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If you’re looking for the best historical places in Aurangabad, you’ve come to the right place.
Most travellers, on their journey through India, visit famous destinations like Delhi, Agra, or nearby Mumbai, but the regional city of Aurangabad is rarely included.
This unsuspecting city has been the capital of several of India’s greatest dynasties, who left countless amazing historical sites behind.
It’s also located right next door to 2 of India’s best historical sites, the incredible Ellora and Ajanta Caves (more on that below).
If you’re a history buff, there’s a lot to see here, so in this list I’ve narrowed it down to the absolute 10 best historical places in Aurangabad.
The BEST historical tours in Aurangabad:
⭐️ Best 1-day tour: Ajanta & Ellora Day Tour with All Inclusion
⭐️ Best 2-day tour: Ajanta and Ellora Caves Private 2-Day Tour
⭐️ Most comprehensive tour (3 days): Private tour to Lonar Crater, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves
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Best time to visit Aurangabad
You can visit Aurangabad all year round, but choosing the right season makes the experience all the better.
Monsoon season runs from July to September. While this season adds to the scenic beauty of the region (the Deccan Plateau), going at this time also means you risk your trip being spoiled by torrential rainfall.
March to June are the hottest months, with the daytime temperatures staying consistently around 35 to 40 degrees. During your visit to Aurangabad you’re likely going to be spending a lot of time walking around outdoors so this season is not ideal.
The best time to visit the Aurangabad is from October to February. These are the winter months, when the daytime temperatures are the most agreeable and rainfall the least likely.
How to get to Aurangabad
The city of Aurangabad is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, about 250km east of Mumbai.
Aurangabad is off the typical tourist route, but reaching the city is still very simple.
You have 3 main options for reaching Aurangabad:
Bus
Depending on where you’re coming from, a bus may be your most straightforward option. India has an extensive bus network that can take you just about anywhere you need to go.
You’ll most likely be headed to Aurangabad from Mumbai, which takes about 8 hours via bus. I recommend taking advantage of the overnight sleeper buses. This way you combine your transport with your accommodation for the night and save more time in your days.
You might also be reaching Aurangabad from Pune, which takes around 5 to 6 hours.
The best place to book your bus ticket to Aurangabad is on 12Go Asia.
Train
You can also reach Aurangabad by train. Just like the bus, you can catch a train to Aurangabad from both Mumbai and Pune.
A train from Mumbai to Aurangabad will take about 7 to 8 hours. A train from Pune will take about 8 hours, which is longer than the bus because the route is less direct.
Just like with a bus, you have the option of booking an overnight sleeper ticket to save time.
The best place to book your train ticket to Aurangabad is on 12Go Asia.
Fly
You also have the option of flying to Aurangabad.
The airport in Aurangabad is called Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport and is located on the eastern outskirts of the city.
While this is certainly the most expensive option, its still relatively cheap. A flight from Mumbai can cost as little as $60 and will get you to Aurangabad in about 1 hour.
The best place to find cheap flights to Aurangabad is on Skyscanner.
Where to stay in Aurangabad
Despite having the Ellora & Ajanta Caves right on the doorstep, Aurangabad is rather underdeveloped as a tourist destination, but there are still plenty of decent accommodation options for you to choose from.
Personally I stayed at Zostel Aurangabad. This is the only hostel in town, but thankfully Zostel is an established franchise and has all the basic luxuries you would expect from a quality hostel.
It’s also located in a convenient location in downtown Aurangabad.
If you’re looking for a private room, consider FabHotel Prime Opulence. While its located on the outskirts of town, its a high-quality hotel for a very affordable price.
The 10 Best Historical Sites in Aurangabad
1 | Ellora & Ajanta Caves
Undoubtedly the best historical places in Aurangabad, and the main driver of tourism in the area, the Ellora & Ajanta caves are some of the most remarkable ancient sites you’ll ever come across.
The caves were carved into a hillside over thousands of years and served as temples for the various religions that have dominated the region throughout its long history. The oldest caves are at the Ajanta site, dating back as far as 480 BCE, while the Ellora caves were carved between the 5th & 10th century CE.
