Aurangabad (Ajanta & Ellora)
Aurangabad is a district in the state of Maharashtra. The city has a rich and cultural heritage and is beautifully surrounded by hills on all sides. The District covers an area on about 10100 square km and has a total population of about 2897013. It was the seat of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Aurangzeb and so it also has a few Mughal art and architectures. The city has a large number of places of tourist attractions. Our site Touristplacesinindia.com is your one stop search on all that you want to know about Tourist attractions in Aurangabad.
According to some Historians, the modern city of Aurangabad was founded by Malik Amber, who was the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II, the Nizam of Ahmednagar. Initially, the city was called Fatehpura. The modern name of Aurangabad was given probably during the reign of Aurangzeb between 1681 AD and 1707 AD.
Among the most prominent tourist attractions in Aurangabad, the most beautiful is the Bibi-ki-Maqwara. It is one of the finest examples of Persian Art and architecture. It is the mausoleum of Rabia Durani, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It is a replica of the Taj Mahal at Agra. There are also the Ajanta and Ellora caves, which are situated 3 km North of Aurangabad and have been excavated between 3rd and 11th Century AD. The Himroo factory is another attraction in Aurangabad. Traditional Himroo fabric, which has a blend of both cotton and silk, is found here. Paithani silk saris, and traditional handloom shawls are the major attractions in this factory. The five dome Chawk Masjid Shayista Khan in 1665, and the Lal Masjid, which is located in the old city of Aurangabad are also important places to visit in this city. Other major attractions in this city include the Killa arrack, Shah Gunj Mosque, and the Panchakki are also places where one must visit on their tour to Aurangabad.
Aurangabad Excursions:
Ajanta Caves: The Ajanta caves in Aurangabad date back to the second century BC and contain sculptures and paintings depicted from Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religious art. Ajanta has a total of 29 caves and is one among the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Ellora Caves: These caves were built by the rulers of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty and are located just 30 km from Aurangabad and were built in the 7th century AD. Cave 16, which is known as the Kailashnath Temple is a masterpiece art at Ellora. The temple is a splendid achievement of the Dravidian style of art and was started by King Krishna of the Rashtrakuta dynasty that ruled Manyakheta. It took around 100 years to complete this cave. There are other caves here which depict the tradition and Philosophy of the Buddhist and Jain art and architecture.
Shirdi: It is situated about 144 km from Aurangabad and is considered a religious site famous for the Shrine of Sai Baba. This place is easily accessible from nearby towns and is one of the most important tourist attractions in Aurangabad city.
Daulatabad Fort: It is just 13 km from Aurangabad, and was built in the 12th Century AD. This fort was earlier known as Devgiri and was built by king Bhillama of Yadav dynasty. The name was changed to Daulatabad by Md Bin Tughlaq.