Looking for a weekend getaway? Try Aurangabad

The city was named after Aurangzeb, and his tomb lies in Khuldabad. There are many things to do and umpteen historic places to see while one is in Aurangabad. The city’s proximity to the holy town of Shirdi also brings in many visitors. The best seasons to visit are during the monsoon, when the city turns a verdant green, and there are beautiful waterfalls around the caves. Summers in Aurangabad can be blistering hot.

Aurangabad Caves

The Aurangabad caves are located on the outskirts of the city and are twelve in number. The walls have many sculptures dating between the 6th and 8th centuries. The best sculpture is of a Bodhisattva praying.

Panchakki

Panchakki, located in the city, is a very old watermill for grinding corn. It generates energy from the water of a stream. It has a large fish tank with hundreds of fish in it. Visitors can buy chikki to feed the fish.

Bibi ka Maqbara

Bibika Maqbara is modeled after the Taj Mahal and was built in 1679 by Emperor Aurangzeb in memory of his wife Rabia ud-Durrani. It bears a striking resemblance to the original monument in Agra.

Daulatabad Fort

The Daulatabad Fort is 16 kilometers from the city of Aurangabad and is a very scenic drive from Aurangabad. This This14th-centuryy fort city was the capital of the Tughlaq dynasty. There are small dhabas and vendors selling snacks, drinks, and guavas outside the fort. One should hire one of the innumerable guides offering their services at this fort. They can recount spine-chilling tales of the treachery, crime, and punishment that took place within these fort walls and take you to the BhulBhullaiya maze from which enemies would slide into the moat outside, which used to be filled with hungry crocodiles.

Ellora

Ellora is situated 30 km from Aurangabad. The caves of Ellora and Ajanta are World Heritage sites. At Ellora, one can view the best of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temple architecture. At Ellora, 12 caves are Buddhist, 17 are Hindu, and 5 caves are Jain. The Kialasa temple in Cave 16 is an architectural wonder and should not be missed at any cost. The structure took a century to finish and is carved out of a single rock. The sculptures are delicate and intricate.

Ajanta Caves

The centuries-old Ajanta Caves were only discovered in the 19th Century and are located 106 km from Aurangabad. The 29 caves here depict the story of Buddhism and were inhabited by Buddhist monks who lived here and used simple tools like hammers and chisels to carve out figures from the mountainsides. The world-famous Ajanta paintings are murals. First, the rock surface was chiseled and then plastered with clay, cow dung, hay, and lime. Drawings were made and vegetable colours applied. The colours were made out of plants, minerals, and stone, but they remain vivid even today. The sculptures at Ajanata have a luminous, ethereal beauty as lime and powdered seashells were used to coat them.

Shawls, Gemstones, and Paithani saris

Back in Aurangabad, one can shop for the beautiful Himroo brocade shawls and semi-precious gemstones like agates and amethysts. A short trip can be made to Paithan, on the banks of the Godavari River, 56 km away from Aurangabad. The rare and gorgeous Paithani silk saris are made here and are sold at a fraction of the price one would normally pay for them elsewhere.

During the monsoons, one can spot peacocks and langur monkeys near the caves and Daulatabad Fort. There are many wonderful restaurants and hotels in and around Aurangabad. A return trip to Aurangabad is on the cards for every visitor to this beautiful historic city.