Aurangabad ,which is around 235 k.m from pune is one of the most celebrated tourist attraction of Maharashtra. This city is built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb .This city has around 52 darwaja (gates).I got a chance to visit this place on 17 August 2007. We started from pune around 1:30p.m and reach there by 7:00 p.m.Road from Pune to Aurangabad is in very good condition.One has to cross cities like Ranjangaon ,Ahamadnagar to reach there.This was our first journey to Aurangabad and our planning is to stay near Ellora caves .When we reached there ,we came across many people ,who suggest not to go Ellora,as there is no such accommodation there .Though Ellora has some place to stay,it is advisable to stay in Aurangabad rather than near Ellora or Ajanata caves.We took help from a local Auto Driver to search for the hotel.We have visited MTDC rest house and few hotels and finally settled some where in Jalna .The Auto driver also arranged one Taxi for us for the next day trip to Ellora and Ajnata. One can easily get many travel agents there who can arrange the trip for you.You can easily cover Ellora and Ajnata caves as well as other tourist places around Aurngabad,though it will be a hectic schedule. Next day morning we left around 7:30.We have decided to visit the Grishneshwar Mandir first.After the Puja,we had our breakfast there ,then left for Ellora caves.There are around 36 caves in Ellora.We have decided to visit the important caves only. Then we left for Aurangzeb Tomb,Daultabad and Hanuman temple.We were not able to Visit the Hanuman temple,as it was very rush there.Then we visit one shop,which is under government, from where we brought Paitahni sarees and kurtas. Finally around 12p.m we have left for Ajanta caves,It took us around 2 hrs to reach there.We have to left our taxi at T-junction and from there catch the state bus to reach near Ajanata caves.No vehicles are allowed except the state buses to that point.We covered around 16 caves in Ajanta,but not able to cover all.Then around 5:30 we left for Aurangabad.We have visited Bibi ka Maqbara and Panchaki there .We came across many gates like Dilhi darwaja,Colorful Drawaja,Kaladarwaja etc on the way to Bibi ka Maqbara and Panchaki.We also saw Jama mashjid from out side ,which is a huge one. Finally our tour was done.We reached hotel around 8:30 p.though it was a hectic tour,everyone had the problems in there leg and not able to walk it was a good experience.My kid enjoyed the most in Ajanta and Ellora caves.He used to run around and we have to follow him through out the trip.
Below are some places that I have visited
Grishneshwar Mandir Rani Ahilyabai Holkar is said to have built this Shiva temple in the 18th century in small village of Grishneshwar, which lies west of the caves. It houses one of the 12 'self born' jyotirlingas (the phallic symbol of the Lord Shiva) thought to date back to the 2nd century BC. There are no rules banning non-Hindus from the temple and allowed to join the queue for a glimpse of the deity. Men will need to take off their shirts before entering the temple though.
Khuldabad Khuldabad is a walled city. The courtyard of the Alamgir Dargah (shrine) is also the burial spot of the last great Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. His grave is a simple open one, decorated by the fresh flower petals that visitors bring. Aurangzeb chose Khuldabad as his final resting place because the mausoleum of Sayeed Zain- ud-din, a Muslim holy man lies next door.
Daulatabad Fort 13 km away from Aurangabad lies one of the country's most impressive and majestic forts, commanding the view from atop a pyramid-shaped hilltop. It is an unusually large fortress and is surrounded by huge, imposing grey, granite walls and has a central, slender pink minaret called the Chandminar - a Victory tower built in 1435 and is right on top of the hill, originally known as Devagiri or the Hill of the Gods.
Bibi ka Maqbara Aurangabad's son Azam Khan built this in memory of his mother, Begum Rabia Daurani. Modelled on the Taj Mahal,Completed in 1678 .If you have visited Taj Mahal.you will find lot of faults in this .Not as beautiful as Taj Mahal,but is worth visit place in Aungabad .
The Ajanta Caves About 107 kms from the city of Aurangabad, the rock cut caves of Ajanta , in the form of a gigantic horseshoe. Among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, cave paintings and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya Halls, or shrines dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas or monasteries used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings. The paintings that adorn the walls and ceilings of the caves depict incidents from the life of Buddha and various Buddhist divinities.
The Ellora Caves The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora,are 26 kmsnorth of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement, the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or halls of worship, and Viharas, or monasteries, Hindu and Jain temples. Spanning a period of about 600 years between the 5th and the 11th century A.D., the earliest excavation here is of the Dhumar Lena (cave 29). The most imposing excavation is, without doubt that of the magnificent Kailasa Temple (cave 16), which is the single largest monolithic structure in the World.
