Aurangabad Tourism

"The land of Ajanta & Ellora" Aurangabad Tourism Aurangabad, which was declared by the Government as the Tourism Capital of Maharashtra back in 2010, is a famous tourist hub which greets its visitors with a richly woven tapestry of sights and sounds. From UNESCO World Heritage Sites to bustling markets brimming with delicate silk items and exquisite hand-woven garments, Aurangabad promises all tourists an exciting holiday experience. History buffs will be excited to know that Aurangabad has quite a bit of history attached to it. The city used to be the capital of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, which is how it derived its current name of 'Aurangabad'. While the city is rapidly heading towards industrial growth and globalization, it still retains most of its past glory, heritage, charms and traditions. The most famous tourist attraction of Aurangabad is the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Ajanta Caves is home to 29 different caves, all of which showcase Buddhist artwork belonging to the period ranging from 200 B.C to 650 A.D. All paintings and sculptures in the caves were constructed painstakingly by Buddhist monks using only simple tools such as chisels and hammers. These paintings and sculptures portray a varied range of stories, starting from the Jataka Tales to intriguing accounts of ancient nymphs and princesses. The Ellora Caves, a little distance away from the Ajanta Caves, houses a total of 34 caves and has sculptures and paintings depicting not one, but three different religions ? Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The sheer diversity of the sculptures, the architectural expertise, and the centuries of hard work undertaken by artisans are enough to leave you speechless. The sole remaining example of Mughal architecture in this part of the country, Bibi ka Maqbara is a mausoleum dedicated to Rabia-ul-Daurani, wife of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Designed by the Persia What's Great? Conveniently located, close to the major cities of Mumbai and Pune. Beautiful historic monuments like Ajanta and Ellora. A mix of different cultures. What's not so Great? The temperature during summer is very hot. Some parts of the city are not very well developed in terms of tourist facilities. For Whom This destination is the go to place for family vacations, for history and architecture enthusiasts who want to dive into the beautiful caves and stone temples that surround the city and for photographers who want to capture the unique cultural blend the city presents.

A Cultural Milieu Aurangabad is a city that is a confluence of many cultures. Over the years, it has been ruled by Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist dynasties that have each added something new to this city. Temples stand side by side with Dargahs, and the people of this city has internalised all of these cultures. The language of this city too shows a strong influence of Hindi because of its proximity with Madhya Pradesh despite the most common language being Marathi. The food is heavily influenced by the Mughal style of cooking and the outdoor night markets of Aurangabad are famed for the kebabs and other non-vegetarian preparations.

Itinerary Day 1:Arrive in Aurangabad by bus, train, car or air and check in to the hotel. Late in the morning, proceed to Bibi-Ka-Maqbara which is a 20-minute drive from the city centre. There are many auto rickshaws, tourist vans and taxis to ferry tourists to and from this destinations. Enjoy the gardens, landscapes and cool breeze and have lunch in one of these gardens. In the late afternoon, proceed to Panchakki, a flour grinding mill built during the Mughal era to prepare food for the devotees who visited the dargah. In the evening, head for a stroll in one of the markets like Gul Mandi or Connaught Market and enjoy the local flavour, street food and sizzling tandoori delights. Day 2:Leave early in the morning for Ajanta caves, a three-hour drive from the city and reach by around 10:00 AM. Take your time to explore the caves carved in different styles with sculptures, paintings and murals. Have lunch in one of the many restaurants near the caves and proceed back to the city in the evening. Day 3:Take a leisurely morning stroll around one of the many gardens like the Siddhartha Garden and leave for Ellora caves after breakfast. Walk around the cool stone cut caves and take in the years of history. After lunch, proceed back to the city and prepare for departure.

Restaurants and Local Food in Aurangabad Aurangabad offers a decent variety of cuisines, however traditionally, the food here, has a strong influence of Mughlai and Hyderabadi cuisine. Hence you can enjoy dishes of these styles in their rich and authentic form in the city . One must try the exquisitePulao, Biryani, Tahri and Naan Qaliawhile here. 'Naan' is a type of bread prepared in a traditional style oven called 'tandoor' and 'Qalia' is a preparation of mutton. A traditional ending to you meal could be with a Aurangabad is also a home to Deccani food which is prepared with a number of masalas and has a subtle influence of South Indian cuisine especially in terms of the ingredients used. The other popular items of the area areGavran Chicken, Thalipeeth, Poli and Bajrichi Bhakari. View 5 Restaurants in Aurangabad >>

Oct-Maris the best time to visit Aurangabad Winter is the best time to visit Aurangabad so as to avoid the sun and the heat. During winters, the temperature is pleasant and atmosphere clear making it a very pleasant experience. Since most of the tourist attractions in this city are outdoors, it is best to avoid the monsoons as this may severely restrict your activities. Weather in Aurangabad Loading... Aurangabad in Summer (March - June) Like the rest of central India, summers here last from March to June, and it can get sweltering during this time. The weather is dry and sunny, and there is frequent water shortage due to droughts. Each year, the temperature rises to about 43 degrees Celcius and heat waves as well as hot winds are common. Tourists are recommended to avoid this season mainly because of the lack of availability of water. Aurangabad in Monsoon (July - September) Monsoons in Aurangabad are short and sporadic since this region does not see much rainfall. On an average, the monsoon lasts from July to September and temperature is in the range of 20 to 25 degrees Celcius. There is constant cloud cover during the monsoon even though it may not rain all the time. This city receives about 700 mm of rainfall annually. Aurangabad in Winter (December - February) December to February are the winter months in this region, and the climate is most suitable for tourism during this time. The temperature ranges between 10 and 25 degrees Celcius and the weather is dry. A cool breeze is common during the evenings but since this is the busiest season if you plan to go during the winter, book well in advance. However, since this is the most popular tourist season, be prepared for busy beaches and fully booked hotels. If you want to avoid the crowded days and don't mind a little heat, summer is a better option. Monthly Weather in Aurangabad Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 14 29 February 17 33 March 21 35 April 25 39 May 27 40 June 24 34 July 23 28 August 23 29 September 23 30 October 20 31 November 14 31 December 13 30

Events in Aurangabad Ellora Ajanta Dance Festival 13th January The Ellora Ajanta Dance Festival aims at putting the rich cultural history of India in the spotlight. Held at the Soneri Mahal, showcases a mix of classical and folk performances from the best talent in India.