Aurangabad Maharashtra Top Attractions Places. Have you ever taken some time out and listened carefully to the tales that a city has to tell? If the answer is “no” then you are missing out on a lot of things. Taking a trip to an unexplored city is easy. You can get information about the place for the internet and get in touch with the tour guides who will take you to the famous places. But what about the hidden gems? What about the lesser visited places that the city has to offer? Have you ever thought about these regions that are not known to most of the average tourists? You will need a lot more than just internet browsing and the guided trip to get closer to these spots. To achieve the experience you desire to get, keeping an open mind and heart is really important.
About the city
Thousands of people visit the state of Maharashtra. That place has lost to offer to the travelers. The stories of ancient and brave emperors and their creations will blow your mind. One such place in the state is the city named Aurangabad. The city is located in the district of Aurangabad. It is the headquarters of the particular division and houses important administrative offices.
Apart from this, the area is dotted with many ancient temples, architectural edifices and gardens, which have made the city the gem of the state. The city was previous known by the name of Fatehnagar but after his appointment as the Deccan Viceroy, for the second session, he made the place his headquarters and also renamed it as Aurangabad.
The city was established by the ruler named Malik Ambar, in the year A.D. 1610. If you try to know about the history of the city and its origin, you will know that the city was named after the then Mughal ruler of the country, Aurangzeb. When you visit the city area, you will be able to feel that there is a delicate balance between ancient rustic appeals coupled with the charm of modernity. The city has been appropriately dubbed as the “City of Gates” due to the presence of many entrance ways, erected by the rulers of the province in the times of the Mughal rule.
The city is surrounded by the beautiful and lofty mountains and there are many forests, which are oozing with naturel beauty. The numerous lakes and other water bodies are in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape. These only add to the natural beauty and charm of the place. You will enjoy your visit here to the hilt for sure.
Geography and the climate of the city
Geographically speaking, the city covers an area of about 139 km2 and has an average elevation of 568 meters from the mean sea level. These geographical aspects have contributed a lot to the climatic characteristics of the area as well. According to recent census reports, the average population in the urban area is 1,371,330. This figure has made the city 34th ranking populated area in the country and the 6th most populated area in the state itself. The average density of the population is 9,900/ sp km.
According to the climatic classifications, the area falls in the belt of semiarid climatic zone. This means that the mean temperature of the area, on an annual basis will range from 17°C to 33 °C. As the area is placed away from the sea, the summer temperatures can rise to a level of almost 46 °C. The summer months are very hot and dry. During the winter times, the area experiences chilly days and nights. When the area comes under the influence of the western disturbances, clod waves are a common phenomenon. During these times, the temperature of 2°C to 5°C is not uncommon. Most of the tourists visit the place during the month of October to the month of February. As far as precipitation is concerned, the area receives about 710 mm of annual rainfall, most of which occurs in the months starting from November and continuing till April.
Economy of the place
The city and the entire area surrounding it have developed due to the proactive steps taken by the state and the central government. The policies have helped the farmers and the industrial belt, located in the area. The employment scenario has changed a lot since the past decade. Apart from the presence of lucrative job opportunities, which have been developed in the area, the region has always generated a significant percentage of revenue from tourism. Earlier, the area was dependent on the sector of tourism and the present government is trying to cash in on this.
The state and the central government have taken necessary steps for developing the various tourist attractions as fast as possible. They have also started advertising the state tourism to attract foreign travelers to Aurangabad. With the development of the tourist spots, many new hotels have also been erected and the facilities have been modernized for the comfort of the tourists. All these steps are expected to attract more and more national as well as international tourists to the city. This will be good for the local businesses and well as the country as a whole.
List of Aurangabad (Maharashtra) Top Attractions Places
If you are wondering what you will get to see in the city then you will be glad to know that there is a good combination of ancient architecture as well as natural beauty, which will be able to captivate the attention of any person. All you need to do is devote time and a little bit of energy to finding the right spots.
There are no extra points in guessing that the area is frequently visited by tourists who have an interest in discovering about the rich past of the country. Due to the presence of the ancient monuments, many educational excursions are also held here. If you have the same desire of knowing about the city and the past then you must pack your bags and book a trip to the city as soon as possible. The following are the must visit attractions of the area:
- Ajanta Caves
One of the most popular tourist attractions of the city of Aurangabad is the Ajanta Caves. These caves have been shr5ouded with many mysteries. It happens to be the largest monolithic structures in the world. Scientists and archeologists are still trying to uncover the mysteries associated with the date of origin and the purpose of these caves. One thing is certain that these caves were erected for the purpose of prayers and happen to be the finest specimens of ancient architecture. UNESCO has already recognized the site as one of the World Heritage Sites. Till date, the researchers have been able to decipher that the cave complex was constructed during the second century AD. The cave complex has a total of 30 caves and all of these are depict the various events from the life of the founder of Buddhism, Lord Buddha.
