Aurangabad Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 3-4 days

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"Base To Explore Ajanta & Ellora"

Aurangabad Tourism

Aurangabad, which was declared by the Government as the Tourism Capital of Maharashtra back in 2010, is a famous tourist hub which greets its visitors with a richly woven tapestry of sights and sounds. The city got its name for being the erstwhile capital of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century AD. The town is used as the base to explore the extremely famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora, Daulatabad Fort which is renowned for its strong defence systems, Mausoleums of Aurangzeb and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara famous for its architecture and Grishneshwar Temple, one of the only 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas in India.

From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to bustling markets brimming with delicate silk items and exquisite hand-woven garments, Aurangabad promises all tourists an exciting holiday experience. While the city is rapidly heading towards industrial growth and globalisation, it still retains most of its past glory, heritage, charms and traditions.

The most famous tourist attraction of Aurangabad is the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Ajanta Caves is home to 29 different caves, all of which showcase Buddhist artwork belonging to the period ranging from 200 B.C to 650 A.D. All paintings and sculptures in the caves were constructed painstakingly by Buddhist monks using only simple tools such as chisels and hammers. These paintings and sculptures portray a varied range of stories, starting from the Jataka Tales to intriguing accounts of ancient nymphs and princesses. The Ellora Caves, a little distance away from the Ajanta Caves, houses a total of 34 caves and has sculptures and paintings depicting not one, but three different religions – Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The sheer diversity of the sculptures, the architectural expertise, and the centuries of hard work undertaken by artisans are enough to leave you speechless.

The sole remaining example of Mughal architecture in this part of the country, Bibi ka Maqbara is a mausoleum dedicated to Rabia-ul-Daurani, wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Designed by the Persian architect Ustad-Ata-Ullah, Bibi ka Maqbara has a structure similar to that of the Taj Mahal, with the main structure bordered by four towering minarets on four sides. The entire building is a sight to behold, and sunrises and sunsets are resplendent, with the rays of the sun beautifully casting the reflection of the mausoleum on the water of the canal in front of the building.

Aurangabad is also home to temples such as the Jyothirlinga Grishneshwar temple and the Bhadra Maruti Temple, both of which have legends and myths of their own.

Siddharth Garden is a place that all nature lovers will be mesmerized by. A landscaped garden housing a wide variety of sculpted trees and shrubs, the Siddharth Garden is also home to wild creatures such as lions, tigers, leopards, deer, and hyena. Sitting back on the green lawns of the garden and enjoying a beautiful picnic is a very popular tourist activity here.

The erstwhile Mughal capital has retained most of its traditional Tughlaq cuisine, with Tandoors and Kebabs being local staples that you will find at almost every roadside eatery.

Known for its arts and crafts, and especially its silk, Aurangabad has plenty of markets from where you can buy various local handicrafts, exotic gems, shawls, and of course, the region’s famous paithani silk sarees.

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A Cultural Milieu

Aurangabad is a city that is a confluence of many cultures. Over the years, it has been ruled by Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist dynasties that have each added something new to this city. Temples stand side by side with Dargahs, and the people of this city has internalised all of these cultures. The language of this city too shows a strong influence of Hindi because of its proximity with Madhya Pradesh despite the most common language being Marathi. The food is heavily influenced by the Mughal style of cooking and the outdoor night markets of Aurangabad are famed for the kebabs and other non-vegetarian preparations.

Restaurants and Local Food in Aurangabad

Aurangabad offers a decent variety of cuisines, however traditionally, the food here, has a strong influence of Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine. Hence you can enjoy dishes of these styles in their rich and authentic form in the city . One must try the exquisite Pulao, Biryani, Tahri and Naan Qalia while here. 'Naan' is a type of bread prepared in a traditional style oven called 'tandoor' and 'Qalia' is a preparation of mutton. A traditional ending to you meal could be with a
Aurangabad is also a home to Deccani food which is prepared with a number of masalas and has a subtle influence of South Indian cuisine especially in terms of the ingredients used. The other popular items of the area are Gavran Chicken, Thalipeeth, Poli and Bajrichi Bhakari.

