Zone Time : IST (UTC+5:30) Area : 196 km² (76 sq mi) Elevation : 513 m (1,683 ft) Districts : Aurangabad Population : 1,414,918 (2006) Density : 7,219 /km² (18,697 /sq mi) Pincode : 431 001 Telephone : +0240

Aurangabad : (pronunciation (help·info) from Persian meaning "Built by the Throne", named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb) is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historical monuments including the Ajanta and Ellora World heritage sites, and is the administrative headquarters of the Aurangabad Division, or Marathwada region. Aurangabad is said to be a 'City of Gates' as one can not miss the strong presence of these as one drives through the city.

History : There was a village named Khadki where the city stands today. According to some historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagar, the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India). It is widely believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Ambar's rule. Initially, it was named Fatehpura (city of Victory), probably after Ambar's son Fateh Khan.

In 1634, Aurangzeb was sent to Khadki as Governor of the Deccan. In 1644, he moved to Agra to play an active role in Mughal politics. In 1681, the city again became the residence of Aurangzeb, who had now become the Mughal Emperor. He used the city as a base for his campaigns to conquer the last remaining Deccan sultanates until his death in 1707. The modern name of the city was probably taken during his period. Aurangzeb's tomb is situated at Khultabad, a small town near the city which is also known as Saints valley. Important places in and around Aurangabad include Bibi Ka Maqbara (a replica of the Taj Mahal), the Ellora, Aurangabad and Ajanta caves, the Ghrishneshwar Shiva temple and the Daulatabad fort.

Geography : The location co-ordinates for Aurangabad are N 19° 53' 47" - E 75° 23' 54". The city is surrounded by hills on all sides.

Temperature : Annual temperatures in Aurangabad range from 9 to 40 °C, with the most comfortable time to visit in the winter - October to February. The highest maximum temperature ever recorded was 46 °C (114 °F) on 25 May 1905. The lowest recorded temperature was 2 °C (36 °F) on 2 February 1911. In the cold season the district is sometimes affected by cold waves in association with the eastward passage of western disturbances across north India, when the minimum temperature may drop down to about 2 °C to 4 °C (35.6 °F to 39.2 °F).

Rainfall : Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season from June to September. Rainfall varies from 9.0 to 693 mm/month. Average annual rainfall is 725 mm.

Economy : There is evidence to believe that Aurangabad was developed as a trading hub four centuries ago. It lies on a major trade route that used to connect north-west India's sea and land ports to the Deccan region.

Manufacturing : The city was a major silk and cotton textile production center. A fine blend of silk with locally grown cotton was developed as Himroo textile. Much of the silk industry has vanished over time, but some manufacturers - such as the Aurangabad Silk Mills, Standard Silk Mills - have managed to keep the tradition alive. Paithani silk saris are also made in Aurangabad. The name of this cloth is derived from Paithan town.

Pharmaceuticals, steel recycling, auto parts manufacturing, and beverage production (soft drinks and beer in particular) are major industries.

On the outskirts of the city, the Shendra, Chikalthana and Waluj industrial estates set up by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation are home to major multinationals in the automobile and consumer durables industry.

The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd. (CIDCO) expertise was brought in to develop a New Aurangabad into a well-laid out town, with adequate provision for housing for low and middle income groups, gardens, play grounds, schools, colleges, community centres, cinema halls, stadium and a bird sanctuary. Some very successful city projects have been undertaken by CIDCO which are now managed by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.

