Officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the historic city of Aurangabad is located on a hilly upland terrain in the Deccan Traps of Maharashtra. It is a major production centre of cotton textiles and artistic silk fabrics but is most well known for being close to tourist destinations like the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The city retains the cultural flavours and charms of the Muslim culture of Hyderabad, which is reflected in its language—the Dakhni–Hyderabadi dialect of Urdu is spoken widely alongside Marathi and Hindi—and cuisine, such as fragrant pulao and biryani; meat cooked in fresh spices and herbs is a speciality here.
If you're wondering what to do during the Independence Day and Raksha Bandhan long weekends, consider spending three days in this wondrous place.
Start with a visit to the Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These 34 monasteries and temples extend over more than 2km and were dug side by side in the walls of a high basalt cliff. Ellora dates back to 600 to 1000 CE and is a leading example of Indian rock-cut architecture. With its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India. Cave 16 features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailash Temple, a chariot-shaped monument dedicated to Shiva. Be amazed at the inscriptions and beauty of the place as you walk around it.
Don’t miss the Grishneshwar Temple at the site, one of 12 Jyotirlinga temples in India. It is a protected place and has lots of sculptures and fine designs on its interior and exterior walls.
Near the Ellora Caves lies the Tomb of Aurangzeb. In notable contrast to other Mughal tombs—which are large monuments of Mughal architecture—by his own wishes Aurangzeb is buried in an unmarked grave at the complex of the dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin, a Sufi mystic who was his spiritual and religious teacher. Inspired by the grave of his sister Jahanara Begum, Aurangzeb’s tomb has been covered with soil on which herbs grow. You can find his full name written on a marble plate located in one of the tomb’s corners.
Follow this up with a visit to the Daulatabad Fort. This historical triangular fortress was initially built around 1187 by the first Yadava monarch, Bhillama V. However, most of the present-day fortifications were constructed under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate sometime in the 15th-16th centuries. The building can be divided into three distinct zones: Balakot, the innermost fortification atop the conical hill itself; Kataka, the intermediate fortification; and Ambarkot, the outermost defence wall which encloses most of the historic city. The Balakot site contains a number of palatial buildings, the most notable of which is the Chini Mahal. Kataka is a defensive wall with a massive double rampart featuring bastions and moats; lying just outside its eastern entrance is a Mughal-era hammam (steam bath). Ambarkot is elliptical in shape and consists of two defense walls like Kataka.
See the sunset from Harsul Lake. Its calm waters and quiet surroundings provide a soothing escape. Sit by the water or take a walk along its shores to relax.
Visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum which is dedicated to the exemplary life of Chhatrapati Shivaji. War weapons and other antiquities of the erstwhile rulers of the Maratha Empire are on display here. A 500-year-old war suit, a 400-year-old Paithani sari and a copy of the Quran handwritten by Aurangzeb are the main attractions of the museum. The galleries also have pictures of forts that the general conquered or built during his lifetime.
Next, check out the nearby Himayat Bagh. This 17th-century biodiversity heritage site sprawls over 1.2 square kilometres and is a 400-year-old Mughal-era garden. It houses several old fruit-bearing trees from the tamarind, mango, jamun, banyan and wood apple lineages. The highlight of the Himayat Bagh is the Barra Darri, a covered aqueduct. This feat of engineering involved an underground water chamber and created a natural air-conditioning system that cooled the entire area when it was in use. The greenery of the place is a big draw for tourists. You can also buy plants that are grafted by experienced local malis.
Another cave visit beckons. The Aurangabad Caves are 12 rock-cut Buddhist shrines that were dug out of comparatively soft basalt rock during the 6th and 7th centuries, much like the ones in Ellora. The caves are divided into three separate groups depending on their location: the "Western Group", with Caves 1 to 5; the "Eastern Group", with Caves 6 to 9; and a "Northern Cluster", with the unfinished Caves 10 to 12. Though its sculptures are comparable to Ajanta and Ellora, the Aurangabad Caves are much smaller, more decrepit and less visited. Cave 7, with its sculptures of scantily clad lovers in suggestive positions, is a perennial favourite with visitors.