These caves were accidently discovered in the year 1819. The main person behind the discover was John Smith. He as fond of hunting and once he were out with his companions for hunting wild beasts in the forest. It was by sheer chance that he discovered one of the caves. later on, many expeditions were carried out and this led to the unraveling of the most amazing and breath taking monolithic temple of the world.
Studies have shown that the Buddhist monks used the temple for praying and continuing their studies. This was a seat of educational institute in the bygone era. The main attraction of these caves is the murals on the walls and the magnificent statues, which decorate the halls and inner corridors of the complex. Scientists are still awestruck as they cannot understand how a group of artists, with nothing but a hammer and a chisel, were able to make such an amazing and majestic monument.
- Ellora Caves
Apart from the Ajanta Cave complex, another similar complex has been discovered in the city that has the same characteristics. This has led the scientists to believe that these two temples must have been built in the same method. The main aspect of these temples is the statues and murals on the walls, which depict the tolerance of the ancient people as they had an open mind for accommodating many religions at the same time. The Ellora caves showcase the events, associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These caves date back from the 600 A.D. to 1000 A.D.
The complex has a total of 34 caves and these have been constructed end-to-end to one another. The caves are chiseled out for the walls of the same cliff and spread over an approximate area of 2 km. According to archeologists and historians, the 12 caves, dedicated to Buddhism are the most ancient, as compared to the 17 Hindu and 5 Jain caves. You will be dumb struck when you inspect the fine carvings on the walls of the caves. One will wonder how these mammoth caves were constructed by some artists, with access to simple tools only. The maintenance of these caves is under the central and state government. Steps have been taken to prevent vandalism of any kind.
- Devgiri Fort
During the ancient times, the main line of defense of any city or area was ensured by the strength of the forts. The city of Aurangabad is dotted with many magnificent forts and castles, which protect the area from the enemies’ attacks. If you want to see such a fort then you need to travel to the village named Daulat. The village is very close to the main city and here, the main attraction is the Devgiri Fort. Chand Minar, Baradari and ChiniMahal are the popular places inside the strong fort.
According to historical documents, the fort was constructed on the orders of Billamraja, the then ruler of the province named Daulatabad during the year of 1187 A.D. According to legends, no enemy force was able to bring down the defense of the fort and the area remained unconquered. The fort is set on a hill top, giving it the advantage of height. The average elevation of the fort is 200 meters from the mean sea level. The architecture of the exterior as well as the interior will give you a clear idea about the expertise of the architects and their skills.
- Bibi Ka Maqbara
Saha Jahan was not the only emperor who immortalized his love for his wife by constructing Taj Mahal. There is another similar and it is located in the city of Aurangabad. The name of the monument is Bibi Ka Maqbara and it was erected by the orders of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the memory of his beloved wife who was known as DilrasBanu Begum. The monument cannot be compared with the popularity and the grandeur of the Taj but it is no respect any less in importance to the tourists who visit the city.
The construction of the monument lasted from 1651 to 1661. A huge sum of money was spent and the final result has been wowing the spectators since then. Aurangzeb was not a big fan of architecture but his love for his wife prompted him to create the biggest monument ever to be constructed under his patronage. The monument sits on a raised platform. The walls are decorated with fine and intricate paintings and carvings. As these decorations are made on marble, the beauty has been enhanced many folds. There are four pillars on all the corners of the monument and you will have to take stairs to reach the main area.
- Grishneshwar Temple
Within the 30 km vicinity of the popular and enchanting Ellora Caves, the Grishneshwar Temple is located. You can get to this temple with ease. This has been regarded as one of the holy places for the Hindus and people from all over the country come to pay their respects to the deity during auspicious occasions. According to Hindu mythology, this is one of the 12 ‘Jyotirlinga’ in the country.
There is a mythological legend associated with the temple. The walls and the inner halls of the temple are decorated with events and incidents of the stories related to the Hindu Goddesses and Gods. The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva and the temple is dedicated to him. The temple was constructed with the help of red bricks. Though parts of the temple were damaged, restorations were set in motion in the early 18th century. It is said that there is a spring and its holy waters have the capacity of cleansing the soul, mind and heart of any person.
