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Aurangabad |
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Aurangabad was founded in 1653 by Aurangzeb who established his capital here once he become the Viceroy of Deccan. Today it an integral part of the region that is home to Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic monuments. It is surrounded by Lokenvosa Hills on the North and Satasa Hills on the South. The city is the district headquarter, which offers visitors all the modern comforts and amenities. The present Government names this city as 'Sambhajinagar'. |
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Aurangabad Caves |
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Just outside the city, are located the 6th century caves displaying the influence of Tontric cult in the iconography and architectural designs of the caves. In all there are caves which are mainly viharas. The most interesting among these are Cove 3 and 7. The former is supported on 12 highly ornate columns and has sculptures depicting scenes from the legendary 'Jataka' tales. Caves 7 with its detailed figures of bejeweled women also has a dominating sculpture of a 'Bodhisattva' praying for deliverance. |
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| Bibi Ka Maqbara |
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Situated about 5 kms from the Aurangabad city is Bibi Ka Maqbara, the burial place of Aurangabad's 1st wife, Rabi ud-Durani. It is an imitation of the Taj at Agra, and is the only example of mughal architecture of its kind in the Deccan Plateau. |
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| Siddharth Garden & Zoo |
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A famous picnic spot with a zoo, musical fountains and a garden. |
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| History Museum of Marathwada University |
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This museum has on display excavations from 2nd century B.C, sculptures dating back to 7th and 12th centuries A.D., miniature painting of the Maratha, Rajput and Mughal times, paintings of the East India Company, weaponry, besides Persian and Arabic manuscripts of the 17th and 18th centuries. |
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State Archeology Museum, Sonehri Mahal |
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The Sonehri Mahal has sculptures and panels dug out of archaeologicalsites in Paithan about 56 kms from Aurangabad. |
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| Shivaji Museum |
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It features the weapons used by Shivaji Maharaj during battles.
The museum is open from 1030-1330 and 1400-1800 hrs. |
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| Panchakki |
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Panchakki (water wheel) takes its name from the mill, which used to grind grain for the pilgrims. It was designed to generate energy via water, brought down from a spring on a mountain. Malik Ambar architect of Aurangabad city himself built it, in 1695. lt also has the tomb of Baba Shah Muzaffar, a Sufi saint. |
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| Daulatabad Fort (13 kms) |
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This fort was built by the Yadava dynasty in 1187 and was known as Deogiri. It was renamed Daulatabad 'city of fortune', Mohd-bin-Tughlaq who shifted his capital temporarily here in 1326 A.D. Daulatabad was held as a fine fortress by successive dynasties in the Deccan. Dominated by a great conical hill, Daulatabad commanded a natural pass; artificial scarping made it impregnable. The Chand Minar, a 30 m. high minaret with three circular galleries, looked down over the approach from the north and east and laid a defensive as well as religious role in this fortress. |
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| Khuladabad (26 kms) |
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| Khuladabad, or the Abode of Eternity, is a walled town just 3-kms from Ellora. It is a holy shrine for the Muslims and contains the tomb of the last Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. |
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| Grishneshwar Temple (30 kms) |
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Grishneshwar Temple is an important Shiva temple located just a half a kilometer from the Ellora Caves. There are twelve shrines in India, which holds the magnificent 'Jyotirlingas'. Ghirishneshwar Temple is one among the twelve Jyotirlingas in the country. Worshippers of Shiva flock this temple every year to pay homage to the deity. |
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| Maheshmal (50 kms) |
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| A beautiful hill resort at an altitude of 913 mts. |
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| Bani Begam Gardens |
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Just 24 kms from Aurangabad are the Bani Begam Gardens. At the centre of these large artistically laid-out gardens is the tomb of Bani Begam, consort of one of Aurangzeb's sons. Built in varied styles, the fluted pillars, massiv domes, foundations….exibit the splendid architecture of the time. |
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| Paithan |
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| The ancient city and Pilgrimage centre of Paithan is situated on the banks of the Godavari 56 kms south of Aurangabad. Paithan is particularly well-Known for its Paithan silk sarees with intricate zari boarders. Once a centre of trade, it was also the capital of the Satvahans. Today, it is an important excavation site. Eknath, the Marathi poet-saint, lived here centuries ago. Jaikwadi dam close by, is an ideal observation point for bird watchers. |
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| Pithalkora |
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| 78 kms from Aurangabad, in a remote and picturesque defile on the ancient trade route linking Ajanta and Ellora and progressing to the coast, is a group of 13 cave sanctuaries-chaityas and viharas, dating back to the second century B.C. with addition in the fifth and sixth centuries. The beautiful sculptured façade of the great vihara (cave 4) still impresses the relief work in Pithalkora is richer and more elaborate, the carving more precise, than at other early sites. |
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| Lonar Crater |
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145 kms from Aurangabad, is the village of Lonar. Over 30,000 years ago, a falling meteorite struck the area creating the world's largest impact crater in basaltic rock. Botanists have recently discovered vegetation life forms not found anywhere else on this planet, in the stunning lake of the crater. The lake is home to may aquatic birds. Along the edge of the lake, there are temples now laying in ruins including the Daityasudan temple, a must-see. |
