakki, or the water mill built by Malik Ambar in 1695. The water, channeled from a spring on a distant hill was used to power the flour mill and grind grain for the pilgrims.

Darwazas
Most of the monuments in Aurangabad are of the Nizam Shahi, Mughal and Maratha period. There are four main Darwazas or gates leading into the city, which along with nine secondary darwazas formed part of the defense systems of the city.

Daulatabad
Rising dramatically over 600 ft above the Deccan plain is the arresting sight of Daulatabad. Once known as Devgiri, this fort served as the head quarters of the powerful Yadava rulers. In the 13th century, Mohammed bin Tughlak, the Sultan of Delhi, made it his capital and renamed it Daulatabad, or City of Fortune.

Khuldabad
In the 14th century, several Sufi saints of the Chishti order chose to reside in Khuldabad or the Abode of Eternity. The Dargah, or tomb of Moinuddin Chishti, the spiritual guide of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, is within this sacred complex. The austere emperor himself rests nearby, in a grave as simple as that of a common man's, in striking contrast to the grand mausoleums of his predecessors. Eloquent testimony to Aurangzeb's simplicity is the inscription on his plain tombstone: "No marble sheets should shield me from the sky as I lie there one with the earth."
Getting there
Khuldabad is a part of the MTDC tour to Ellora. It can also be reached by private taxis.

Anwa Temple (10 kms)
A Shiva temple, with beautifully carved sculptures and decorated pillars stands in the village of Anwa, 10 kms east of Golegaon, on the main road leading from Aurangabad to the Ajanta Caves. It was built in the 12th century, and consists of a sanctuary, mandapa or open hall with decorated pillars. The niches have exquisitely sculpted images of Vishnu, Ganesha and other divinities.
Getting there
Close by to Ajanta, Anwa Temple can be reached by taking a well-marked diversion at Golegaon. Private car or taxi is probably the best mode of transport.

Pitalkhora Caves (40 kms)
Thirteen Buddhist excavations, dating from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD lie about 40 km northwest of Ellora, cut into the side of the a secluded ravine. Comprising mainly Viharas they form the largest group of Hinayana Buddhist structures.
Getting there
Pitalkhora is best accessed by private car or taxi and can be reached from Aurangabad by motoring on the MSH1 and taking the diversion after Satkunda.

 Lonar Crater (170 kms)
170 km from Aurangabad, is the village of Lonar. Over 30,000 years ago, a falling meteorite struck the area creating the world's largest impact crater in basaltic rock. Botanists have recently discovered vegetation life forms not found anywhere else on this planet, in the stunning lake of the crater.
Getting there
There are a few state transport buses that ply between Aurangabad and Lonar, however the best way to go is by private car or taxi.

Paithan (51 kms)
51 kms south of Aurangabad, the looms of Paithan still weave the beautiful Paithani saris that are prized by all Indian women. The town is also famous for the Dnyaneshwar Udyan, which is the largest garden in Maharashtra, and a museum which treasures a fascinating collection of art. The Jaikwadi Dam nearby is a bird-watchers delight.

Getting there
There a number of state transport buses that leave at regular intervals for Paithan from Aurangabad, In addition cars or taxis are easily available as well.

A region as rich in the art and culture of several communities would naturally have a legacy of superb handicrafts. The legendary beauty of Paithani silk saris, the intricate silver inlay craft of Bidri ware which reached its culmination under the Mughals, and the beautifully woven silk Himru and Mushru shawls continue to cast their spell on visitors.