Aurangabad

Situated in the state of Maharashtra, Aurangabad sees a steady flow of international visitors due to its rich culture and history, particularly at the world heritage sites, the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. In fact, visitors to Aurangabad and its surrounding regions will find a history dating back to the 2nd century BC, when the Satavahana dynasty established their capital in what is known today as Paithan.
It was around this time that the monasteries were carved out of caves in what is now Ajanta. Meanwhile, the carvings in the Ellora caves track the ebb and flow of three major religions between the 5th and 10th centuries – Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
In the mid-1600s the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, made Aurangabad his capital city, but after his death it quickly began to decline. However, the city’s reign of glory can still be seen within its fascinating monuments, including a must-see Taj Mahal replica (the Bibi-qa-Maqbara).
The train station and a cluster of hotels and restaurants are located to the south of the town along Station Road East and Station Road West. There’s also a bustling old town in Aurangabad made up of winding narrow streets that are home to the Muslim quarters of the city.

Practical Info

Buses leave regularly from the MSRTC bus stand in Aurangabad heading to Pune and Nasik, while Aurangabad train station, which sits on the southern edge of town, runs two direct daily trains to Mumbai. There’s also an airport located 10 kilometers from the city.