7 Places to Visit near Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) within 100 kms (2025)

Ajanta Caves are one of the oldest UNESCO World heritage sites in Maharashtra, and among the most prominent tourist places in Maharashtra. One of the most visited ancient monuments in India, these caves are situated about 98 km from Aurangabad, 326 km from Pune, and 443 km from Mumbai.

Carved between 2nd Century BC and 6th Century AD, Ajanta Caves are excavated in a horseshoe-shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking the Waghur River. The cave complex consists of 29 rock-cut monuments built during the Satavahana period and the Vakataka period. The caves at Ajanta are famous for beautiful mural paintings and sculptures that depict tales of Buddhist Jatakas. The world-famous paintings at Ajanta also fall into two broad phases. The earliest is noticed in the form of fragmentary specimens in Cave 9 & 10, which are among the must-visit places as part of Ajanta tour. The second phase of paintings started around the 5th - 6th centuries and the specimen of these exemplary paintings could be noticed in Cave 1, 2, 16, and 17.

Various incidents from the life of Gautama Buddha and the Jataka Tales are represented and recreated on the walls of these caves. It can be visited along with Aurangabad tour packages. It takes one full day to visit main caves in Ajanta Caves.

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An UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ellora Caves are the most visited places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Maharashtra tour packages. Situated about 28 km from Aurangabad, 253 km from Pune, and 344 km from Mumbai.

Ellora Caves is an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain Cave temples carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri hills between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Ellora is one of the prominent heritage places to visit near Mumbai. The caves have a slightly less dramatic setting than those at Ajanta, but more exquisite sculptures. The cave complex comprises 34 caves includes 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu, and 5 Jain Caves. The central attraction at Ellora is Kailash Temple (Cave 16), which is the most remarkable.

Every year Ajanta-Ellora Festival is organized in Aurangabad to pay tribute to the legendary caves of Ellora, Ajanta, and other historical monuments in the region. Earlier the venue for this festival was Kailasa Temple of Ellora Caves but it has now been shifted to Soneri Mahal, among the must include places in Aurangabad tour packages.

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About Shani Shingnapur Temple

At a distance of 44 Km from Ahmednagar, and 72 Km from Shirdi and 44 km from Ahmednagar, Shani Shingnapur or Sonai is a village in Nevasa taluka of Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra. The village is known for its popular temple of Shani Mahadev, the Hindu god associated with the planet (graha) Saturn. This is one of the most popular Shani temples in India and also among the famous pilgrimage sites near Pune. The temple is regarded as a 'jagrut devasthan,' which translates to 'living temple,' indicating that the deity is believed to still inhabit the site. The villagers' faith in Lord Shani is so profound that none of the homes in this remarkable village are equipped with doors or locks, as they trust that Lord Shani safeguards their possessions from theft.

History & Mythology of Shani Shingnapur Temple

The village of Shani Shingnapur is unique in that none of its homes have doors. The residents hold a strong belief that the deity Shani punishes anyone who attempts to steal. According to local legend, approximately 150 years ago, a large black stone appeared on the surface of the water, which was later discovered by local shepherds once the water receded. When one shepherd prodded the stone with a sharp object, it began to bleed. That night, the god Shaneshwara visited the dreams of the devoted shepherds, expressing his desire to remain in the village in that ...

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About Ghrushneshwar/Grishneshwar Temple

At a distance of 1 Km from Ellora Caves, and 29 Km from Aurangabad, Grishneshwar or Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is a revered Hindu temple located at Verul village in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is an important pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga (linga of light) in India, and among the 5 jyotirlinga temples in Maharashtra. The other four are Aundha Nagnath Temple, Trimbakeshwar near Nashik, Vaijnath Temple in Parli, and Bhimshankar near Pune. It is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, among the must-visit places as part of the Ellora tour packages. Grishneshwar Temple is sometimes referred to as the Ghrushneshwar Jyotirlinga or Dhushmeshwar temple. Ghrushneshwar means 'the lord of compassion.

