A historic city in Maharashtra, Aurangabad is famous for its medieval monuments and rich cultural heritage. Since it was the seat of the Mughal Empire for a short tenure, Aurangabad has no dearth of forts, tombs and museums that will take you back to the Mughal era. The history of Aurangabad is, however, more than the Mughal reign. Explore the areas outside the city and you will be surprised to see structures dating back to the 2nd century and beyond. If you thought all the prominent places in Aurangabad can be covered in a day or two, we urge you to extend your vacation and explore places that are a little far away from the city too to make the most of your trip to the City of Gates.
Here’s our list of 7 places to visit near Aurangabad within 100 km:
Places to visit near Aurangabad:
1. Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves | #1 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
The Ajanta Caves are one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. These caves were once a sanctuary of the Buddhist monks and thus depict their culture and stories in the form of paintings and sculptures. There are around 30 caves here carved out of rocks, dating back to the 2nd century BCE to 7th century CE. Five of these caves are chaityas (prayer halls) and the rest are viharas (monasteries). These caves remained hidden for ages, before being rediscovered in 1819 by a British hunting officer. Famous for its temple architecture, this Buddhist monastic complex is an epitome of brilliant Indian art.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 100 km
- Timings: 09:00 am – 05:00 pm (Closed on Monday)
- Entry Fee:
₹ 30 for Indians and tourists from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries
₹ 500 for other foreign tourists
2. Ellora Caves
Ellora Caves | #2 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
Another famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora Caves is a series of 34 ancient rock-cut temples not far from Aurangabad. Dating back to the 6th to 8th century CE, these caves include 12 Buddhist monasteries, 17 Hindu shrines and 5 Jain temples, which symbolize the peace between communities that existed in ancient India. The most popular of all monuments is the 32 meter high Kailasa Temple built during the reign of the Rashtrakuta dynasty. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this 8th-century temple is the largest rock-cut structure in the world and a brilliant architectural marvel of the bygone era.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 29 km
- Timings: Sunrise to sunset (Closed on Tuesday)
- Entry Fee:
₹ 30 for Indians and tourists from SAARC and BIMSTEC countries
₹ 500 for other foreign tourists
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3. Jayakwadi Dam
Ellora Caves | #3 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
Jayakwadi Dam near Aurangabad gets the credit of being one of the largest irrigation projects to solve the water shortage issue in Maharashtra. The surrounding areas of the dam encompass a bird sanctuary and a garden. The reservoir attracts a variety of wildlife including 200 species of rare birds including Flamingo, Brahminy Kite and Crane. The construction of the dam started in 1965 and was completed in 1976.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 52 km (approx.)
- Timings: 08:00 am – 05:00 pm
- Entry Fee: Free
4. Bani Begum Garden
Bani Begum Garden | #4 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
Bani Begum Garden is a lush green site housing the tomb of Bani Begum at its center, who was the wife of Azam Shah, the son of Aurangzeb. The garden has a comforting ambiance, manicured lawns, beautiful fountains, massive domes, and pillars. It is a perfect example of Mughal architecture and a sight to behold for history lovers.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 26 km (approx.)
- Timings: 09:00 am – 06:00 pm
- Entry Fee: Free
5. Grisheshwar Temple
Grisheshwar Temple | #5 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
Nearly 3000 years old, Grishneshwar Temple is one of the twelve revered Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva in India. Built in the 18th century, this shrine is only a kilometer from Ellora Caves. The temple is visited by many Hindu devotees as it is considered to be the last Jyotirlinga on Earth. The red-brick walls of the temple showcase the carvings of many Hindu gods and goddesses.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 30 km (approx.)
- Timings:
05:30 am – 09:30 pm
03:00 am – 11:00 pm (during Shravan month) - Entry Fee: Free
Also Read: Monuments in India
6. Zainuddin Shirzai’s Maqbara
Zainuddin Shirzai’s Maqbara | #6 of 7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad
Zainuddin Shirazi was a Sufi saint and spiritual guru of the famous Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The saint dedicated his life for the well-being of people, and the maqbara was built to commemorate his contributions. An interesting part of this place is that it also has the mausoleum of Aurangzeb, who wanted to rest in peace next to his teacher. The place has a ‘parahan’ (robe of the prophet) and ‘taj’ that was given to the Islamic missionary Burhanuddin.
- Distance from Aurangabad: 27 km (approx.)
- Timings: 08:00 am – 09:00 pm
- Entry Fee: Free
7. Bhadra Maruti Temple
Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Bhadra Maruti Temple is located at Khuldabad. The temple has an idol of Hanuman in sleeping posture and is one of the only three temples in India where you will see the lord in this posture. If folklores are to be believed, King Bhadrasena sang songs for Lord Rama, which caught the attention of Hanuman. When Lord Hanuman visited the king, he fulfilled his request of residing in the temple. There is also a Bhadra Maruti pond near the temple.Hope you will like to read – Places to visit in Aurangabad
- Distance from Aurangabad: 28 km (approx.)
- Timings: 05:00 am – 12:00 pm, 04:00 pm – 09:00 pm
- Entry Fee: Free
If you always associated Aurangabad with Aurangzeb and Mughal dynasty, we are sure that this post would have changed your knowledge about the city. Explore the Ajanta and Ellora caves, visit Bhadra Maruti Temple and more; there’s a lot to do in Aurangabad.