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| Shirdi |
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| A small village in Ahmednagar district, Shirdi is 135 kms from Aurangabad. It is famous all over world on account of its association with the renowed saint shri Sai Baba. Pilgrims belonging to all faiths, throng here all the year around. |
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| For more details, please visit: |
| http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../Maharashtratourism / CitiestoVisits / Aurangabad.html |
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| Other Attraction |
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| Monuments like kalkat, Rang Mahal, Sindkhed Raja, the birthplace of Rajmata Jijabai- the mother of Shivaji, Tomb of Lakhuji Jadhav- father of Jijabai, and the temples of Neelkantheshwar and Rameshwar. Also there is a H20 water park, a great gateway with family. Shani Shinganapur, famous for the unique image of sri Sani Devata. |
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| Ajanta Caves |
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The Ajanta group of caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills of Maharastra and cut into the curved mountain side above the waghore river. Were discovered only in the 19 th century. A group of British Officers headed by John Smith on a tiger hunt stumbled on these wonderous ancients works of art. They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD. The 30 caves were built as seclude retreats for Buddhist monks who tought and performed rituals in the ‘Chaityas' (chapels) and ‘Viharas' (monasteries), the ancient sears of slearning and the nerve contes of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammers and chisels, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures. They are carved in a manner so that natural light pours onto them all day. Many of the caves have panels depicting stories from the jatakas, a treasure trove of stories about the several incarnations of the Buddha. Images of nymphs and princesses, among other, are also elaborately portrayed. Cave number 1 houses some of the best-preserved wall paintings here, which include two impressive Bodhisattvas, Padmapani and Avalokiteshvara. The Ajanta caves and the treasures they house are a landmark in the overall development of Buddhism in India and in general.
The caves are open on all days from 0900 hrs-1730 hrs expect on Mondays, admission fee Rs. 10/- for Indians and USD 5/- for foreigners.
For more information, please visit: |
| http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=.. / Maharashtra Tourism / TouristDelight/ Caves/AjantaCaves.html |
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| Ellora Caves |
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The Ellora caves, of which there are on a total of 34, are carved into the sides of a basaltic hill 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest specimens of cave-temple architecture, they house elaborate facades and house exquisitely adorned interios. These structures representing the three faiths of Hindunism, Buddhism, and Jainism, were caved between 350 AD and 700 AD. The 12 caves towards the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre are dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 are caves to the north are Jain. |
| For more information, please visit: |
http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../MaharashtraTourism/Tourist Delight /Caves/ElloraCaves.html |
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| Buddhist Caves |
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The sculptures in these Buddhist caves accurately convey the nobility, grace and serenity that the Buddha possessed. Caves 6 and 10 have images from the Buddhist and Hindu faiths under the same roof, the later dedicated to Vishwakarma, the patron saint of Indian craftsmen. The Vishwakarma cave is both a Chaitya and a Vihara, with a seated Buddha adorning the Stupa. It is a two-storeyed structure sporting a colourful pageant of dwarfs that are dancing and making music. scene of Shiva Natraja and Shiva emerging from lingam which are notable. |
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| Kailasa Temple |
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This temple in cave 16 is an architectural wonder - the entire structure having been out of a single block of rock and as been chiseled out by hand, the entire process took over a entury to finish. This recreation at tbe mountain-abode of Lord Shiva is, in all probability the world's largest monolith. Unlike ther temples which are usually built from the base upwards, the sculptor or architect involved here started carving from the top and the sides. It is 50 mts in length, 33 mts wide and 30 mts high. The temple is a representation of Kailash, Lord Shiva's home in mountains. The temple has carving and sculptures om the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the adventures of rishna. The temple is closed on Tuesday and entry fee is Rs 10/- for lndians and USD 5/- for foreigners. |
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| Jain Caves |
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Among the Jain Caves, Cave 32 houses a beautiful shrine adorned with fine carvings of a lotus flower on the roof, and a yakshi on a lion under a mango-tree. While caves 32 and 34 contain grand statues of Parasnath, the other caves have the images of the Jain Trithankaras, and one of them also has a Scoted figuro of mahavira. |
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| Festival |
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Ellora Festival - Every year in the month of December, the MTDC organizes this festival of Classical Music and Dance where India's renowned artists participate with the Ellora caves as the backdrop. |
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Shopping |
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A region as rich in theartand culture of several communities,would naturally have a legacy of superb handicrafts. The legendary beauty of Paithani silk saris, the intricate silver inlay craft of Bidri ware which reached its culmination under the Mughals, and the beautifully woven silk Hindu and Mushru shawls continue to cast their spell on visitors |
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Source
Ministry of Tourism
Govt. of India,
Transport Bhawan
Parliament Street, New Delhi. |
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