History of Ghrushneshwar/Grishneshwar Temple

Although there is no definitive historical record indicating the exact date of its construction, it is widely accepted that the temple originated prior to the 13th century. Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, the temple endured multiple destructions under the Delhi Sultanate's reign. It was subsequently reconstructed in the 16th century by Maloji Bhosale, the grandfather of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The temple continued to face assaults even after this period. The current structure ...

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At a distance of 16 km from Aurangabad Railway Station, Daulatabad is an ancient hill fort situated on the way to Ellora Caves from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. It is one of the best-preserved places of heritage in Maharashtra, and also one of the best Aurangabad tourist places.

The historical triangular fort of Daulatabad was built by Yadava king Bhillama V in 1187 AD. It is one of the best historical places near Pune. The city was then called 'Deogiri', meaning the hill of gods. Daulatabad or 'the abode of wealth' was the name given by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq when he made his capital here in 1327 AD. The region and the fort passed on into the hands of Bahamani rulers under Hasan Gangu in 1347 AD and Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar in 1499 AD. Daulatabad became the capital of the Nizam Shahi dynasty in 1607 AD. The fort passed several hands, captured and re-captured by the Mughals, Marathas, Peshwas, and finally placed under the control of the Nizams of Hyderabad in 1724 AD till independence. It is one of the most visited places as part of Aurangabad tour packages.

Daulatabad Fort was one of the most powerful forts during the medieval period. Built on a 200 m high conical hill, the fort was defended by a moat and a glacis. ...

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At a distance of 18 km from Kannad and 77 km from Aurangabad, the Pitalkhora Caves are an ancient rock cut caves located on Chandora hill near Ambala village in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

Pitalkhora consisting of 14 Buddhist Caves and are believed to be one of the earliest of the rock cut cave structures in the vicinity. It is believed that Pitalkhora Caves belongs to 2nd century BC. They are cut in a variety of basalt rock which weathers faster in contrast to other parts in Maharashtra. All the caves belong to the Hinayana period but the painting executed in the caves are of Mahayana period. The caves boast paintings, many sculptures, animal motifs, miniature chaitya windows, wonderful Yaksha figures, the elephants, dwarapalas and mithuna figures. The sculptural representations here are similar to that of found in the stupas of Sanchi, Karla, Nasik, of the same period.

The caves are in two groups, one is a cluster of 10 caves and the second of 4 caves. Out of the 14, four are chaityas (one housing votive stupas, one apsidal and single-cell) and the rest are viharas. The 1st cave, which has been damaged, was used as a monastery or vihara. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th caves have similar courtyards and seem to belong to the same period.

The Cave 3 has the best paintings and there are 37 pillars that separate the aisle from the hall. The inscriptions on each pillar indicate that they were added individually ...

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At a distance of 15 km from Ellora Caves, and 37 km from Aurangabad, Mhaismal is a beautiful hill station in located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the unexplored hill stations in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit near Aurangabad.

Mhaismal is situated at an altitude of 1067 m amidst the Sahyadri Ranges. Also titled as the 'Mahabaleshwar of Marathwada', Mhaismal is a hill station that gets its name from a nearby village, Maheshmal. Mhaismal is a perfect blend of the undefiled nature and the breathtaking terrains. Mhaismal is renowned for its temples, gardens, valleys, caves, and forts, all contributing to its intrinsic natural allure. It offers a serene retreat for city dwellers seeking a peaceful weekend escape from Mumbai, Aurangabad, or Pune.

The hill station features a plateau adorned with lush greenery, hills, and forest cover, making it a haven for photographers and nature enthusiasts. It is also celebrated as a Botanical workshop due to its diverse flora and fauna. Like most hill stations, Mhaismal boasts several viewpoints such as Sunset Point, Valley View, and Necklace Point. The Valley Viewpoint provides a panoramic view of the green slopes and valleys, while Necklace Point offers a glimpse of the countryside and is a popular tourist attraction, complete with tea and snack stalls.

Visitors can also explore the Girija Devi temple, Balaji temple, ...

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