Aurangabad : Excursions
Ajanta: In 1819, 100 kms. from Aurangabad, a group of British officers
stumbled upon a secret held by the Sahyadri Hills for centuries. The horseshoe-shaped
gathering of the 30 rock-hewn caves of Ajanta. Dating back to the 2nd century
BC, the exquisite legacy of paintings, sculptures, 'chaityas' (halls) and 'vihar
as' (monasteries) took around 800 years to complete.
Ellora: A mere 30 kms. from the city are the equally impressive Ellora
caves. What makes this group of 34 caves temples unique is that they are dedicated
to 3 different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism & Jainism. One of its key
attractions is the monumental Kailas Temple - the largest single monolithic
structure in the world.
Khuldabad: 3kms. from Ellora Lies Khuldabad - literally 'heavenly abode'.
The final resting place of Emperor Aurangzeb, this walled town was once an important
center.
Bani Begam Gardens: 24 kms. from Aurangabad, you can find the tomb of
Bani Begam - companion to one of Aurganzeb's sons. It lies amidst sprawling
landscaped gardens, interspersed with fluted pillars, elegant domes and aesthetic
fountains - showcasing the splendid architecture of the times.
Pitalkhora: 78 kms. from Aurangabad lie the 13 cave temple of Pitalkhora
- carved between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD. The relief work is strikingly
richer and more elaborate, the carvings more precise, than in earlier work.
Daulatabad: On a hill, 13 kms. from Aurangabad stands the proud fortress
of Daulatabd, also known as Devgiri Fort. An impregnable defense in its day,
the 'city of fortune' passed through several dynasties in the Deccan.
Paithan: An important excavation site today, Paithan town, or Pratishthan
(as known earlier) was once a booming trade center. It used to be the capital
of the Satvahana dynasty A legacy of those days is still seen in the intricately
beautiful hand-made Paithani silk sarees. The new Jayakwadi dam is an ideal
bird-watching site. The town also provides easy access to the states largest
garden Dhyaneshwar Udyan.
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