Real Estate projects in Aurangabad

Real estate in Aurangabad is yet to take off on the scale witnessed in Pune, Nashik and Nagpur, but with the Government’s accent on developing the city as a tourist spot, the boom could arrive in a few years from now. 2 BHK apartments in Aurangabad fetch rates of Rs.1500 to Rs. 2500 per sq. ft. Land rates in Aurangabad over around Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000 per sq.ft. while commercial spaces stand at Rs. 3000 to Rs. 8000 per sq.ft.
Aurangabad is welcoming the latest trends in entertainment and retail – PVR, Fame and Big Cinemas already established here. Prozone Liberty, a joint venture between Provogue and Liberty International of UK are setting up a shopping mall in Aurangabad. The mall will accomodate hypermarkets, super markets, multiplexes, book and music stores and multi-brand outlets. Entertainment World Developers and Hyper City Retail also have plans to construct shopping mall-cum-multiplex projects in Aurangabad.
The State government is directing efforts towards making Aurangabad an investor friendly destination. It has initiated the strengthening of infrastructure within the city and has awarded contacts to the MSRDC on a build, operate and transfer basis for 5 flyovers, 5 rail over bridges, a subway and six roads. These moves are expected to have a positive effect on the investment climate in Aurangabad.

Waluj: Waluj is an industrial area developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation spanning 1518 hectares, 12 kms away from Aurangabad. The MIDC has provided top-end infrastructure which has attracted industry heavyweights like Bajaj Auto, Garware, Videocon and Sterlite. Industrial plots in Waluj are available at Rs. 350 per square yard.
The development of the township was handed over to City and Industrial Development Corporation, (CIDCO). It was conceived as a ring township circling the industrial centres, with independent and inter-linked colonies at the core. The ring routes also facilitate easy access to and from the city. CIDCO has undertaken much larger projects here than in Aurangabad.

Banking And Financial Services : In the first decade of the 21st century, Aurangabad has seen a spurt in financial activities, with almost all public sector and private banks have opened up branches including the State Bank of India, State Bank of Hyderabad, Citibank, Deutsche Bank,ICICI Bank, the Bank of India, HDFC Bank, YES Bank.

Information Technology : Many IT companies have already been established, with more waiting to establish a presence, probably due to the city's large urban and cosmopolitan population and its proximity to Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.

Banking And Financial Services :

• PVR Gallery,Chikalthana, Aurangabad
• Spencers Hyper,Chikalthana, Aurangabad
• Vishal Mega Mart,Railway Station Road,Aurangabad
• Big Bazaar, Jalna Road, Aurangabad
• Fame-Tapdiya,Cidco,Aurangabad

Upcoming Attractions in Aurangabad :
Coming Soon...

• Adlabs,khadkeshwar,Aurangabad
• Prozone Mall,Chikalthana, Aurangabad(22 lakh Sq-Ft) MULTIPLEX .
• West Pioneer Mall,Jalna Road,Aurangabad (7 lakh Sq-Ft) MULTIPLEX
• Hyper City,Chikalthana, Aurangabad
• Shoppers Stop,Chikalthana, Aurangabad
• Tapdiya Mall, Adalat Road, Aurangabad MULTIPLEX
• Marathawada engineering Pvt Ltd Mall
• Inox,Railway Station Road,Aurangabad MULTIPLEX
• Aurangabad city centre,Aakashwani,Aurangabad
• R-mall,Garkheda,Aurangabad MULTIPLEX
• Siddharth plaza,Siddhart Garden,Aurangabad
• AMC Mall,Jakat naka,Aurangabad
• AMC Mall,Shahanurmiyadarga,Aurangabad MULTIPLEX
• WAL MART WALUJ Aurangabad.

Transport :

Intra city Transport

"Aurangabad Municipal Transport" (AMT) is an intra-city bus service which covers almost all parts of the city and also connects to the more distant industrial suburbs.

The "Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation" (MSRTC) and numerous other private bus operators provide a bus service to all parts of the state.

Metered auto rickshaws ply throughout the city. The fare is based on a meter and is computed by a tariff card available from the driver.

Air

Chikalthana airport is Aurangabad's domestic airport. The nearest international airports are Mumbai and Pune. Construction is currently taking place at Chikalthana to make it an international airport.

Rail :

Aurangabad(AWB) is a railway station on the Nanded Division of South-Central railway (Manmad - Kachiguda section), with direct rail links to New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.

The "Janashatabdi Express" is the fastest and most comfortable train option to and from Mumbai with a total traveling time of 6 1/2 hours. Three overnight trains and two daytime trains also travel between Mumbai and Aurangabad.

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