The city
of Aurangabad was founded by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza
Nizam Shah II, in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki. When Fateh
Khan,
Malik
Ambar's son succeeded the throne in 1626, he named the city 'Fatehpur'.
In 1653, when Aurangzeb became the Viceroy of the Deccan, he made it his
capital, and renamed it Aurangabad. A region that has been inhabited
since the Stone Ages, Aurangabad has seen several dynasties come and go,
absorbing the culture of each into itself.
History has
forgotten the name of Malik Ambar. founder of Aurangabad. Khirhki of the
past was renamed Fatehnagar after his son's name. However that name too
has been forgotten along with its founder's name. Aurangzeb named it
Aurangabad after his own name. Stamp of Muslim culture can be marked
here. It is multi-racial community of 6 lakh people with a
majority of Muslims.
The city derived its name from the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb. Though it is fast developing into an industrial town,
a large number of visitors to it are tourists heading for the famous
Ajanta and Ellora caver which lie about 106 km and 30 km from the town
respectively. The Aurangabad caves of Buddhist origin are 7 km away.
They include
chapels and monasteries, some of which have fine sculptures. The Bibi Ka
Maqbara, five km away, is a mausoleum built between 1657 and 1661 by
Aurangzeb for his wife Dilras Banu Begum. The mausoleum is modelled on
the Taj Mahal and is considered the first Mughal monument in the Deccan.
Panchakki is a 17th century water maill where water energy was used to
turn huge grinding stones to grind wheat into flour. Near by us the Tomb
of Baba Shah Musafir.
Aurangabad CavesJust
outside the city, lie the Aurangabad caves, excavated between the 2nd
and 6th century AD. Tantric influences can be discerned in their
architecture and iconography.There are twelve caves in all, a major
chunk of which are viharas, of which Caves 3 and 7, are the most
fascinating. Cave 3 stands supported by 12 finely carved columns, and
sports sculptures portraying scenes from the Jataka tales.
Cave
7 houses an imposing sculpture of a Boddhisattva, praying for
deliverance.
Aurangzeb's TombYou can visit
Aurangzeb's Tomb at Khula-dabad, 25 km distance on the road to Ellora.
Its simplicity has tourist appeal. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707
it was raised at the expense of late emperor's self-earned money by
copying from Koran. His son Ajam decorated this tomb without
edifice with stone lattice. Malik Ambar and other historic figures
were buried in adjoining Karbala. The Angrakha (a loose and long robe)
used by prophet Mahammad is also carefully preserved here. There
is a Mughal garden nearby- Rani Begam ka Bag. Another 14 km from
Khuladabad lies Mabishmal, a lovely picnic spot. You can stay at MTDC's
Holiday Resort.
How to reach
- By Air
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways fly daily from
Mumbai. Indian Airlines also operates daily flights from Delhi.
- By Rail
Aurangabad is well connected to most major
Indian cities.
- By Road
Aurangabad is well connected to Mumbai (392
km), Nasik (221 km), Shirdi (136 km) Ajanta (106 km), Pune (299 km),
and Ellora (30 km).
