Metro Cities

Bibi-ka -Maqbara
It was built around 1657-1661, by the last of the six great Mughal Emperors,  Aurangazeb, for his wife, Rabia Durrani. Aurangazeb's mausoleum is far less ornamental, than Taj Mahal. The mausoleum stands in a square of 1,37,00 sq. meters.  The monument is an excellent example of Persian Architecture. It's more attractive at night, when it's floodlit. It's open from sunrise to 10pm. 

Panchakki
It is an impressive pre-Mughal watermill harnessed to operate large grain-grinding stones. It was built in 1624 to commemorate the memory of the Sufi saint Baba Shah Musafir, whose tomb lies nearby. Panchakki takes its name from the mill which was considered a marvel of engineering at that time.

Aurangabad Caves
Lies 3 km north of Aurangabad. They were excavated out of a south facing hill side overlooking the town. These caves fall into two groups about 1.5km apart. These are 10 caves belong to the Buddhist era and were excavated between 3rd and 11th century. Caves 3, 6 and 7 are specially worth visiting. The Western group of caves comprises caves 1 to 5 and the eastern group has caves 6 to 10. Cave 2 has a shrine and columned hallways, with a large Buddha as Teacher in a seated position on a panel. In cave 3, there are superb carvings on the 12 pillars of the hall way, which illustrate the jataka stories. Cave 4, a chaitya is the oldest of the lot.  Cave 6 has a large Buddha and a supporting figure of Ganesh.  Cave 7 is regarded as the most interesting with its images of women like Hariti and the six goddesses, including Padmini.  In the rear of the hall is a large Buddha in a preaching position.  Open from  sunrise to sunset, or 1800 hours, whichever is earlier.

Museums

History Museum of Marathwada University
Excavated material of Sathavahana dynasty. Sculpture from Marathwad region. Miniature paintings of Maratha, Rajput, Mughal and company paintings of East India Company periods. Decorative objects of Chinese and Japanese origin, China clay and gold embroidery etc, several manuscripts of 17th and 18th century AD in Persian and Arabic languages. Timings : 1030 to 1730. Closed on Sundays. 

State Archaeology Museum, Sonehri Mahal
Sculpture and broken panels from archaeological sites in Paithan. Timings: 1030 hrs to 1730hrs. Closed on Sundays.

Places Around Aurangabad

Ellora
The world-heritage listed cave temple of Ellora, about 30km from Aurangabad, are the culmination of Deccan rock-cut architecture. There are 34 caves cut out of the sloping side of the low hill. Another 28 caves have been discovered later by the archeological Survey of India. The masterpiece of Ellora is the Kailash Temple. It is the world's largest monolithic sculpture, sculpted out of a rock by 7000 labourers over a 150 year period. The shrines are not exclusively Buddhist, but of Hindu and Jain faiths as well. Entry to Ellora is free.

Daulatbad
13 Km between Aurangabad and the Ellora caves is the magnificent hilltop fortress of Daulatbad. The fort built by Bhilam Raja of the Yadava dynasty in 1187 was earlier called Deogiri. This fort is considered as one of the oldest existing and impregnable forts of India. One of its attractions is the tower, Chand Minar.

Khuldabad
A walled town just 3km from Ellora. It is the holy shrine of Deccan Muslims. The austere tomb of Emperor Aurangazeb is situated here. There is also a Mughal garden nearby, called Bani Begum Ka Bagh.

Grihneshwar Temple
30 km from Aurangabad near the Ellora caves, it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and sacred to Hindus. A fair is held here around March each year on Mahashivaratri day.

Paithan
56km (South of Aurangabad). The ancient city of Pratishthan, now known as Paithan, was the seat of the Satvahana dynasty who ruled from 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. Situated on the banks of the sacred river Godavari, the little town is famous for its Shrine of 'Sant Eknath' which lends it special spiritual ambience. Every year on Nath Shastri which usually falls in the month of March, a big fair is held called 'Paithan Yatra' which last about 10 days. People from far and near come to pay their homage to Sant Eknath.

Paithan, which was once an important seat of learning, is also famous for its beautiful silk saris which sport intricately embroidered gold or silver borders called 'Paithani'.

Shirdi
130 km. Shrine of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. A place of pilgrimage for devotees of Sri Sai Baba. There is a special pooja ceremony on every Thursday.

Ajanta Caves
106km from Aurangabad.  The 30  rock-cut Buddhist caves at Ajanta are of two basic designs called 'Chaitya grihas' and 'Viharas'. Five of the caves are Chaityas (Buddhist cathedrals) while the other 25 are Viharas (monasteries). Chaitya grihas were halls of worship - large, rectangular chambers separated by rows of pillars into a central nave, surrounded by aisles on three sides, for circumambulation during prayer, with a sanctuary opposite the entrance. The Chaityas are decorated with sculptures and murals depicting the many incarnations of Buddha. Viharas or monasteries are rectangular shaped halls with series of small cells attached on two sides. The side opposite the entrance contained an image of Buddha or a votive stupa.

The Ajanta caves include the epic in visual form, recalling the life of the Buddha and illustrating tales from Jatakas (Buddhist fables).  Cave 1 has a most popular painting of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Padmapani (one with the lotus in his hand). Cave 2 is remarkable for its ceiling decorations and murals narrating the birth of Buddha.  Cave 4 is the largest vihara in Ajanta and depicts a man and woman fleeing from a mad elephant and a man giving up his resistance to a tempting woman.

Cave 16 has 'the Dying Princess' painting, representing the Sundari, the wife of  the Buddha's half brother, Nanda, who left her to become a monk. A number of unfinished caves were abandoned mysteriously.

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