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Suggested Itinerary for Aurangabad

Day 1: Arrive in Aurangabad by bus, train, car or air and check in to the hotel. Late in the morning, proceed to Bibi-Ka-Maqbara which is a 20-minute drive from the city centre. There are many auto rickshaws, tourist vans and taxis to ferry tourists to and from this destinations. Enjoy the gardens, landscapes and cool breeze and have lunch in one of these gardens. In the late afternoon, proceed to Panchakki, a flour grinding mill built during the Mughal era to prepare food for the devotees who visited the dargah. In the evening, head for a stroll in one of the markets like Gul Mandi or Connaught Market and enjoy the local flavour, street food and sizzling tandoori delights.

Day 2: Leave early in the morning for Ajanta caves, a three-hour drive from the city and reach by around 10:00 AM. Take your time to explore the caves carved in different styles with sculptures, paintings and murals. Have lunch in one of the many restaurants near the caves and proceed back to the city in the evening.

Day 3: Take a leisurely morning stroll around one of the many gardens like the Siddhartha Garden and leave for Ellora caves after breakfast. Walk around the cool stone cut caves and take in the years of history. After lunch, proceed back to the city and prepare for departure.

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How to Reach Aurangabad

How to Reach Overview

Aurangabad by virtue of being one of the most popular tourist destinations in India is very well connected to neighbouring cities by road, rail and are and also to the major cities in India like Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad. There are international flights connecting Aurangabad with cities around the world through Mumbai or Pune. Roads to and from the city are well developed and because of its it central location, several trains also pass through this city.

How to reach Aurangabad by road

Aurangabad is well connected to Nagpur, Mumbai and Pune by road. The government of Maharashtra runs regular AC buses from Mumbai and Pune to Aurangabad, and there are also many private bus operators. Sleeper buses also commonly ply on this route. Taxis are available from all nearby cities and can be booked on the spot at reasonable prices. Driving to Aurangabad is also convenient because of the good quality of roads, and currently, National Highway 211 and 160 connects it to most cities. A new Nagpur-Aurangabad-Mumbai express highway is being developed to cater to the increasing number of tourists.

How to reach Aurangabad by train

Aurangabad falls in the South-Central Zone of Indian Railways and is well connected to Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Pune, Nagpur and Shirdi by rail. Express trains from Mumbai are most frequent and comfortable including the fast Aurangabad Janshatabdi Express.

Local transport in Aurangabad

Aurangabad has a good transport system with intra-city buses, autorickshaws and taxis. The ATM (Aurangabad Municipal Transport) buses ply regularly within the city and are cost effective. However, the most convenient way of commuting within Aurangabad is hiring a metered-autorickshaw or a taxi. 

Most frequently searched routes to Aurangabad

Route Name Distance Time
Mumbai to Aurangabad 335 km 6 hours 13 mins
Pune to Aurangabad 235 km 4 hours 35 mins
Ahmedabad to Aurangabad 616 km 10 hours 44 mins
Bangalore to Aurangabad 1,042 km 16 hours 17 mins
Hyderabad to Aurangabad 541 km 10 hours 22 mins
Chennai to Aurangabad 1,210 km 19 hours 31 mins

Aurangabad Photos

Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves
Kailasanatha and other temples, Ellora
Ghrishneshwar temple, Ellora

+ 12
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FAQs on Aurangabad

What is the best way to reach Aurangabad?

Aurangabad by virtue of being one of the most popular tourist destinations in India is very well connected to neighbouring cities by road, rail and are and also to the major cities in India like Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad. There are international flights connecting Aurangabad with cities around the world through Mumbai or Pune. Roads to and from the city are well developed and because of its it central location, several trains also pass through this city.

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What are the places near Aurangabad?

The top places near to Aurangabad are Ajanta and ellora caves which is 22 km from Aurangabad, Shirdi which is located 90 km from Aurangabad, Mumbai which is located 273 km from Aurangabad, Lonavala which is located 239 km from Aurangabad, Matheran which is located 238 km from Aurangabad

What are the things to do in Aurangabad?

