Ajanta and Ellora Caves Aurangabad

Ajanta and Ellora Caves Aurangabad(Now official name Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) are world famous for it’s cave temples which are build between 2nd century BC and 7 century AD by Satavahana Dynasty and other dynasty . Most of the sculptures and mural paintings in this caves are dedicated to the Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainaishm. Most Famous of them is the Kailash temple of Ellora .

Later this place has been ruled by Yadava Dynasty , allauddin -khilji , Mohammad bin tuglaq , Nizams of Hyderabad and Mughal king Aurangazeb . For that reason this city has been Renamed to Aurangabad . On the year 2022 this city was renamed as Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (second son of Chatrapati shivaji ) . Aurangabad , ajanta , Ellora , Daulatabad , Paithan and khuldabad has the rich history of more than 2000 years and has the Influence of the religion of Hinduism , Jainaishm , Buddhiesm and Islam.

How to reach Aurangabad ?

I come from the city pune by a shared taxi . Actually I was in the bus line in pune bus station to reach Aurangabad . Suddenly a young boy says that they come here for exam . Now they are returning back , can I go with them so their petrol price will be saved . I say ok as the bus will stop many stop and takes more time .

So I come with them . Like this way they also managed to acquire 2-3 more passengers and finally around 4 pm we leave for the Aurangabad .

I must say the road was very nice and in the evening the traffic was towards the Pune city . This side has no traffic . Finally we reached Aurangabad around 7:30 PM . The other passengers directed me which way to get hotel . I get a decent Hotel with competative price . This was my journey toward the Aurangabad .

Every 30 minutes there will be lots of bus towards the Aurangabad city from Pune . There is also night buses toward Aurangabad from Mumbai and other cities of Maharastra .

If you come by train then it is 5 km from the Aurangabad City Center . From the Larger city in India there is direct trains for Aurangabad as this is one of the important tourist hub in Maharastra .

There is direct flight from the Mumbai , Delhi and Hyderabad towards this city . But it is a small airport , so from all the airport there is no direct Flight .

UNESCO sites in Aurangabad are Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. There are also lot’s of other unique Historical structures in Aurangabad like Bibi ki Maqbara , Daulatabad Fort , Grishneshwar temple , Pitalkhora Cave , Khuldabad, Panchakki and many more .

Ajanta Caves :

Ajanta Cave is situated in the interior part of the Sahyadri Hills situated almost 100 km from the Aurangabad City . and the Caves are curved by the hammer and Chissle. All the caves are situated one after another . This caves are spread over almost 1.5 km in Distance in a Line.

The ticket price to enter this cave is 40 INR for Indian Tourist and 600 INR for other Tourists. These caves are opened between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM .

In Ajanta Cave there are all total 30 caves in the sides of the Sahyadri Hills . This caves are mainly filled with Mural Paintings , Sculpture and Vihara about Jataka stories build in between 2 nd century BC to 6 th centuryAD under the Satvahana Dynasty and Vakataka Dynasty .

This area has been under forest for centuries outside from the view of the mainstream people. In 1819 British Officer John Smith rediscovered this place and shown that hidden gems of India to the world .

Ellora Caves :

Among all the caves and sculpture the gem is the Kailash temple . This temple has been build by cutting a whole mountain . Modern Day scientist still astonished How so many years ago people cut a whole granite mountain to make three storied beautiful temple with so many sculptures . It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and made during the king Krishna 1 . For creating this temple 200000 tonnes of Granite have to be removed . Some belive that this temple was build by the Aliens Now modern machinery also astonished by this creation

Ellora caves are build on the hills of charanandri Hills between 200 BC to 650 AD . This caves are not in a great hight so travelling will be much Easier . This caves have mural paintings , sculpture of Buddhiest , Hindus as well as Jains Religion . There are all together 34 caves . Among them in some cave has beautiful mural painting of beautiful Apsara where as some are dedicated to Hindu God Vishwakarma . Some have Mural paintings of the Tales of Jataka .

Bibi Ka Maqbara Aurangabad :

If you see the Bollywood movie Dhoni . In it’s shooting you can see a structure which looks like the Taj Mahal but not the Taj Mahal , It is bibi ka Maqbara in Aurangabad . For that reason it is called the the Taj of the Deccan . It was build by Mughal prince Azam Shah for his mother Dilras Banu Begam . I think this this is only few monumenents where a son make a beautiful mauseloum for his loved mother . he want to build this as big as Taj Mahal but due to Aurangazeb’s wrong financial policy there was shortage of fund . This mauseloum was build between 1668 -1669 .

This building was build by the White Marbel . limestone and stucco . There was beautiful Mughal Garden and the fountain .

This monument has been open from morning 8:00 AM to night 8:00 PM . Entry price for the bibi ka maqbara is 25 INR for the Indians and 300 INR for the foreign Tourists .

grishneshwar temple aurangabad :

Grishneshwar Temple of Aurangabad is the Last Jyotir linga of Shiva . This temple was build by the Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18 th century by the queen of Malwa . But this place has been worshiped for Shiva for centuries . In Shiva Purana there is mention of this place . There is a terrified story of killing a son and rejuvenate to life by the power of Shiva and become the Jyotir Linga .

