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Places
Ajanta
 Early
in the 19th century, a group of British officers climbed the thickly
wooded slopes of the Sahyadri Hills and discovered Ajanta caves.
The caves were a secluded retreat for Buddhist monastic orders and
also offered easy access to trade routes
The 30 caves of Ajanta, some unfinished, span a period of 800 years
and contain numerous images of Buddha. Although tucked deep within
the folds of the hills, the sanctuaries are illuminated by natural
light for some part of the day.
The flat surface of the hill opposite the caves provides a grand
view of the horseshoe shaped gorge of Ajanta.
Getting there
Aurangabad is central to both Ajanta (104 kilometres
away) and Ellora (28 kilometres).
By Air: Indian Airlines has daily flights to Aurangabad from
Mumbai.
By Rail: The railhead for Ajanta is Jalgaon, which can be
reached from Mumbai by convenient overnight broad-gauge trains.
From Jalgaon one can charter taxis to the caves.
By Road: The route network is Jalgaon-Ajanta-Aurangabad.
Buses also run on the 76-kilometre route from Ajanta directly to
Ellora.
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Ellora
 The
cave temples of Ellora (about 20 kms from Aurangabad) are
impressive in terms of architectural splendour. Around 34 caves
are carved on the slopes of the low hills of which 16 are Hindu,
13 Buddhist and five of Jain faith. These rock temples and monasteries
were constructed between the 5th and 8th Centuries
A.D.
The most interesting of the Jain caves is Cave 32, with a beautiful
lotus carved on the ceiling of the shrine and a magnificent yakshi
(angels) seated on her lion under a mango tree laden with fruit.
This is a double-storied cave with paintings in a fair state of
preservation on the ceilings.
Getting there
Aurangabad
is central to both Ajanta (104 kilometres away) and Ellora (28 kilometres).
By Air: Indian Airlines has daily flights to Aurangabad from
Mumbai.
By Rail: The railhead for Ellora is Chalisgaon and the station
can be reached from Mumbai by convenient overnight broad-gauge trains.
From Chalisgaon one can charter taxis to the caves.
By Road: The route network is Chalisgaon-Ellora-Aurangabad.
Buses also run on the 76-kilometre route from Ellora directly to
Ajanta.
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Aurangabad
 Aurangabad
was a temporary capital of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangazeb, in the
Deccan. The fort wall surrounding the city is a poignant reminder
of its ancient history. Though the splendour of the 16th
and 17th centuries found its finest expressions in the
royal monuments of Delhi and Agra, there is enough in Aurangabad
to reward the curious visitor.
Tourist attractions
Bibi Ka Maqbara: Bibi Ka Maqbara is the tomb of Begum
Rabia Durani, wife of the Emperor Aurangazeb, built by her son
as a tribute.
Pan Chakki: It is an intriguing water-mill dating
back to the 17th century. Indigenous engineers channelled and brought
down water from a spring on a hill some distance away to generate
energy to turn the large grinding stones, which served as a flour
mill in times gone by.
Aurangabad Caves: Hidden in the hills just outside
of the city is a cluster of caves probably excavated in the early
sixth century. There are tantric influences evident in the
iconography and architectural designs of the caves.
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Excursions
Daulatabad
 This
fortress, which has a Hindu stronghold was captured and plundered
in the 13th Century. A hundred years later, it was made
the second capital of the Delhi Sultanate and Daulatabad was
held as a fine fortress by successive dynasties in the Deccan.
Khuldabad
A few kilometres from Daulatabad is the austere, plastered masonry
monument, Khuldabad, which commemorates the memory of Aurangazeb.
Ghrishneshwar Temple
Less than half a kilometer from Ellora is the Ghrishneshwar
Temple, which is one of the five Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra.
Pithalkora
Seventy eight kilometres from Aurangabad, 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 additions in the fifth
and sixth centuries.
Paithan
The ancient city and pilgrimage centre of Paithan is
situated on the banks of the Godavari, 56 kms south of Aurangabad.
The Marathi poet-saint Ekanath lived here and several centuries
ago, Paithan was famous as a seat of learning. It is also well known
for the beautiful Pathani silk sarees with intricate zari
borders.
Getting there
By Air: Aurangabad Airport is 10 kms from the city and air-linked
directly to Delhi and Mumbai.
By Rail: Aurangabad is a section on the Manmad-Kachiguda
line. Passengers from Mumbai and Delhi change at Manmad railway
Junction, 114 kms away from Aurangabad. Mumbai-Aurangabad (via Manmad)
375-kms. Delhi-Aurangabad (via Agra, Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhusawal,
Manmad) 1395 kms.
By Road: State Transport buses run from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar,
Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik & Dhule to Aurangabad and from Jalgaon
to Ajanta. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) operates
daily bus services and conducted tours from Mumbai to Aurangabad.
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