Last updated on December 17, 2015
There are many Indian cities, which boast of scenic landscapes, picturesque snow capped peaks and heritage monuments. Some offer the best of nature’s gift, while the others possess brilliant efforts of man through monuments, forts, buildings and more. Aurangabad, located amidst hills in Maharashtra, offers both manmade and natural wonders. Here are the top places in Aurangabad, which you must not miss on your next trip there.
1. Aurangabad Caves: Aurangabad caves are situated not many kilometers from the well known monument “Bibi Ka Maqbara”. The caves were supposedly excavated somewhere between 2nd and 6th century AD. These caves, carved out of hills, are a perfect piece of architecture. The major portion of the caves is Viharas. The total numbers of caves are twelve; number 3 & 7 out of which are the most captivating ones. The caves numbered 1 to 5 fall in the western category while the caves from number 6 to 10 fall in the eastern category. You can notice tantric influences in Aurangabad caves.
2. Bibi Ka Maqbara: The most famous tourist spot in the city, Bibi Ka Maqbara is around 5km from Aurangabad. King Aurangzeb’s son and descendant, Prince Azam Shah was the one who built it in the year 1678 in the fond memory of his deceased mother Begum Rabia Durani. The mausoleum of Bibi Ka Maqbara is a replica of the Taj Mahal. Even though the surrounding and layout of the tomb is more or less similar to the iconic Taj Mahal, the architecture somehow fails to deliver the magic and majesty of the Taj. It is thus seen as a poor copy of the Taj Mahal.
3. Himroo Factory: A factory in the city’s Zaffar gate still continues the conventional method of Himroo hand weaving. It also has a show room to exhibit these products. One can view and purchase Himroo sarees and shawls here. The bold colors and patterns are the specialties of the Mashru fabric. According to local folklore, Marco Polo had been gifted an attire woven in gold and silk threads.
4. Panchakki: Panchkalli area of Aurangabad has the shrine of a saint called Baba Shah Musafir. The word “Panchakki” (meaning water Wheel) gets its name from a mill, which was used in the early years. The mill is operated with the water collected through earthen pipes from a river which is 6km away.
5. Ghrishneshwar Temple: This temple was built in the 18th century. Merely half a kilometer from Ajanata-Ellora Caves, this marvelous temple is awe-inspiring. However, the downside is that you cannot expect to see the original ancient architecture owing to the damage inflicted by Aurangzeb. It is one of the 12 Shiva temples and a very tranquil and beautiful site.
6. Khuldabad: This place is where you will find a holy shrine for Muslims. Khuldabad is a scenic place enveloped by mountains and hills. The city walls, which were constructed by Aurangzeb, are ruined and you can see the ruins of ancient buildings. Aurangzeb’s tomb, Khan Jahan’s Lal Bagh and more other tombs can be found here.
If you pass through Aurangabad via train, you can get a taste of delicacies from the city. You just need to order food delivery in Aurangabad railway station.
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