Named after the Emperor Aurangazeb. Aurangabad is a pleasant city that is
better known as a base for visiting the Ajanta and Ellora Caves
(Distance from the Airport 8 Kms, Approx time 15 mins.)
Bibi - Ka - Maqbara
Places of Interest:
Bibi - Ka - Maqbara - Built in 1679 by Aurangazeb's son as a memorial to his
mother. Rabia-Ud-Darani, the Maqbara is a poor imitation of the Taj Mahal in
Agra.
Ajanta - Widely held to signal the beginning of classical Indian art, the
frescoes at Ajanta have been listed as a World Heritage Monument. The Ajanta
Caves are Buddhist and date back to the 2nd Century BC. The themes focus on
Buddha and his life.
Ellora - the Ellora Caves are not all Buddhist like those at Ajanta. They were
carved when Buddhism was in a period of decline all over India, Ellora also
houses Hindu and Jain Temples. The most noted is the spectacular Lailasa
Temple, which was carved downwards out of solid rock rather than built
upwards.
Kailash Temple Ellora
Panchakki - An old water mill, Panchakki is also the final resting-place of
Sufi preceptor to Aurangzeb. The small, serene gardens serve as his memorial.
Daulatabad Fort - Seldom visited, this sprawling fort was built as a whim of Muhamed- Bin-Tughlaq - Sultan of Delhi in the 14th century. The Sultan
conceived the idea of marching the entire population of Delhi over 1100 Kms to
Daulatabad. After an enforced march of 17 years, he turned them around and
marched them back to Delhi as more than half his subjects had died enroute.
The fort offers a superb view of the surrounding countryside.