The architecture you’ll see here rivals famous historical sites like Petra or Angkor Wat, and it is a must-visit whether you’re a history buff or not.
Not only are the Ellora & Ajanta Caves one of the best historical places in Aurangabad, they are among the best in the world.
Read More:
Best way to see the Ellora and Ajanta Caves
The Ellora and Ajanta Caves are located a long way outside of Aurangabad, so the best way to see them is on a guided tour. Here are the best tours to choose from, depending on how much time you have:
⭐️ Best 1-day tour: Ajanta & Ellora Day Tour with All Inclusion
⭐️ Best 2-day tour: Ajanta and Ellora Caves Private 2-Day Tour
⭐️ Most comprehensive tour (3 days): Private tour to Lonar Crater, Ajanta, and Ellora Caves
2 | Bibi Ka Maqbara
After the caves, the next most popular historical place in Aurangabad is Bibi Ka Maqbara, otherwise known as the Taj of the Deccan, or colloquially as the mini Taj Mahal.
While the Taj Mahal in Agra was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his lover, this version was commissioned by his grandson, in memory of his mother.
The roughly 400 year old structure is relatively well maintained and serves as an example of the wealth & grandeur (and love) of India’s elite during the height of their final great empire.
If you can’t get to Agra and visit the actual Taj Mahal, you’ll definitely want to stop by Bibi Ka Maqbara during your visit to Aurangabad. It’s stunning architecture alone makes it one of the best historical places in Aurangabad.
⭐️ Best way to see the Mini Taj Mahal
Bibi ka Maqbara is located on the northern outskirts of Aurangabad. Definitely to walk if you’re staying near the city centre.
Thankfully, a visit to the mini Taj Mahal is included in most 2-day guided tours to the Ellora and Ajanta Caves, like this one.
3 | Daulatabad Fort
As you’re on the road to the Ellora caves, you won’t be able to miss this ancient structure on a hilltop overlooking the region.
Daulatabad Fort is one of the most historically significant sites in the region.
This impenetrable fort was built on top, and inside, this rocky hill, surrounded by a moat.
In 1327, this fort briefly became the capital of India when the Sultan of Delhi decided to move his capital city here, along with its entire population.
Unsuprisingly, moving hundreds-of-thousands of people over 1000km to built a new city from scratch turned out to be a bad idea. So Daulatabad’s reign lasted only a few years.
But thanks to this strange event this unsupsecting site now holds the claim of once being the capital of India.
Thanks to its historical significance, impressive construction through the interior of the hill, and stunning view from the top, Daulatabad Fort is one of he best historical places in Aurangabad and an essential stopover on your way to Ellora Caves.
Best way to visit Daulatabad Fort
The fort is located far outside of Aurangabad, on the way to the Ellora Caves.
However, not all tours to the caves include it. Below are the best Ajanta and Ellora Caves tours that include a visit to Daulatabad Fort:
⭐️ Best 2 day tour: 2-Day Ajanta and Ellora Caves tour w/ Daulatabad Fort
⭐️ Best 3 day tour: 3-day Ajanta and Ellora Caves tour w/ Daulatabad Fort
4 | Khuldabad
In the vicinity of Aurangabad lies an important historical site, one which carries a lot of religious significance within Islam.
Khuldabad is as much a mausoleum as it is a town. Since the mass migration to the area in 1327, hundreds of Sufi saints have chosen it as their home and tomb. Because of this, Khuldabad has become a holy site and sees Islamic pilgrims from all over.
Khuldabad is also the final resting place of the great Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, from whom the city of Aurangabad gets its name. For those unfamiliar with Aurangzeb, he is one of the most important historical figures in India and ruled over one of the largest empires in its history.
So, to find him in such a modest tomb so far from Delhi is part of what makes Khuldabad so unique.
Khuldabad may seem a little out of the way, but thanks to its religious significance, it’s undoubtedly among the best historical places in Aurangabad.
