Aurangabad Tourism

History of Aurangabad

Aurangabad, better known as the City of Gates or the Heart of Maharashtra, is one of the 35 districts of Maharashtra, covering an area of 10,100 square km, out of which 141.1 square km is urban area and 9,958.9 square km is rural. Named after the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, it means 'Built by the Thrones'. Nicknamed the Historical City, it was founded in 1610 A.D By Malik Ambar, Prime Minister of Ahmadnagar in the village Khadki. Malik Ambar had a strong love for architecture and that is how Khadki grew into an architectural hub and a populous city. When Malik Ambar died in 1626, he was succeeded by his son Fateh Khan who named it Fatehnagar. In 1633, Fatehnagar came under the possession of the Mughal, and in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb wasn?t appointed the viceroy of the Deccan, he took Fatehnagar as his capital and renamed it Aurangabad. Aurangabad was a part of princely state of Hyderabad until 1956. In 1956 it became a part of newly formed bilingual Bombay state and in 1960 it became a part of Maharashtra state.

People and Culture of Aurangabad

Aurangabad, one of the oldest cities in Maharashtra holds true to its traditions and culture. Although predominantly a Hindu state, a large part of the population also follows Islam. The culture in Aurangabad is taken after Hyderabad. It still retains a lot of the flavour and charm of the Muslim culture in the old city, which is especially reflected through the language and cuisine of the locals. Aurangabad cuisine is heavily influenced by Mughlai and Hyderabad cuisine. Meat cooked in spices and herbs as well as sweets play a major role in the local cuisine. Naan Qalia, a concoction of meat and varied spices originated in Aurangabad is a must try while in the city.

Things To Do in Aurangabad

The city is brimming with famous historical attractions, like Bibi Ka Maqbara, Ajantha Caves, Ellora Caves, which have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Jama Masjid, Panchakki, and the 52 gates in Aurangabad, to name a few. There are also a number of temples, mosques, museums, and even some gardens to explore.

Food and Shopping in Aurangabad

Shopping for local textiles such as Paithani and Himroo, which are considered very characteristic and distinctive from the rest, along with ancient art forms such as Bidriware is a must in the old city. Streets like Nirala Bazaar situated in the heart of the city, Connaught Place, Paithan Gate, Osmanapura and Aurangapura are other major shopping areas in Aurangabad.

Aurangabad is well-connected by roadways, rail and airways. The Chikkalthana Airport, now a domestic and international airport, is 12 km from the city, while Aurangabad Railway Station comes under South Central Railway and is connected to Mumbai and Hyderabad on either sides and connects to major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi, etc. Also, there are good bus services available from most places to Aurangabad.