We stayed in Aurangabad mainly because of its proximity to the Ajanta and Ellora caves, but the city was interesting too. It is called the "City of Gates" because of the 52 remaining gates from the old city wall. The Muslim population is quite high for India, 39%, compared to the national average of 13%. Our driver was clearly proud of this great ethnic mix.
1Aurangabad Hilltop temple seen on the way to the Aurangabad Caves
2Aurangabad The peaceful Aurangabad Caves were carved out in the 6th or 7th century by Buddhists.
3Aurangabad The Aurangabad Caves
4Aurangabad American tourist at the Aurangabad Caves
5Aurangabad Closer to the upper caves
6Aurangabad Inside the upper caves
7Aurangabad Parrot on the cliff wall
8Aurangabad More parrots
9Aurangabad Pillared cave
10Aurangabad Sculptures inside the caves
11Aurangabad Dying (or dead?) Buddha
12Aurangabad View from the Aurangabad Caves towards the city, with the towers and dome of the Bibi-qa-Maqbara in the foreground.
13Aurangabad Curious landscape
14Aurangabad Girl students on a visit to the Bibi-qa-Maqbara
15Aurangabad The Bibi-qa-Maqbara, aka the "poor man's Taj", was built by Aurangzeb for his wife in 1679. As anyone can see, it is patterned after the tomb Aurangzeb's father built for his own wife in Agra.
16Aurangabad Bibi-qa-Maqbara
17Aurangabad Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal emperors, made Aurangabad his capital from 1653 to 1707. This is part of the old city wall.
18Aurangabad The Mecca Gate, one of Aurangabad's 52 old city gates
19Aurangabad Ladies using a curious Indian implement, sort-of a cross between a pick and a hoe, to dig a ditch. Note the man, who is "supervising".
20Aurangabad Swing that pick...
21Aurangabad A small mosque area called the Panchakki, after an ancient water wheel which it appears you can still see. We could not.
22Aurangabad The peaceful Panchakki area is a memorial garden around the grave of a Sufi saint, Baba Shah Muzaffar.
23Aurangabad Lovely old banyan tree
24Aurangabad Colorful tree
25Aurangabad Panchakki mosque
26Aurangabad Clothes for sale, hung from lines in the trees at a market area in downtown Aurangabad
27Aurangabad Friendly fig seller
28Aurangabad Street in downtown Aurangabad
29Aurangabad Muslim ladies on motorcycle
30Aurangabad This gentleman wanted his picture taken, so Siv took it.
31Aurangabad Muslim women and children in downtown Aurangabad
32Aurangabad Happy chikku vendor in downtown Aurangabad
