The historical city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, and was then nicknamed ?Khidki? which literally means window. The city served the real purpose of its ancient name as the Mughal emperors could look into the Deccan through it. The city got its current name from the last of the Mughal emperors, Aurangzeb. It is a fact that the king Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq was so impressed by the topography of this place that he moved his capital from Delhi to here and christened it Daulatabad. It is interesting to note that Aurangabad is the only other city that enjoys the rare distinction of being the only other capital of the country. Today, the beautiful city of Aurangabad is used as a base for a visit to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora.
The city of Aurangabad is steeped in history and culture and offers plenty to do and see to its visitors. Aurangabad acquired plenty of monuments as its heritage from the middle ages. The most renowned tourists? attraction of Aurangabad is the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, built in memory of Aurangazeb?s wife, Begum Rabia Durani.
The other places worth visiting here include the Aurangabad Caves that are artificial caves, dug out of the rather soft rock. The architecture and iconography is influenced by Tantric Hinduism. Most impressive are the sculptures, figures of women which are scantily clad and ornately bejewelled. They show the rise of Tantric Buddhism during this period. The excavation of these caves goes back to the time of 2nd to 6th century AD. The most famous caves of Aurangabad are the 34 caves of Ellora and 29 caves of Ajanta. The world?s largest monolithic sculpture, the Kailash Temple is to be found in the Ellora Caves.
Another interesting thing about Aurangabad is the conventional type of Himroo Weaving that can be seen at the Himroo factory situated at Aurangabad?s Zaffer gate. Visitors also like to check out the Panchakki which was built in the pre Mughal era. It is an enormous water mill that was used for grain grinding stones and is truly a seventeenth century wonder.
As far as lodging goes, Aurangabad has plenty of five star hotels, motels, and luxurious guest houses to boast of. The Taj Residency is located 9 km from the airport and railway station and is set in 5 acres of lush green lawns, creating an oasis of tranquility in the midst of a busy industrial city. The Meadows Resort is also an excellent choice if you plan to visit Ellora. Enroute to Ellora, and 5 kms from Aurangabad on the Nashik-Bombay Highway, this beautiful resort offers rooms with its individual portico overlooking the pool or the gardens. The Aurangabad Gymkhana Club is an exclusive combination of a club and a hotel and offers all the facilities of a 4 star hotel. For the budget conscious, the Hotel Manor is also a good option, as it offers great cuisines and excellent service.
David H Urmann
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