Aurangabad, Maharashtra

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Aurangabad v • d • e Maharashtra • India
Aurangabad
District(s)	Aurangabad
Coordinates	19.53° N 75.23° E
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	138.5 km² (53 mi²) • 513 m (1,683 ft)
Population • Density	682,000 (2001) • ?/km²
Mayor	Dr.Bhagwat Karad
Codes • Postal • Telephone • Vehicle	• 431 xxx • +0240 • MH-20

Coordinates: 19.53° N 75.23° E

For other uses, see Aurangabad.

Aurangabad (pronunciation (help·info) (औरंगाबाद) from Persian اورنگ‌آباد meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb) is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments including Ajanta and Ellora World heritage sites. This district center is the administrative headquarter of Aurangabad Division, or Marathwada region.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Economy
4 Administration and Politics
5 Education
6 Entertainment
7 Transport
8 Tourist attractions
9 Media
10 External links

[edit] History

There was a village named Kirki (Khadki) where the city stands today. According to some historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar. Malik Ambar was the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagar, the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India). It is widely believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Malik Ambar's rule. Initially, it was named Fatehpura (city of Victory), probably after Malik's son Fateh Khan.

In 1634, Aurangzeb was sent to Kirki as Governor of Deccan. In 1644, he moved to Agra to play an active role in Mughal politics.

In 1681, the city again became the residence of Aurangzeb, who had now become Mughal Emperor. He used the city as base for his campaigns to conquer the last remaining Deccan sultanates. He lived there until his death in 1707 AD. The modern name of the city was probably taken after his death. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city.

Aurangabad the only tourist district of India having two-world heritage monuments to its credit. Moreover it is hoped that there will be good addition of two more in near future. Barring these heritage monuments of Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, it also offers the Aurangabad Caves, Pithalkhora Caves, Paithan, Daulatabad (Deogiri Fort) and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as the district is rich in monuments, historical and religious, of National importance. Hence, it deserves the epithet as Tourist District of India.

[edit] Geography

The location co-ordinates for Aurangabad are N 19° 53' 47" - E 75° 23' 54". It is located 512 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded by hills on all sides

Temperatures : Annual temperature in Aurangabad range from 9 to 40°C. The best time to visit Aurangabad is in the winter - October to February. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded at Aurangabad was 46°C (114°F) on 25 May 1905. The lowest record temperature was 2°C (36°F) on 2 February 1911. [1]

Rainfall : Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoons season (June to September). Rainfall in Aurangabad varies from 9.0 to 693 mm/month. Average annual rainfall is 725 mm.

[edit] Economy

There is ample evidence to believe that Aurangabad was developed as a trading hub four centuries ago. It lies on a major trade route that used to connect north-west India's sea and land ports to the Deccan region.

The city was a major silk and cotton textile production center. A fine blend of silk with locally grown cotton was developed as Himroo textile. Much of the silk industry has eroded with times. Yet a few industrial units, like Standard Silk Mills, have been successful in keeping that tradition alive. Paithani silk saris are made in small industries nearby and available in the city market. The name of this cloth is derived from Paithan town.

Aurangabad is the most important manufacturing center in Marathwada. Pharmaceuticals, steel recycling, auto parts manufacturing, and beverages production (soft drinks and beer in particular) are major industries.

The Shendra, Chikalthana and Waluj MIDC Industrial Areas are prominent industrial zones on the outskirts of the city. Major multinational groups that have set up manufacturing or processing plants in and around the city include :

Bajaj Auto Ltd. - automaker
Škoda India - automaker,
Siemens Ltd - engineering,
Videocon - consumer electronics and durables
Wockhardt Ltd - pharmaceuticals
Pepsi - beverages
United Spirits Ltd - Liquor
Foster India-Liquor

[edit] Administration and Politics

Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is the local civil body. It is divided in six zonal areas.

Aurangabad is a bench of the Bombay High Court. It has several other lower courts.

Aurangabad contributes one seat to the Lok Sabha. The seat is currently held by Mr. Chandrakant Khaire, MP of the Shiv Sena party.

