Aurangabad is a beautiful city situated in the northern part of Maharashtra and western fringe of India. Surrounded by hills from all sides the city is known for its rich cultural heritage and architectural masterpieces of the past era. Aurangabad is located at a distance of 375 km from Mumbai and is a gateway to the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora caves which are a part of the Unesco world's Heritage list. The legendary city was ruled by many dynasties including the Mughals and Nizams the culture and influence of which can still be seen in the city's life. Aurangabad is most famous for its magnificent mausoleum 'Bibi ka Maqbara' also called the Taj of Deccan made by Aurangzeb in the memory of his loving wife, Rabia Durrani. Today the city has become one of the significant Industrial center in Maharashtra. Aurangabad houses many industrial units including automobiles, Pharmaceuticals, Textiles etc. The famous ones being Videocon, Garware, Skoda Auto, Wockhardt, Ajanta PharmaJohnoson & Johnson, Lupin, Goodyear and Bajaj Auto to name a few.
Aurangabad is also famous for its superb handicrafts. The Paithani silk saris, silver inlay craft of Bidri, and the beautifully woven silk Himru and Mushru are all remarkable pieces of craft. The 'City of Gates', Aurangabad is also known for its various (around 52) gates as one cannot miss these while travelling or driving through the city. So all in all Aurangabad has all the flavors that attract travelers in bulk from all across the world.
History of Aurangabad
Aurangabad, the city with an enchanting old world appeal has a very interesting past to its credit. The city founded in 1610 by Malik Amber was originally called 'Kharki'. Later when Amber's son Fateh Khan took the reins of the empire he changed its name to 'Fatehpur'. In 1653, when Aurangzeb, the last Mughal Emperor, recognized the potential of the city, he shifted the Mughal court to Fatehpur. It was then, the city was bestowed with the title of 'Aurangabad' on the name of its ruler, Aurangzeb. Since then the city is called Aurangabad. Aurangzeb was a smart emperor. Although all his predecessors restricted their operational reach to Delhi, Agra and Lahore, he was the only one to identify the significance of Aurangabad's strategic location. The Deccan city is located at the pivotal point of north India and South India. Therefore trading and controlling the southern and northern regions of the empire would be easier so he trans located to Aurangabad.
The city was ruled by Mughals till the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. Upon which Aurangabad was taken over by the Nizams of Hyderabad. It was during the Mughals and Nizams rule that the city observed massive developments. The ancient monuments, temples and other formidable buildings are the specimens of the architectural brilliance of the two. Bibi ka Maqbara also called the Taj of the Deccan, Ajanta and Allora caves are few of the world renowned monuments placed in Aurangabad. Apart from monuments, the city also houses 52 colossal gates (Darwazas), most of which are not in good shape today. There also exist many other arresting features that makes Aurangabad a sought after destination for globetrotters.
How to Reach
By Air : Aurangabad has an International Airport which is located at a short distance of 10 kms from the city center. The city is well connected with major metropolitan cities in India - Mumbai, Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur etc through direct flights around the year.
By Train : Aurangabad has a well connected railway network that connects the city to other major cities in the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc. Trains are easily available throughout the year.
By Road : Aurangabad is well-connected to other cities by Indian Highways and State highways. Private as well as State Transport buses ply from the city, for Mumbai, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, etc. Taxis are also easily available.
Climate
Aurangabad, the city of great architecture in Maharashtra, witnesses a moderate type of climate throughout the year i.e the temperature neither shoots too high in the summers nor falls steep down in the winters. The city is located 513 m above sea level on the western fringe of the country.
Monsoon - Aurangabad receives moderate rainfall in the rainy season (Jul - Sep). The average rainfall received by the city is somewhere around 725 mm.
Summer - The average Temp reaches around 40˚C. The summer months are from mid March till mid July.
Winter - Max. Temp is around 24 ˚C and the Min. Temp is around 13 ˚C. The winter months are from November till February.
The best time to visit Aurangabad is between Oct - March, when the climate conditions are at their best.
Culture
Aurangabad is a riveting historic city that still exudes the charm of the bygone era. All its forts, palaces, food, culture is reminiscent of its former rulers Mughals and Nizams. The city with its rich cultural heritage and primitive charm is favored by most tourists all around the world. The people of Aurangabad are very friendly and amicable. Although the city is a part of Maharashtra state yet its food is somewhat unlike the Marathi food. This is due to the influence of Mughals and Nizams that ruled the city for quite a remarkable period. The north Indian (Mughlai) food still coddles the taste buds of the people of Aurangabad. People of all religions stay with perfect harmony in Aurangabad. However, the two dominant religions most practiced in the city are Islam and Hinduism.
Hindi, Marathi, Urdu and English are the most spoken languages in the city. The people of Aurangabad are great lovers of art and crafts. There are many distinctive skills that distinguishes Aurangabad from the rest of the cities. Like Bidriware, the intricate silver inlay craft, the Himru and Mashru shawls etc are few of the specimens of the the city's rich handicrafts. Tourists who come to Aurangabad buy these items for themselves and also take back home as souvenirs for friends and relatives. The city also houses many other intriguing features that makes it a desired destination amongst the travelers.