- Hazur Sahib Nanded
There are a total of 5 main takhts according to the Sikh religion. Hazur Sahib Nanded is one of the holy places for the followers of the Skih religion. The religious place is located on the holy banks of Godavari River. The place was constructed for honoring Guru Gobind Sahib. The construction started in 1832 and lasted till 1837. The main person behind the erection of the monument was Maharaja Ranit Singh. If you want to gather more information about the religious background of the Sikhs then visiting this place is a must.
- Himayat Bagh
The Himayat Bagh was also known as the ‘Mughal Garden’ in the past and has stood the test of time brilliantly. This reminiscent structure was constructed during the reign of the Mughal rulers. The area measures a whopping 300 acres and was set up during the latter part of the 17th century. The magnificent garden is not the site of the Fruit Research Station and Nursery. The garden has an amazing collection of trees, plants, herbs, shrubs and flowering bushes, which bloom all year round.
The garden was constructed under the orders of Aurangzeb. Legend has it that the wall on the southern part of the palace was dam and this was the main cause of the unhygienic condition. So, the king wanted to demolish the wall and this garden was erected in its place. The lush greenery and the collection of attractive flowers and herbs add to the beauty of the place. Tourists who want to spend some quality time in the lap of nature need to visit the area and take in the amazing ambience. The lawns are well-maintained and thus, the people walking on the soft grasses will be able to feel closeness to nature.
- Jayakwadi Dam
If you are visiting the city of Aurangabad then you must not miss out on the opportunity of visiting the Jayakwadi Dam. Some of the parts of the state are affected by drought and so, the government took the decision of erecting a dam to supply water for irrigation to these areas. One area in particular, called the Marathwada region gets fed by the water of this dam. The construction of the dam was started in the year 1965. The project was completed in the year 1976.
This dam meets the requirements of drinking water for the residents of Jalna, Aurangabad and many more. The dam is in a small village, called the Jayakwadi that is located in the Paithantaluka area of the city. There is a bird sanctuary and a beautiful garden in the nearby area.
- Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary
The sanctuary is a heaven for different species of migratory birds. The area is located near the Jayakwadi Dam and the bird preserve is an archipelago of 30 islands. During the winter months, you will be able to see around 200 rare species of migratory as well as local birds. Most tourists and nature lovers who have a flare for seeing various kinds of birds make it a point to take a trip to this particular place. The safety from poachers, food availability, perfect climatic conditions and shallow waters are the main reason why various kinds of birds flock to the area.
- Zainuddin Shirzai’s Maqbara
There are many monuments which have been dedicated to various pirs of the Muslim religion. One such monument happens to be the Zainuddin Shirzai’s Maqbara. The monument has been built to honor Syed Zain-ud-Din. After he came to the city and spread his teaching for reforming the lives of the people, he was given the title of ‘Chistia Order’. It is due to these positive contributions towards the well-being of the society and mankind that he was placed in a high rank. His maqbara has now become one of the holy places and people of Muslim faith and other flock to the area to visit the peaceful and pure environment.
- Lonar Crater Lake
This beautiful lake is located only at the Buldhana area. You can reach the place easily and it will only take around 3 hours to complete the journey. The lake was the result of a meteor strike. The lake is huge and due to the method of its origin, the place is frequently visited by many geologists, meteorologists, archeologists and ecologists. The water has been tasted and is found to have a composition of saline soda. The diameter of the lake is 1.2km and it measures 137 meters in depth.
Earlier it was thought that this particular lake is also the result of an eruption. Afterwards, many studies were undertaken and it was deduced that is had been formed due to the falling of a huge meteor. The area around the lake is very beautiful. The presence of the moderately lofty hills and the forests add to the scenic beauty of the place. The charms of this water body will command attention of every tourist. The surrounding area is dotted with a number of ancient temples, which are also visited by travelers.
- Panchakki & Baba Shah MusafirDargah
When you take a look at the construction site of the Panchakki, you will realize that the people living in the ancient times knew the art of harnessing power from all natural elements. The literal translation of the name means the ‘Water Mill’ and the mechanism used to work on the similar principles of the modern day dams and turbines. During the ancient times, the people harnessed the force of the falling water of the springs to generate force. They required unhindered water source and this was available from the spring.
Baba Shah Musafir Dargah, one of the holy places of the Muslims, is located near the mill area. There are gardens and various other ancient construction sites, which are visited by the tourists. When you are in the city, do visit the place that was the site of scientific wonders in the bygone era.
Apart from these places, you must also check out the Prozone Mall that is well-known for the different stores. It is one of the main malls in the area and the younger and fashion savvy generation flock to the mall to send quality time and hang out with their friends. It is one of the latest entertainment centers in the city. Apart from the above mentioned spots, you can go to the Tulja Bhavani Shrine and the Parli Vaidhyanath Jyotirlinga Shrine for discovering your religious side.
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