The top things to do in Aurangabad are Grishneshwar Temple, Bibi ka Maqbara, The Ajanta caves, Ellora caves, Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad Caves. You can see all the places to visit in Aurangabad here

What is the local food in Aurangabad?

Aurangabad offers a decent variety of cuisines, however traditionally, the food here, has a strong influence of Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine. Hence you can enjoy dishes of these styles in their rich and authentic form in the city . One must try the exquisite Pulao, Biryani, Tahri and Naan Qalia while here. 'Naan' is a type of bread prepared in a traditional style oven called 'tandoor' and 'Qalia' is a preparation of mutton. A traditional ending to you meal could be with a
Aurangabad is also a home to Deccani food which is prepared with a number of masalas and has a subtle influence of South Indian cuisine especially in terms of the ingredients used. The other popular items of the area are Gavran Chicken, Thalipeeth, Poli and Bajrichi Bhakari.

Read More

What is the best time to visit Aurangabad?

November to February, during the winters, is the best time to visit Aurangabad. Winters are pleasant with clear skies and cold temperature, making it a lovely holidaying experience. Since most of the tourist attractions in the city are located outdoors, it is best to avoid the monsoons as it severely restricts sightseeing activities.
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Who should visit Aurangabad?

This destination is the go to place for family vacations, for history and architecture enthusiasts who want to dive into the beautiful caves and stone temples that surround the city and for photographers who want to capture the unique cultural blend the city presents.

What is not so good about Aurangabad?

The temperature during summer is very hot. Some parts of the city are not very well developed in terms of tourist facilities. The attractions are scattered and it will take atleast 3-4 days to cover the city properly including Ajanta, Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort.

What is famous about Aurangabad?

Conveniently located, close to the major cities of Mumbai and Pune. Beautiful historic caves like Ajanta and Ellora. Architectural wonders including Daulatabad Fort and Bibi Ka Maqbara. And few famous temples including the Grishneshwar Jyortirling. 

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Popular Questions And Answers on Aurangabad

Q. We need to visit all jyothirlins in Maharashtra from aurangabad

Holidify

5 years ago
You can get the details about all the Jyotirlingas here- http://www.holidify.com/blog/jyotirlingas-in-india/
Add Your Answer

Q. Site to visit

Surbhi Parashar

5 years ago
You can Vistit Ajanta and Ellora caves, Bibi-ka-maqbara, Daulatabad fort. http://www.holidify.com/places/aurangabad/sightseeing-and-things-to-do.html check this out for more details
Add Your Answer

Q. How long

Holidify

5 years ago
2 - 4 days should be enough for a visit to Aurangabad, depending on what you want to do when you visit the place.
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Aurangabad Reviews

Your rating

Sandeep Kadam

3 years ago
Surrounded by many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as Bibi Ka Maqbara (replica of Taj Mahal) and Panchakki. The only (Read More)sleeping Hanuman Temple is here 25km from Aurangabad City.

Sachin Nikam

on Panchakki 5 years ago
Worst place to visit. Don't go n waste your time. There is nothing to see. Place is not clean...there are water storage which cause bad smell.

Surbhi Parashar

5 years ago
Known for its innate historians, World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora and Grishneshwar Jyotirling, Aurangabad is known for its uproar and instinctive history. Aurangabad was the capital of (Read More)Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and is an evident fusion of history and existence. Also an industrial town, Aurangabad is a town as well as district in Maharashtra and was named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It serves as a tourist hub with numerous points of interest such as Bibi ka Maqbara, also known as the Mini Taj Mahal. Ajanta and Ellora caves are world renowned cave temples dating back more than 2,000 years and is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Aurangabad is also an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus as the Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is located just 30 km away from the main town. Apart from showcasing the era of Mughals through its royalty and great architectural work, this place is also beautiful as it has two of the most famous rivers of central India, Godavari & Tapi namely. Aurangabad is also famous for its hand-woven Himroo and Paithani Sarees, its markets and colourful crowded bazaars.
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