[edit] Education

Since India's independence, Aurangabad is a major learning center of central Maharashtra. Aurangabad is the headquarter of Government-funded Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. It caters to government aided and recognized colleges in four districts. City has other private Universities and Autonomous institutions.

The city has more than one institution of higher education in Engineering, Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Education faculties Each. In first part of 21st century, many good schools have come up.

Aurangabad now has five engineering colleges, namely [1] Govt. Engineering College, [2] Marathwada Institute of Technology (MIT) [3] PES Engineering College [4] Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College (JNEC) [5] Govt Polytechnic. Also Govt Medical College, a Private medical college - MGM Medical College and both these colleges have dental colleges.

Also there are four pharmacy colleges: Government college of pharmacy(B.Pharmacy & recently approved for M.Pharmacy) Y.B.Chavan college of pharmacy(B.Pharmacy) Bhagwan college of pharmacy(B.pharmacy) Yash college of pharmacy(B.pharmacy)

[edit] Entertainment

Aurangabad has two multiplexes and cinema theatres, showing latest Bollywood and Hollywood movies. These multiplexes are situated in city. PVR cinema is the first multiplex in Aurangabad. Fame cinema is another three screen mutiplex

[edit] Transport

Aurangabad has a privately operated intra-city bus service, AMT, owned by Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.Maharashtra state road transport buses provides service to all parts of state from Aurangabad,alnogwith private bus operators

Chikalthana airport is the domestic airport of Aurangabad. The nearest international airports are Mumbai and Pune. Indian, Jet Airways and Air Deccan have regular flights from Mumbai to Aurangabad.

The city has direct rail links to New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.

[edit] Tourist attractions

[edit] Monuments

Bibika maqbara

Ajanta stone engraved sculpture and paintings Caves. A world heritage monument.
Ajanta Visitor Center Under construction, Located at T Junction Fardapur: Designed as a tribute to the Ajanta Caves, AVC would consist of four cave replicas (1,2,16 1nd 17). Static, electronic and interactive museums would orient, guide and create a virtually real experience for the visitors to understand the original paintings and stories. Ambience of the Center (almost hidden in the rocky terrain) would simulate a sense of discovery to the visitors, especially children.

Ellora stone engraved sculptures. A world heritage monument.
Daulatabad Fort
The Bibi Ka Maqbara. A replica of the Taj Mahal.
Aurangabad Caves (Buddhist)
Panchakki, or The Water Mill complex
Khuldabad the resting place of Aurangzeb.
Gates (Darwajas) - During Mughal times, Aurangabad had 4 main and 9 subordinate gates (darwajas) along its periphery, famous among them being the Paithan Gate and Roshan Gate.

[edit] Parks

Salim Ali Lake at Dilli Gate named after Dr. Salim Ali
Mhaismal hills
Lonar - a natural lake formed by meteorite impact (Near Mehekar) - 150 km from Aurangabad
Sant Dnyaneshwar garden, Paithan
Jayakwadi dam bird sanctuary: home for migratory birds from Siberia
Gautala wildlife park and bird sanctury

[edit] Religious places

Grishneshwar A shiva Temple. One of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines.

Shirdi - Holy shrine of Sai Baba, a 19th century saint - 144 km (Nearest railway station Nagarsol)

Shani Shinganapur

[edit] Media

Major Marathi newspapers published in Aurangabad include Sakaal, Dainik Lokmat, Punya Nagari, Saamana and Loksatta. Lokmat Times is the only English newspaper published in the city. Pune city editions of Newspapers available in the city include The Indian Express, Times of India, The Business Standard, The Economic Times, and The Financial Times.

Doordarshan's Sahyadri and DD News Territorial Television channels are available in Aurangabad. Satellite television services are available through Doordarshan Direct Plus, Dish TV and Tata Sky.

All India Radio has one FM stations in the city, operating at 101.7 MHz. The same feed is available in AM at 1521 kHz . Private satellite radios such as WorldSpace, are also available. There are over 14 cinema halls that screen movies in Marathi, English and Hindi.

Telephony services are provided by service providers like Airtel, Idea cellular, Hutch, Reliance Infocomm, Tata Indicom and the state owned BSNL.