Posted 07 October 2022 in Culture & Heritage

Discover Aurangabad: Seven reasons why Aurangabad should be your next travel destination

One of the most popular tourist spots in Maharashtra is Aurangabad, which is 348 km away from the capital city of Mumbai. It was given this name in honour of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who reigned throughout the 17th century. The Bibi Ka Maqbara shrine is the city's most popular tourist destination.

Many visitors go to the town every year, which serves as a base for exploring the Ajanta Caves and the Ellora Caves. UNESCO has designated these caverns as World Heritage Sites, and they are accessible only by boat. Panchakki, Daulatabad Fort, Grishneshwar Temple, Aurangabad Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum are other tourist attractions in the area. Himroo Factory is a popular shopping destination where visitors can purchase the world-renowned Himroo Shawls. Also, women can shop for Paithani sarees and semi-precious stones at the marketplaces in Aurangabad.

Here are the 7 reasons to visit Aurangabad

1. Explore the Ajanta Caves, where you may learn about old tales

The Ajanta Caves, which was the first in India to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, is among the country's most popular tourist destinations. Its dry fresco paintings, which comprise the world's most extensive collection of surviving specimens of ancient Buddhist murals in India, have enticed visitors from all over the globe to visit.

The place, painted within the deep depths of 30 caverns cut into a horseshoe-shaped rock, served as a haven of shelter for monks and pilgrims. The spiritual collided with the secular within these walls, and the mundane coexisted with the magnificent. Consequently, a thorough representation of ordinary life in 5th Century AD India is presented via painted images from Jataka stories, and scenes from Buddha's life are created. Caves 1, 2, 10 and 26 are not to be missed.

2. Take in the splendour of the Ellora Caves' classical architectural marvels

The 34 excavated caverns, which date back to 550-950 AD, are distinguished by three distinctive characteristics. Three ancient indigenous Indian religions - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism - form a single entity. And, in places where monolithic art and architecture were carved out of living rock with a chisel and a hammer more than a millennium ago, there is still evidence of their presence.

Caves 10 and 12 in the Buddhist series, Caves 16 and 29 in the Hindu series and Caves 32 and 33 in the Jain series are worth seeing. Cave 16, also known as the Kailasha Temple, is the world's most extensive monolithic building and culminates in civilisation's efforts.

3. Visit the Buddhist Aurangabad Caves, dating back to the 8th century

Located close to Bibi Ka Maqbara, Aurangabad Caves is one of the most striking caves in India. The 12 Buddhist caves, divided into three groups, date back to the 6th and 8th centuries. A vacation to Aurangabad is not complete until you go to this place. If you are a history lover, then you must visit this place.

4. Climb to the top of Daulatabad Fort, considered one of India's most impenetrable forts

Daulatabad Fort, perched on a conical mountain 200 m high, is one of India's most impenetrable fortifications; successive kings could only capture it by deception. When the Yadava monarchs established Devgiri in 1187 AD, they named the city after themselves. It was later conquered by the Khiljis in 1296 AD, then by the Tughlaks in 1327 AD and finally by the Mughals in 1633 AD. The Tughlaks temporarily relocated their capital to this location, calling it Daulatabad (Abode of Wealth). Since then, the moniker has stayed.

5. Reflect on karma at Emperor Aurangzeb's unmarked tomb, devoid of ornamentation

While emperors throughout India's history have been fascinated with building great monuments, there is one notable exception - the Mughal Empire. He chose to be placed in an unmarked tomb that would be exposed to the elements as a gesture of respect for the Mughal Empire, which achieved its pinnacle in terms of territorial expansion and GDP during his reign. His name was Aurangzeb, and he lived in India. With a reputation for violent fanaticism, Aurangzeb devoted his life to eradicating any remains of the indigenous faiths of his chosen territory to make space for Islam. Temples were desecrated, and non-Muslims were subjected to onerous levies throughout his reign.

6. The Taj of the Deccan, Bibi Ka Maqbara

The Taj Mahal in Agra is a landmark that needs no introduction. But did you know that there is another Taj Mahal in India, erected by a Mughal Emperor as a memorial to his loving wife? Bibi Ka Maqbara, often known as the Taj of the Deccan, was built to compete with Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal when it was completed in 1660, 12 yr after the Taj was completed. The monument, which is synonymous with the city of Aurangabad, is the only large-scale tower commissioned by the 6th Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Shah Jahan's son.

