Aurangabad, or Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, is a city in Maharashtra with great cultural and historical significance. From the awe-inspiring world heritage monuments of Ajanta and Ellora Caves to the grandeur of Babi Ka Maqbara, this city offers numerous attractions for visitors interested in history, arts, and culture. This blog highlights 7 places you must visit in Aurangabad and other vital information, including how to reach, where to stay and eat, the best season to visit, and so much more. So, let’s get started right away!
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How to Reach Aurangabad?
By Air
Aurangabad Airport (IATA Code: IXU, 10 Km) airport is located in Aurangabad. Several hotels are available in the city for you to stay and visit all the attractions.
By Train
Aurangabad Railway Station (Station Code: AWB, 3 Km) is the nearest railway station. It is well-connected to the major cities, including Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Nagpur. You can hop on a tuk-tuk or bus to reach the city center.
By Bus
Aurangabad is well connected by roadways. Inter-city buses are available from many cities in Aurangabad, including Nashik, Jalgaon, Pune, Mumbai, etc.
Commuting Around
The tourist places are not well connected by public buses. The easiest way to commute around is by renting a two-wheeler. Both Ellora Caves and Daulatabad Fort are connected from the city by Bus number 42 starting from the Aurangabad bus station. Tuk-tuks or four-wheelers can also be hired. Ola and Uber taxi services are available in the region.
Best Time to Visit Aurangabad
Although Aurangabad can be visited throughout the year, the weather is extremely hot and humid during summer from March to May. Temperatures soar up to 45°C, which might ruin your experience. The monsoon starts in June and extends to September. The best time to visit Aurangabad is during the winter season, between the months of October and February. The pleasant weather makes it ideal for exploration.
Where to Eat?
The city offers a variety of choices in restaurants. You can check Google’s ratings and choose the best one. The tourist spots mentioned in this blog also have shops at the entrance. So, you don’t have to worry about food while in the city.
Where to Stay?
From budget hostels to luxury hotels, Aurangabad has everything. You can choose based on your comfort and budget. We stayed at Zostel Aurangabad. Here are a few other recommendations.
Network Availability
Both Airtel and Jio offer a good network in the city. But expect intermittent or poor reception while visiting places on the city outskirts like Daulatabad Fort, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves.
Languages Spoken
Marathi is the official state language and is widely spoken by the people of Aurangabad. Some people also communicate in English and Hindi.
7 Places to Visit in Aurangabad
1. Bibi Ka Maqbara
Bibi Ka Maqbara is also known as the “Taj of the Deccan.” The mausoleum resembles the famous Taj Mahal of Agra in architecture. It was built by Azam Shah, the eldest son of Aurangzeb, in memory of his mother, Dilras Banu Begum (Rabia-ul Durrani). Construction of the monument took place between 1651 and 1661 AD. Bibi Ka Maqbara translates to “Tomb of the Lady.”
The grave is simple, devoid of any ornamentation, and surrounded by marble screens of exquisite design. A lot of cash and coins thrown on the grave by visitors are seen. The walls and roof are richly decorated with ornate carvings and beautiful paintings. At night, the monument is lit with light.
Four tapering octagonal minarets with domed pavilions at the top stand at the corners of the square platform. The lower part of the mausoleum, along with the dome, is made of white marble, while the middle portion is made of basaltic trap covered with fine plaster, rendered with a marble finish, and adorned with stucco work.
- Timings: 8 AM – 8 PM, on all days
- Entry Fee: INR 25 for Indian citizens and visitors from SAARC member countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar), and INR 300 for foreigners. There is no entry fee for children 15 years of age and below.
2. Aurangabad Caves
Located close to Bibi Ka Maqbara, the Aurangabad caves were built between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD and are dedicated to Buddhism. The majority of the caves are viharas. The 12 caves fall into three separate groups: 1-5, 6-9 (1 km away from the first group), and 10-12 (inaccessible). Caves 3 and 7 are the most fascinating and shouldn’t be missed.
