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MUMBAI
"One of the finest
metropolitan" |
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| WEEKEND
DESTINATIONS |
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| Goa
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Mumbai | Kerala
| Golden
Triangle |
Rajasthan |
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AURANGABAD |
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Hotels
IN Aurangabad : |
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The
gateway to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta
and Ellora, Aurangabad is named after the Mughal
emperor, Aurangzeb. Lying along the right bank
of the Kham River, the city is the district headquarters,
which offers visitors all the modern comforts
and amenities. There are several luxury and budget
hotels, shopping centres and banks. In the city
are three museums housing the art treasures of
the region -- the Sunheri Mahal Museum, the University
Museum and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Museum. You
can also while away the hours in the pleasant
confines of the Bani Begum Gardens.
The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta
date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C.
During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries
A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added
to the original group. The paintings and sculptures
of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist
religious art, have had a considerable artistic
influence.
The 34 monasteries and temples, extending over
more than 2 km, were dug side by side in the wall
of a high basalt cliff, not far from Aurangabad,
in Maharashtra. Ellora, with
its uninterrupted sequence of monuments dating
from A.D. 600 to 1000, brings the civilization
of ancient India to life. Not only is the Ellora
complex a unique artistic creation and a technological
exploit but, with its sanctuaries devoted to Buddhism,
Hinduism and Jainism, it illustrates the spirit
of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient
India. |
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HOW TO GET THERE? |
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Aurangabad
is the gateway to the region, and is generally
where you would arrive or depart from. Aurangabad
airport is conveniently located, around
10 kms east of the town, and is directly air-linked
to Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur
By rail, Aurangabad is well connected
to Mumbai and other cities. There are two trains
that depart daily from Mumbai. The Tapovan Express
leaves Mumbai early morning arriving in Aurangabad
by late afternoon, while the Devgiri Express is
an overnight train. There are several
luxury and state run bus services that
ply between Mumbai and Aurangabad and the Ajanta/Ellora
Caves. |
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OTHER
ATTRACTIONS |
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 Aurangabad
Caves
Aurangabad, too, has a group of caves which are
quite beautiful. These Buddhist caves were carved
out of the hillside in the 6th or 7th century AD. |
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Bibi
ka Maqbara
Built by Azam Shah in 1678, the Bibi ka Maqbara
is a son's loving tribute to his mother, Begum
Rabia Durrani, the Queen of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Standing spectacularly on the lawns of the landscaped
garden with ponds, fountains and water channels,
the white marbled monument rises majestically
in an intentional bid to copy and rival the world
famous Taj Mahal of Agra. The central tomb, distinguished
by elaborate surface ornamentation and intricately
perforated marble screens, is framed by four towering
minarets. |
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Panchakki
An engineering feat of the time is the Panchakki,
or the water mill built by Malik Ambar in 1695.
The water, channeled from a spring on a distant
hill was used to power the flour mill and grind
grain for the pilgrims. |
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 Darwazas
Most of the monuments in Aurangabad
are of the Nizam Shahi, Mughal and Maratha period.
There are four main darwazas, or gates leading
into the city, which along with nine secondary
darwazas formed part of the defense systems of
the city.
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