7. Hike across a Crater Lake that has been around for 52,000 yr at Lonar

Lonar, like Aurangabad's other trump cards, is a one-of-a-kind creation. It is the only hyper-velocity impact crater in basaltic rock on our planet, and it is steeped in legend and scientific research. The earth's surface was slammed into by a meteor weighing 2 million tonnes and travelling at a speed of 90,000 km per hour 52,000 yr ago at this location. According to some, the meteorite is still lodged within the saline-alkaline Crater Lake, home to a unique aquatic ecosystem worth exploring.

That is the scientific aspect of it. According to Hindu mythology, the demon Lonasur was defeated in Lonar by Vishnu, one of the religion's primary deities. Temples dedicated to various gods may be found on the inner slopes and rim. Whatever your source of inspiration, Lonar provides the opportunity to trek a short distance into the depths of the earth before returning to the surface.

Best delicacies in Aurangabad

Aurangabad's signature dish

In the tradition of Mughal cuisine, slow-cooking meals are a staple of Aurangabad cuisine. In addition to Mughal influences, the cuisine incorporates the Hyderabadi style to cooking, emphasising heavy garnishing to enhance the dish's flavour and aesthetic attractiveness. As Aurangabad is located inside the state of Maharashtra, it means that it also adopts various methods and recipes from the state's cuisine, such as powdered spices to impart intense flavour to meats and vegetables.

Vegetarians visiting Aurangabad need not be concerned! As a result of India's significant vegetarian population, almost every cuisine hotel offers a few suitable dishes for vegetarians. Dal tadka, a meal popular in Aurangabad, is produced by tempering lentils with ghee (Indian clarified butter) and spices before cooking them on a stovetop. In addition, thalipeeth, an excellent Maharashtrian-style pancake prepared with ground grains and veggies, may be found in several country areas. Vegetable curries cooked with seasonal vegetables are served in most restaurants and street vendors.

Traditional sweets in Aurangabad are made with milk, sugar and dried fruits. Jalebis and imarti, deep-fried flour pancakes covered in sugar syrup, and falooda, a liquid-based delicacy prepared with sweet rose syrup, milk and sago pearls, are the most popular desserts. They are awesome on hot, steamy days, which are common in Aurangabad and which tourists take advantage of!

Cafe and coffee shops in Aurangabad

After a long day of seeing the caves, monuments and marketplaces of Aurangabad, you can have a fast snack and a cup of coffee. To rest and unwind, visit the Cafe Coffee Day locations on Jalna Road and Nirala Bazar, respectively. Cafe Coffee Days are one of India's most popular coffee cafes.

Sugardough Bakery Café in Nirala Bazar, Aurangabad, is a cosy, warm café that serves excellent frappes, waffles and cakes.

How to reach Aurangabad?

By air: Aurangabad Airport serves the city of Chikalthana, situated around 10 km east of the town and offers flights from many cities, including Hyderabad, Delhi, Udaipur, Mumbai, Jaipur, Pune, Nagpur and Indore. Individuals coming to the Hajj pilgrimage may now take advantage of foreign flights, which have just been introduced. If you plan a trip to Aurangabad, then you prefer taking IndiGo flight routes to Aurangabad, which are comfortable and get the best in-flight services.
By train: In the Indian Railways, Aurangabad Station (station code: AWB) is located on the Secunderabad-Manmad section of the Nanded Division of the South Central Railway zone, on the Nanded Division of the South Central Railway zone. Rail connections exist between Aurangabad and Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad. In addition, it has ties to Nanded, Parli, Nagpur, Nizamabad, Nasik, Pune, Kurnool, Renigunta, Erode Madurai Bhopal, Gwalior, Vadodaraand Narsapur.
By bus: Aurangabad is well-connected to the rest of the country by national and state roadways. The city is located on National Highway 211, connecting Dhule and Solapur. Aurangabad is well-connected by road to Jalna, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Nashik, Beed and Mumbai. Ajantha and Ellora are world-renowned archaeological sites, and the motorway links make the visit to these sites quite convenient.

Best time to visit Aurangabad

Between October and March is the best time to visit Aurangabad since the city is at its most pleasant and lush. Monsoon is also an excellent time to visit Aurangabad since the temperature remains about 35°C. Monsoon rains often begin in July and continue through September.

Conclusion

As a visitor, you should treat Aurangabad as a native city. Keep in mind that the monuments distinguish Aurangabad from the rest of the world, so be sure to see them while you are here. Therefore, to discover Aurangabad, make plans with your family and friends!