The Goga Baba Hill should be next on your itinerary. The scenic view, calm atmosphere and breathtaking natural landscape make it an unmissable stop. There is a small temple on top of the hill which people can visit after climbing upwards for 40-50 minutes. During the Śrāvaṇa season, the mountain bursts with greenery. The sunset view is worth sticking around for.
Reminiscent of the Taj Mahal in Agra, Bibi ka Maqbara was built in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's son, Prince Azam Shah, in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum. The marble for this mausoleum was brought from the mines near Jaipur. It is laid out in a charbagh formal garden style and is built on a high square platform with four minarets at its corners. These are approached by a flight of steps from three sides. A mosque can be found to the west of the main structure, a later addition by the Nizam of Hyderabad. Take in the humble charms of this structure with its inlaid walls, marble screens and a reflecting pool during your visit.
On your final morning, start by visiting Panchakki. This 17th-century water mill has an underground channel that travels more than 8km to its source in the mountains. Legend has it that the mill was used to ground grain to feed garrison troops, the disciples of Sufi saints as well as pilgrims who would stop by. Baba Shah Musafir, one of the great saints in the Sufi tradition, made this complex his residence. Among the other local attractions in the complex is a banyan tree which is believed to be no less than 300 years old. Around the mill, you’ll find the Baba Shah Musafir dargah and a library that houses 2,500 books on various subjects related to history, law, medicine, Sufism, religion and philosophy in Arabic, Urdu and Persian. Don’t miss the stunning view of the Kham River from here.
Next up is Naukhanda Palace. It was built in the 17th century and has nine apartments, five zananas (women’s quarters), a Divan-i-Aam (hall of public audience), a Divan-i-Khas (hall of private audience), a mosque and a kacheri (musical venue), each with its own garden and cistern. A hammam can also be found attached to the building. Sadly the wood-work and the stucco plaster of the complex are all gone but don’t let that stop you from discovering Naukhanda's subtle beauty.
The Soneri Mahal beckons next. Situated in the Satmala mountain range, it currently houses the Maharashtra State Museum for Aurangabad. Constructed in the 17th century, the main portion of the building stands across the ridge of a hill and is surrounded by lush trees, gardens and fields. This monument is a notable example of the fusion of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles. The palace was said to feature paintings made of real gold, thus giving it its name. The Hathikhana Gate has ornate arches and is adorned with intricate carvings. From this gate, a central pathway leads to the main palace. The murals inside the palace depict the natural world, include elements of Mughal miniature paintings and are adorned with flowers, plants and trees. The first-floor museum showcases a diverse collection of ancient artefacts across various categories such as sculptures, paintings, coins, pottery, arms and armour, and more.
If you’re interested in zoos, check out the Siddharth Garden and Zoo which is home to many wild animals like tigers, lions, leopards, civet cats, snakes, crocodiles, emus, foxes, deer, hyenas and many other species. There is also an aquarium where one can look at a variety of colourful fish. You can picnic on the lush lawns if you prefer.
For those who want to forgo the zoo experience, relax in the environs of the Gol Tekadi Hill where you can have a quiet picnic and soak in the majesty of the living world.
For your final evening, head to the Prozone Mall, the first modern shopping complex in Aurangabad with over 600,000 square feet of space. Shop at world-class Indian and international brands; play games and participate in adventure activities at GAME X like karting, paintball, turf football, rifle shooting and archery; enjoy a delicious meal at the food court which has brands like Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, KFC, Dosa Plaza and more; or catch at movie at the mall’s INOX cinema.
Take a flight to Aurangabad Airport (IXU) or a train to Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (AWB). The city is well connected by national highways and state highways via NH-211 from Dhule to Solapur. You can easily hire a taxi or get a bus from Jalna, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nagpur, Nashik and Mumbai to Aurangabad.