Aurangabad

Template:India city infobox Aurangabad (औरंगाबाद, from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emporer Aurangazeb) is a city and district in Maharashtra, India. Aurangabad is also the capital of Aurangabad Division, which is also known as Marathwada.

Aurangabad

Aurangabad, originally known as Kirki(Khadki), according to some experts, was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar. It is widely believed it took shape between 1604and 1610 It became the residence of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1681, who used the city as the base for his campaigns to conquer the Deccan sultanates and subdue the Marathas. He lived there until his death in 1707, and the city was named for him. Also known as Sambhajinagar in honour of Sambhaji, a Maratha leader of a rebellion against Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city.

Apart from tourism (see below for tourist attractions), Aurangabad is the most important industrial center in Marathwada. The Waluj MIDC Industrial Area on the outskirts of the city has a large Bajaj Auto plant. Other notable industries near Aurangabad are Videocon, Nirlep, Wockhardt, Lupin Laboratories and other pharma industries.

Aurangabad is the seat of Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Notable colleges are the Govt. Medical College, Govt. Engineering College, MGM's Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College and Medical College.

It's Chikalthana airport is a domestic Airport. Two prominant carriers, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have regular flights to Aurangabad. The nearest international Airport is Mumbai, connected to Aurangabad by domestic flights,roads and railroad.

Aurangabad has a bench of The Bombay High Court.

The Aurangabad Silk Mills are famous for their Himroo fabric (silk and cotton cloth). "Paithani" sarees are made nearby and available in Aurangabad.

The location co-ordinates for Aurangabad are N 19° 51' 47" - E 75° 23' 54"

Tourist attractions

• Ajanta Caves
• Ellora Caves
• Grishneshwar Temple (a Jyotirlinga)
• Daulatabad Fort
• The Bibi Ka Maqbara, a replica of the Taj Mahal
• Aurangabad Caves (Buddhist)
• Paithan
• The Water Mill complex known as Panchakki (built by Aurangzeb as an orphanage, and still working today)
• The Valley of The Saints where 1500 Sufi saints are reputed to have been buried.
• Khultabad is the resting place of Aurangzeb.
• Gates (Darwajas) - In the olden times, Aurangabad had 4 main and 9 subordinate gates gates (darwajas) along its periphery famous among them being the Paithan Gate and Roshan Gate.
• Gautala bird sanctuary
• Mhaismal hills
• Lonar - a natural lake formed by meteorite impact - 150 km from Aurangabad
• Shirdi - 144 km away is a holy place.

The best time to visit Aurangabad is in the winter - October to February.

Personalities

Dr. Lakshman Deshpande is a famous stage personality from Aurangabad, his notable contribution to the Marathi theatre being Varhad Nighalay Londonla

Climate

The highest maximum temperature ever recorded at Aurangabad was 45.6° C (114.0° F) on 25th May 1905. The lowest minimum temperature was 2.2° C on 2nd February 1911. [1]

Aurangabad District

Aurangabad is a district in Maharashtra, India. It is bordered by the disricts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmadnagar to the south. Aurangabad is the capital and principal city.

• Area: 10,106 km²
• Population: 2,920,548 (2001)
• Population density: 289/km² (2001)
• Literacy: 62.8% (2001)
• Urbanization: 37% (2001)

see List of districts in Maharashtra

Aurangabad Division

• see article under Marathwada