Aurangabad
is an ancient city situated in the western region of India. Spread over
an area of approximately 138.5 sq km, the city falls on the northern
side of Maharashtra. Aurangabad stands on the banks of the Kham River,
surrounded by wooded hills on all the four sides. A historical city, it
is known for its rich cultural legacy and its splendid historic
monuments, which speak volumes about its royal past. Infact, the city
once formed a very important seat of Mughal Empire, though for a very
short period.As we look into the past of the Aurangabad city, we find that it was initially under the rule of the Mauryan rulers. Infact, they were the ones to introduce Buddhism in this part of the country. The numerous Buddhist cave temple seen in and around the city, serve as a proof of the advent as well as flourishing state of Buddhism here. Amongst them, the popular ones are those of Ajanta and Ellora, situated very close to Aurangabad. Satvahana and Rashtrakuta rulers also contributed to the construction of marvelous temples in the city.
When the talk is about Aurangabad's history, how can one forget the role of the Mughal rulers? The city was founded in the year 1610 and came up on the site of a 'Khirki' village, which was ruled over by Malik Ambar, a local Muslim noble. After him, his son took over the reins of the village and renamed it as Fatehpur in 1626. The hamlet went into the hands of Emperor Aurangzeb, the last Mughal Emperor, in 1653 and was renamed by him as 'Aurangabad'. Thereafter, the city became his capital and started moving forward on the path of development.
After Mughals, the historical city came under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad and continued to be ruled by him until 1948. Thereafter, it was combined with the other cities to form the state of Maharashtra. Today, Aurangabad claims a significant chunk of the travel & tourism industry of Maharashtra. The splendid monuments of the city reminds one of the Mughal era it has witnessed. Sites like Aurangabad Caves, Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, etc have contributed to its popularity. Whenever you in Maharashtra, make sure to visit Aurangabad and lose yourself in the historical charm of the city.