Cave 3 is the largest monastery from the first group. The pillars are richly carved with natural motifs, mithunas, and stories from Jataka tales. Cave No. 4 is the only Chaitya Griha belonging to the Hinayana phase.
Caves 6 and 7 are monasteries with intricately carved sculptures and detailed representations. Some important sculptures in this group are of Bodhisattvas, Asthamahabhaya Avlokitesvara, Bodhisattvas with six deities, Hariti-Panchika, the dancing panel, and a depiction of the Mahaparinirvana scene. The pillars are beautifully carved with foliage, geometrical designs, dwarf figures at the corners, and Mithun, as in the medallions.
- Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM. The timings given by Google Maps are wrong.
- Entry Fee: INR 25 for Indian citizens and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar); INR 300 for foreigners. There is no entry fee for children 15 years of age and below.
3. Daulatabad Fort
Located about 15 km from Aurangabad city, Daulatabad Fort, or Devgiri Fort, was built in the 12th century by the Yadava dynasty. The fort has a rich history, having been under the control of the Yadavas, Delhi Sultans, Mughals, and finally, the Marathas. Refer to the Daulatabad Fort guide for more information, including the entry fee, history, significant sites, timings, etc.
4. Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves is a group of 30 caves located about 100 Km from Aurangabad. This UNESCO Heritage Site is a one-of-a-kind place that must not be missed while you’re in Maharashtra. The Ajanta caves are known for the intricate paintings and sculptures depicting the life of Buddha. Refer to our Ajanta Caves guide, which lists the important caves you shouldn’t miss and includes beautiful pictures.
5. Ellora Caves
34 monolithic cave temples of Ellora are located about 28 Km from the city. Built later than Ajantha, these caves include Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain. This UNESCO World Heritage Monument is popular for the Cave 16 or Kailasa temple, the world’s largest monolithic sculpture. The Kailasa temple is also featured in the 20 Rupee Indian currency note.
Please refer to the Ellora Caves guide, which lists the important caves that you shouldn’t miss and includes beautiful pictures.
6. Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Shri Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyothilingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple attracts devotees from all over India. Anyone can enter the temple premises and the sanctum. However, men must remove their clothing before entering the sanctum.
This temple is a nationally protected site and is mentioned in important novels like Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana and in the two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed inside the temple. You must leave them in the cloakroom located close to the entrance. Footwear is left outside the temple entrance.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 5:30 AM – 9 PM, on all days
7. The Gates of Aurangabad
Aurangabad is popularly known as “The City of Gates” because it boasts about 52 gates. These gates were built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, after whom the city was named. They served both as defense mechanisms and as entrances to the city, reflecting the grandeur and strategic importance of Aurangabad during that period.
Some gates allow vehicles to pass through the arch 24*7, while roads have been constructed around others. The most prominent gates include,
- Bhadkal Gate, the largest of all the gates
- Delhi Gate faces the road to Delhi, the Mughal capital. At night, colored lights can be seen here.
- Paithan Gate
- Makai Gate
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days are required to visit Aurangabad?
A minimum of 3 days are required to visit the 7 prime spots or tourist attractions in Aurangabad.
What is the other name of Aurangabad?
The city of Aurangabad was changed to Sambaji Nagar or Chatrapathi Sambaji Nagar in June 2022. Sambaji Nagar is named after Sambhaji Bhosale, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire.
Is Aurangabad worth visiting?
Aurangabad is home to the World heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora. It also houses several monuments of historical importance, ancient caves, and much more, making it a must-visit destination in Maharashtra.
What are the other places of interest in Aurangabad?
Panchaki, Chatrapathi Shivaji Museum, Siddharth Zoo and Garden, Salim Ali Lake, and Bird Sanctuary are other places to visit in Aurangabad.
If you have any queries or like this blog, drop a comment below! We will do our best to answer your queries.