Best way to visit Khuldabad
Khuldabad is located on the way to the Ellora Caves, although its rarely included in guided tours that go there.
However, there are other guided tours in Aurangabad that will take you to Khuldabad, like this one:
⭐️ One day tour: Aurangabad, Daulatabad & Khultabad
Alternatively, if you’ve already booked another guided tour to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, you may be able to negotiate to include Khuldabad.
5 | The Gates of Aurangabad
In the city’s busiest streets, swallowed up by markets & traffic, lie what’s left of the old city walls.
A prime example of how old & new co-exist in Aurangabad.
The walls of Aurangabad were constructed over decades, beginning in the 16th century, and earning it a reputation for its defensibility.
In the 17th century the walls of Aurangabad even held off a massive Mughal invasion. Ironically, the city was soon annexed by the Mughals, who continued expanding the walls.
Today, the walls have been swallowed up by modernity and the remaining 13 gates can be found scattered throughout the Aurangabad, earning it the nickname ‘City of Gates’
You’ll no doubt come across some of these during your exploration of the city, but the most impressive of which are certainly the Makai and Bhadkal gates.
Many of them may a little worn, but they serve as a reminder of the cities historical significance and are definitely one of the top historical places in Aurangabad.
6 | Grishneshwar Temple
Just outside the entrance of the Ellora cave complex lies another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Grishneshwar Temple is 1 of the 12 Jyotirlingas across India, religious sites in Hinduism which are said to represent Shiva.
The site itself is believed to be almost 3000 yrs old, but the temple has been destroyed and rebuilt over time as the dominant religion in the area has changed back & forth. The current structure is relatively young, built in the 18th century, but is no less impressive.
You can visit Grishneshwar Temple after exploring the Ellora Caves, and it’s also included in many Ellora Caves tours.
7 | Aurangabad Caves
If you couldn’t get enough of Ellora & Ajanta, or you don’t have time to visit them, then there’s another cave complex just beyond the outskirts of Aurangabad.
While often overshadowed by their more famous counterparts, the Aurangabad Caves are still an impressive site to behold. Dating back as far as the 6th century CE, the complex is made up of 12 caves in total, with each serving as Buddhist temples.
While the complex may be smaller than the others, some of the caves rival any at Ellora & Ajanta. Plus, you’ll mostly have the place all to yourself.
The caves are carved into a hillside which looks over the city itself, offering an amazing panoramic view and an interesting juxtaposition between past & present.
8 | Panchakki
Ever since the stone age, Indian civilisation has been known for its engineering & scientific prowess, and an example of this can be found in downtown Aurangabad.
Panchakki is a water mill built in the late 17th Century, during the waning years of India’s last great empire. It’s a machine, designed to generate energy using the water from a hilltop spring located an impressive 8km away. The energy was used to grind grain, providing food to local residents.
In addition to being an interesting example of middle-ages engineering, it’s also one of the few relaxing places where you can escape from the city chaos.
9 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum
Named after a famous Marathi emperor, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum is the primary history museum in Aurangabad.
It focuses heavily on the legendary conflict between the Marathas and the Mughals, displaying numerous military artefacts such as a 500 year old chainmail suit. But perhaps the most interesting artefact in this museum is a handwritten copy of the Quran, written by none other than the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The museum may not be comparable to those you’ll find in Mumbai or Delhi, but is worth checking out if you’re interested in learning more about the storied history of the region.
The museum is located in downtown Aurangabad. If searching for it online, be careful not to confuse it with a museum of a similar name in Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya)
10 | Soneri Mahal
Last, but certainly not least, there’s the 17th century palace of Soneri Mahal (meaning ‘Golden Palace’).
Located in the hills just outside of Aurangabad, close to the Aurangabad Caves, this palace was built in 1651 for one of Aurangzeb’s high-ranking officials. A reward for helping the Mughuls conquer the region.
Today, the majestic royal palace has been turned into a museum, and houses a collection of artefacts from Aurangabad’s Mughal era, like weapons, paintings and sculptures.
If you’re interested in learning more about Mughal history, Soneri Mahal is worth a visit.
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