Aurangabad

State: Maharashtra

Main Languages- Marathi, Urdu, Hindi

 

History:

 

The city of Aurangabad has been named after the famous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The name of the city means 'built by the throne'. A village named Khadki used to exist where the city stands today. Historians say that the city had been founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar who as the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II, the ruler of the Deccan. The city grew between 1604 and 1610 under Ambar's rule. The city was initially named Fatehpura after Ambar's son Fateh Khan. In 1681 Aurangzeb started living in the city and used it as a campaign base to conquer remaining states of the Deccan.

 

Geography and climate:

 

Aurangabad is situated at N 19° 53' 47" - E 75° 23' 54" and is surrounded by hills on all sides. The annual rainfall in the region is about 725mm. The monsoons arrive here in June and last till September. The temperatures range from 9 to 40 °C. October to February is the best time to visit the city as the summers are very hot. 

 

Tourism:

 

Due to its rich cultural history the city of Aurangabad has some of the most beautiful architectural monuments in the world. The Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is a replica of the Taj Mahal, the Ellora, Aurangabad and Ajanta caves and the Ghrishneshwar Shiva temple and the Daulatabad fort are some of the places that should not be missed. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are World heritage sites. The city is bustling with tourists throughout the year. There are various other tourist spot also like the Aurangabad Caves, Panchakki or The Water Mill complex, Khultabad, which is the resting place of Aurangzeb and the Gates or Darwajas of the Mughal era are popular tourist attractions. The best time to visit the city are during the winter months. The Ellora festival has become a popular event in recent times.

 

Economy:

 

Tourism is one of the most important sources of funds. Due to the importance of historical trade establishments, the city is connected to north-west India's sea and land ports to the Deccan. The popular Himroo shawl is made here. The silk and cotton textile production is a major industry. Apart from these the auto parts manufacturing; pharmaceuticals, steel recycling and beverage production are major industries. Banking and financial services have also emerged in the past few years as an important commercial establishment. The Information Technology sector has also set up its business in the region due to proximity with Mumbai.

 

Education:

 

Aurangabad has some of the vital educational institutions. It is also the headquarters of the Government-funded Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. There are eminent colleges here like the, ICFAI College, Institute of Science and Private Engineering Colleges.

 

Transportation:

 

Aurangabad has one of the best intercity bus services. The city also has a domestic airport which has regular flights to Mumbai. The nearest international airports are Mumbai and Pune. The railway station has direct links to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.