What is Aurangabad best known for?
Aurangabad is a city in Maharashtra with fourth most urban area population in the state. The city is also known for its major production of cotton textile and artistic silk fabrics. The nearby Shivaji Maharaj Museum, dedicated to the Maratha king Shivaji, displays war weapons and a variety in coin collection. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded by many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The best-known places in Aurangabad
- Ajanta Caves - The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta are world-famous and have great artistic influence. These are rock-cut cave monuments of the second century BC that take you down to its amazing history.
- Aurangabad Caves - This is also a must-visit place in Aurangabad that will take you back to the 6th and 8th centuries. Other monuments close to this place are Bibi Ka Maqbara and Soneri Mahal.
- Pitalkhora Caves: These 14 ancient Buddhist caves are set in the Western Ghats right next to a gushing waterfall which enhances the beauty of the caves. Pitalkhora Caves are carved out of the rocks making them one of the finest examples of rock-cut architecture in India.
- Bhadra Maruti Temple: Bhadra Maruti Temple attracts devotees of the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman from all over the country. The idol of Lord Hanuman in the temple is in a sleeping position. Once the king was singing a devotional song for Lord Rama, as he was a devotee of the lord, Hanuman came there and was so happy to listen to the melody that he slept there.
- Daulatabad Fort – It is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city. Tourists have to climb 750 stairs to reach this fort, but the view from top to bottom is very spectacular.
- Ellora Caves – It is another World Heritage Site in Aurangabad. The exquisite sculptures represent three religions, the grandeur and beauty of which attract everyone.
- Khuldabad - Khuldabad is popular as the "Valley of Saints", as the city was inhabited by many Sufi saints in the 14th century. It houses the graves of 1500 Sufi saints and was occupied by Aurangzeb in the early 17th century who built a strong wall around the city consisting of seven gates.
- Siddharth Garden - Siddharth Garden is filled with lush green landscapes, spread over a large area and surrounds a park as well as a zoo. The zoo houses many animals including tigers, lions, snakes, civet cats, foxes, deer, and leopards to name a few.
Airport address: Aurangabad Airport, Jalna Road, Chilkalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431006
IATA code: IXU