Places To Visit In Aurangabad
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Bibi Ka Maqbara is a mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s wife, Begum Rabia Daurani. The mausoleum was built by Aurangzeb’s son, Prince Azam Shah, in memory of his mother.
The architecture and layout of the mausoleum was inspired by that of Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in his beloved wife Mumtaj Mahal’s memory.
However, evidently the Prince fell short of funds and what finally came out was a poor imitation of the splendid Taj Mahal.
This is obvious by the structure’s shoddy construction and little use of marble. However, despite all its flaws, the tomb makes an impressive structure and lures thousands of tourists every month.
Just like Taj Mahal, Bibi ka Maqbara is laid out in typical Mughal Char Bagh pattern with fountains adding to its beauty and is built on a high square platform with four minarets at its corners.
The mortal remains of Rabia Daurani are placed in the basement within an octagonal marble structure with exquisite designs. The tomb can be seen either from the ground floor through an octagonal opening or one can access the basement through a descending flight of steps.
A small mosque stands to the west of the mausoleum. The mosque was added on later by the Nizam of Hyderabad.
The detailed designs and carvings, the lush green gardens in the complex and the perfect backdrop of the hills seem to offer a cover to the architectural flaws.
Popularly known as ‘Taj of the Deccan’, Bibi ka Maqbara is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Aurangabad.
Paan Chakki
Paan Chakki is a flour mill run by water. Built in 1695, Paan Chakki was considered an engineering marvel at the time.
Its recommended to hire a guide here, so that he can get the water flowing and demonstrate the way in which water ran through to run the mill and ground the flour.
Close to the mill is located the shrine of Aurangzeb’s favourite saint Baba Shah Musafir.
A landscaped garden and a fish tank located in the premises add to the beauty of the site.
Ghrishneshwar Temple
Ghrishneshwar Temple is the twelfth, that is the last, jyotirlinga. Ghrishneshwar Temple is believed to be a very important place of worship, as the pilgrimages to the jyotirlingas are considered to be incomplete without a visit here.
Ghrishneshwar Temple as constructed by Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore who ruled between 1765 and1795 and during the rule reconstructed the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi and Vishwapada Temple at Gaya.
Ghrishneshwar Temple is also known by several other names like Grushmeswara, Ghusmeswara and Kusumeshwara. Constructed with red basalt, Ghrishneshwar Temple consists of a pillared hall, an antechamber and a sanctum sanctorum.
The best feature of Ghrishneshwar Temple is the five tiered shikara beautifully decorated with motifs and images of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Every year, a grand fair is organised around Mahashivaratri and is attended by scores of devotees.
Daulatabad Fort (14 Km)
Located on a pyramid shaped hill-top, about 14 km from Aurangabad is the popular fort of Daulatabad.
A grand fortress built by the Yadavas centuries ago was one of the most impregnable forts during the medieval period. Besides the complex defense system, the fort had an additional defense layer in form of moat and glacis around the hill.
The fort was attacked several times by various rulers many of which failed to invade. However, many others succeeded and hence the fort passed through several hands.
Earlier known as ‘Deogiri’ meaing ‘Hill of Gods’, the fort was renamed to ‘Daulatabad’, i.e. the City of Fortune, by Mohammad Bin Tughlaq who was so taken by the fortress that he decided to move his capital here from Delhi.
In the longer run, this impractical decision turned against him and he had to move his capital back to Delhi.
A 30 metre high minaret called Chand Minar was built later and played a defensive role. Right opposite the Chand Minar is Daulatabad’s oldest Islamic structure, the Jama Masjid.
Jama Masjid has 106 pillars which were plundered from Hindu and Jain Temples which once stood here.
Daulatabad Fort is one of the best preserved forts and a popular tourist attraction.
Khuldabad
Located close to the caves of Ellora, is the walled city of Khuldabad, revered as Rauza and Karbala for Muslims in the Deccan, as two of their most revered saints, Zain-ud-din and Burhan-ud-din, once lived here and today they rest here in their tombs.
Also the Robe of The Prophet, a venerated relic, is preserved here in Alamgarh Dargah. The robe is displayed to the public once a year on the twelfth day of the Islamic month, Rabi-ul-Awal.
In the courtyard of Alamgir Dargah lies the strikingly simple tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb who was buried here in 1707 AD.
To the east of Aurangzeb’s grave are located the graves of his son Prince Azam Shah and Azam Shah’s wife.
Closeby are located tombs of many others like Bani Begum, a consort of one of Aurangzeb’s sons, Asaf Jah, the founder of Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad and Nasir Jung, the second son of Asaf Jah etc.
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