Aurangabad Tour Packages

Aurangabad hit the spotlight when the last Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, made the city his capital from 1653 to 1707. Although the city had only a brief period of glory and it houses some fascinating monuments including Bibi ka Maqbara, a replica of the Taj Mahal, which continues to draw a huge number of visitors.

Aurangabad is situated on the banks of Kham River and it was originally known as Khadki. The city was founded in 1610 by Malik Amber, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam, Shah of Ahmednagar. Later Malik Amber's son Fateh Khan renamed it as Fateh Nagar. In 1635, Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan’s son Aurangzeb became the Governor of this region. He developed the city and named it as Aurangabad. A unique feature of Aurangabad is the historic gates, which were built during the period of Aurangzeb and gave the city a distinct name ‘The City of Gates’.

Aurangabad was declared as the Tourism Capital of Maharashtra. Aurangabad tour packages became popular as the town acts as a base to explore the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves which are declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ajanta caves are much older than Ellora caves and home to 30 rock-cut caves, carved into the steep rock face of a horse-shoe shaped gorge along the Waghur River. These caves showcase Buddhist artwork belonging to the period ranging from 2nd century BC to 6th century AD. All the paintings and sculptures in the caves were made by using simple tools like chisel and hammer. They portray a range of stories from Jataka tales to accounts of nymphs and princesses. Ajanta Caves are among the greatest surviving examples of ancient Indian cave art. 

Ellora caves are found at a short distance away from Ajanta caves in the Sahyadri Hills. It houses a total of 34 caves and houses sculptures and paintings depicting three different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. These caves stand together to represent harmony and solidarity among all faiths and beliefs. The Ellora caves served as lodgings to the traveling Buddhist and Jain monks. One of the most popular sites in the entire Ajanta and Ellora caves is the Kailash Temple in the Ellora caves which is the single largest monolithic structure in the world.

Grishneshwar Temple, a 13th century Shiva temple, lies close to the Ellora Caves and it is the last of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The temple was damaged during the Mughal period and it was reconstructed by Rani Ahilyabai. This is the smallest of the Jyotirlingas and it has magnificent carvings. Devotees believe that worshipping this Jyotirlinga is equal to worshipping all the other Jyotirlingas.

Aurangabad sightseeing tour will include a visit to Bibi Ka Maqbara which is a mausoleum commissioned by Aurangzeb, dedicated to his first and chief wife Rabia ul Daurani. The dome of this tomb is made of marble, just like the Taj Mahal. The mausoleum sits in the center of a Charbagh style garden and is graced by four minarets standing on the four corners. A canal runs in front of the mausoleum and during sunrise and sunset, the rays of the sun are beautifully reflected on the water of the canal. 

Aurangzeb’s mausoleum in Khuldabad is a simple but significant historical site. Aurangzeb’s last wish was that he was to be laid to rest near the Dargah of his spiritual guru Sheikh Zain Uddin. He is known to have bought the place by selling caps he knitted and copying the Quran in his last days. The remarkably plain tomb lies on an elevated red stone platform amidst the marble floor. Marble screens on three sides are the only elements of decoration.

Panchakki, near Bibi ka Maqbara, is a water mill complex consisting of a court, a madrasa, a mosque, the house of a minister and a Sarai. It was a grinding mill used to grind grains for the pilgrims. The Panchakki used the energy generated by the flowing water from a nearby spring to turn the large grinding stones of the flour mill. It is a typical example of medieval engineering which was built in 1744 AD. The flour from the mill was given to pilgrims, disciples of Saints and troops of the garrison.

Daulatabad Fort, also known as Devgiri Fort, is another historically important place that should be viewed in your Aurangabad trip. This architectural marvel is believed to have been built in the 12th century and hailed as one of the wonders of Maharashtra. The entire Daulatabad town was developed by Raja Bhillamraj Yadav in 1187. It is built on a 200 meters high conical hill, which provides the grand fortress a strategic position, architectural beauty and protection from enemies. The lower part of the conical hill is surrounded by a moat which was filled with crocodiles to prevent the entry of enemies. The fort was taken over by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq and a Chand Minar was built inside the fort during the rule of the Tughlaq dynasty.

Bhadra Maruti Temple in Khuldabad is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. This is one of the only three temples in India where Lord Hanuman is seen in the Bhav Samadhi or the sleeping posture. The deity is covered with an orange cloth and decorated with garlands. Legend says that in ancient times a noble king named Bhadrasen ruled this region. He was an ardent devotee of Lord Rama and used to sing songs in his praise. Hanuman listened to his devotional songs and was mesmerized. When the king opened his eyes after he finished singing he was surprised to find Hanuman near him in a reclining posture. He requested Hanuman to reside there forever and bless his devotees.

Silk fabrics were once Aurangabad's chief revenue generator and even today Aurangabad is well known for its hand-woven Himroo shawls and Paithani Sarees. It is also famous for fabrics like Mashru and Kimkhab. Aurangabad has retained its traditional Tughlaq cuisines of Tandoors and kebabs and they are sold in all the roadside eateries. Aurangabad is a historic town that amazes the tourists with its history and splendor. Contact us to know more about Aurangabad packages and plan a trip to this historical place.