This temple has been build by the red basault stone . This Temple has been build in the architecture of Hindu Shikara style . Mahashivaratri and Shravan month are two of the holy festival in this temple .

Khuldabad – tomb of Aurangzeb :

This city has been respected as place of the sufii saints . They are respected among all the religions for their knowledge of truth and Humanity and showing path How to live good life . This town was a fortified city . Most respected sufi saints from this place are Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin and Zain-ud-din Shirazi .

This is also the final resting place of Mughal Empiror Aurangazeb .

daulatabad fort aurangabad :

It has been used by Allauddin Khilji in 1296 . Then Mohammad bin tuglaq shifted his whole capital to here but later withdraw that decision . Later this fort has been used by Bahamanis , Mughals and Nizams of Hyderabad .

This fort is situated only 16 km from Aurangabad and the entry fees is 25 INR for Indians and 300 INR for Foreigners . It is opened between 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Daulatabad Fort is one of the Masterpiece of Forts in India . It was build by Yadava king Bhillama V, Devagirir in the 12 th century . It is build upon a conical Hill . If you want to enter the Fort there is only one entrance and there is dark zig zag tunnel which make it vulnerable to the enemies . If the enemy surrounds you then also there is a underground flow of water which makes your army resilent for long term and there is massive canone in the top of the Fort which make it perfect For long time deterance in front of the enemy .

Panchakki :

Panchakki is a medieval indian engineering marvel build by Turkataz Khan in 1744 . This water engineering is influenced by persian . Here water is taken from 8 km distance through a underground passage and used the force of water to make wheat flour .

This wheat flour are used mainly to prepare the food for the pilgrims of Baba Shah Musafir Dargah . he was a respected Sufi saints .

Pitalkhora Caves :

Pitalkhora Caves are the oldest rock cut caves for buddhiest In India . This are most probably build in the 3 rd century BC . It has Viharas , Chaitas (Prayer hall )and sculptures . There are mainly 14 roc cut caves dedicated Hinyana Buddhiesm .

This caves has spiritual importance . In this caves buddhiest teachings are provided to the learners .

This caves are situated 78 km from the city of Aurangabad and the entry is free . The opening time of the caves are 8 AM to 5 PM .

Lonar Crater Lake :

Lonar Crater Lake was made 6000 years ago when a big metoroid hits the ground at a speed of 90000km/hr. In India this is only this kind of Lake . It is 150 meter in depth and 1.8 km in width .

Inside this lake there is different microbial . For that reason this Lake changes color . Sometimes it becomes pink , green and other color . This lake is situated 168 km from the City of Aurangabad .

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum Aurangabad :

This museum has been established by the Aurangabad municipal corporation in the year 1999. It has 4000 artifacts inside the museum including a artialiary , 500 years old maratha war suite , sword , shield and antique riffles and many more .

This museum also has the replica of the forts Chatrapati Maharaj has conquered like Pahalgad , Torana , sinhagad and lohagad .

This museum has been opened between 10:30 AM – 6 : 00 PM . Entry fees of this Museum is 85 INR for Indians and 300 INR for foreigners .

Other Attraction in Aurangabad :

There are also some notable attraction in the city or the outskirts of the city . This attractions are

Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary:

This wildlife sanctuary spread across 64000 acres of Land . In this Wildlife santuary you can visit nilgai , wild cats , lepord , wolfs , foxes , jackles , bear , wild dogs and many more . In this jungle you can visit 240 specieses of birds and lots of trees like Teak , sandelwood , Mahua , arjun , bel and many more .

Goga Baba Hill :

Goga baba hill is situated just 6 km from the City of Aurangabad . It is a spiritual as well as Natural spot . A saint Goga Baba lived in this place and have a small temple in this region . This space is also famous for the Sunrise point . Lots of people do adventure sports here .

Gul Mandi :

Gul Mandi is the oldest shopping Bazar inside the Aurangabad City . It is famous for textile , normal Bazar and street food . Here you can find the Himroo Shawls and the and Paithani saree . It’s decoration is influenced by the Ajanata and ellora Caves . In night it becomes the heart of the city gathered too many people .

Sonari Mahal :

It is a palace which was build by Pahadsingh , a officer in the mughal army in the year 1650 . It has painting made of gold. It has lots of beautiful fresco which has the influence of the Mughals and Rajputna art . This is the Museum of the Archelogical department which has lots of Manuscripts , weapons , paintings and ancient sculpture .

Summary :

Aurangabad , now renamed as Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is one of the Premium destination for the Tourist who want to visit India as the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves which are dedicated to Buddhism , Jainaishm and Hinduism are situated here . Kailash temple which is a monolithic structure which was build cutting a whole mountain is a architectural Marvel . Where as Daulatabad fort , Bibi ki Maqbara , Panchakki and Grishneshwar Temple are attraction of religious as well as the inpenitrable fort design . Where as the lonar crater Lake is only one lake which was build when a astroid struck the Earth . Aurangabad has everything for all . It is ok for pilgrimage , wild safari , Adventure sports , Historical monuments and some unique Caves .