Aurangabad travel guide

History

Originally known as Khadke, the town was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, an Abyssinian slave who became the wazir (prime minister) to the King of Ahmadnagar. It was later changed to Aurangabad in honour of the last great Mughal, Aurangzeb. His wife is buried in the Bibi ka Maqbara and he is buried in a simple grave at Rauza. It acted as the centre of operations for his Deccan campaign which occupied him for the second half of his 49-year reign.

Getting there and around

Chikalthana airport is 10 km east of the town with taxis (Rs 250, a/c Rs 350) or hotel transport into the town centre. The railway station is on the southern edge of town, within walking distance of most hotels and the Central Bus Stand just under 2 km north on Dr Ambedkar Road. The city is easy to navigate. There are plenty of autos to see the sights, most of which are too scattered to see on foot.

Air

The airport is 10 km from the centre and has regular flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Udaipur. Transport to town: Taxi, Rs 200 (Rs 300 through travel agents).

Indian Airlines, near Rama International, Airport Rd, T0240-248 5421, Mon-Sat 1000- 1700; airport, T0240-248 2111. Jet Airways, 4 Vidya Nagar, Jalna Rd, T0240-244 1770. 0900-1800; airport T0240-248 4269.

Bicycle hire

‘Cycle taxi’ from shops near railway station north of the bus stand (CBS). Rs 5 per hr.

Bus

Local

Services to Daulatabad, and Ellora (45 mins) from platform 7 of the Central Bus Stand, Ambedkar Rd.

Long distance

MSRTC operates a/c luxury coaches to Mumbai Central (388 km), 10 hrs. Also services to Ajanta (3 hrs), Jalgaon (4½ hrs), Nagpur, Nashik and Pune. State and private buses run to destinations in other states, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Bijapur, Hubli, Hyderabad, Indore and Udaipur. Book through agents on Station Rd West, near the bus stand.

Car hire

Rs 1200 per day (Rs 1500, a/c) from Aurangabad Transport Syndicate, Hotel Rama International, T0240-248 6766.

Rickshaw

For auto-rickshaws, insist on using the meter, about Rs 10 per km. Day hire to visit Ellora and Daulatabad, Rs 500-600 from bus station.

Taxi

Rates Rs 600 for 4 hrs, 40 km. Rs 1000 for 8 hrs, 80 km.

Train

Beware of touts at the station offering package tours to Ellora and Ajanta. Easier by local bus. Mumbai: Devgiri Exp 1004, 2320, 8½ hrs; Tapovan Exp 7618, 1440, 8¼ hrs. Secunderabad (Hyderabad): Kacheguda Exp 7663, 1930, 13½ hrs. For Delhi: change at Manmad. From Aurangabad: 0627, 1010, 1440, 2105, 2-2½ hrs; from Manmad: Punjab Mail 2137, 0020, 20 hrs; Goa Exp 2779, 1010, 20½ hrs (HN); Karnataka Exp 2627, 1550, 20¼ hrs; Lakshadweep Exp 2617, 1900, 21 hrs (HN); Jhelum Exp 1077, 2355, 21½ hrs.

Ins and outs

Tourist information

India Tourism (Krishna Vilas, Station Rd, T0240-236 4999, Mon-Fri 0830-1830, Sat 0830-1330; airport counter open at flight times) . MTDC TRC Bldg, Station Rd, T0240-233 1513; also at railway station, 0430-0830, 1100-1600, Tue-Sun 0900-1600.

Banks

State Bank of India, Kranti Chowk, Rajendra Prasad Marg (Adalat Rd), junction of Paithan Darwaza Rd, set back from Rd, deals in foreign currency.

Medical services

Medical College Hospital, T0240 224411, northwest of town; Govt Hospital, Shahganj.

Post

GPO: Juna Bazar Chowk. Cantt Post Office.