The city of Aurangabad was founded by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II, in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son succeeded the throne in 1626, he named the city 'Fatehpur'. In 1653, when Aurangzeb became the Viceroy of the Deccan, he made it his capital, and renamed it Aurangabad. A region that has been inhabited since the Stone Ages, Aurangabad has seen several dynasties come and go, absorbing the culture of each into itself.

Maurya rule heralded the advent of Buddhism in the state of Maharashtra. The earliest caves at Ajanta and Pithalkora were excavated in the 2nd century BC, during the Satvahana era. Paithan, then known as Pratishthana, was an important trade centre at the time. Buddhism flowered during the Chalukya period, which consequently saw the mushrooming of many viharas (monasteries), and chaityas (chapels), that were later excavated at Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora. Later, the Rashtrakutas built many temples, significantly, the Kailasa temple at Ellora, an unparalleled piece of ancient Indian architecture.

By air: The Aurangabad airport is 10 kms from the city, and links the city directly to Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

By rail: By rail Aurangabad is directly linked to Pune and Mumbai. Jalgaon, a railhead on the Central Railway line, is only 59 kms from Ajanta (30 kms).

By road: State Transport buses run from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Shirdi, Nasik and Dhule to Aurangabad, and from Aurangabad to Jalgaon. Maharashtra Tourist Development Corporation (M T D C) operates a bus service, and conducts luxury - coach - tours from Mumbai to Aurangabad.

The M T D C Holiday Resort near the Aurangabad railway station, the Ajanta Travellers Lodge at the Ajanta Caves, and the M T D C Holiday Resort at Fardapur (4 kms from Ajanta), M T D C resorts at Ellora and Jayakwadi (Paithan), apart from regular hotels at Mumbai, Pune, Nasik and other nearby areas, are available for accomodation.

Govt. of India Tourist Office,
Krishna Vilas, Station Road, Aurangabad - 431005,
Maharashtra. Tel: 81217