City tour and excursion to Ellora Caves.
After an early breakfast today, we head out for an excursion to the Ellora caves (Closed every Tuesday) followed by a city tour. A 45-minute drive takes us to Ellora caves a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world. It features Hindu, Buddhist, Jain monuments, and artwork, dating from the 600–1000 CE period. It takes one easily 4 hours to walk through and see everything. Tired from all the walking we stop for a vegetarian meal at the humble Vrindavan Pure Veg restaurant or at the Ellora Heritage hotel.
(Optional): En route to Ellora caves, is the Valley of Sufi Saints, in the town of Khuldabad. The name of the valley was coined based on the many tomb shrines of Chisti Sufi master and saints. Some of the famed tomb shrines in the valley is the shrine of the Sufi saint Muntajib al-Din, the tomb of Aurangzeb who was the last great Mughal emperor, the first Nizam of Hyderabad, the tomb of Asaf Jah, the tomb of Tana Shah who was the last king of Golconda and the respected saint Moinuddin Chishti of Khuldabad.
On the way back to the city we stop over and admire the mighty Daulatabad fort - also known as Devagiri or Deogiri, which is a historical fortified citadel. It was the capital of the Yadava dynasty, for a brief time the capital of the Delhi Sultanate, and later a secondary capital of the Ahmednagar Sultanate. For the pious a visit to the Grishneshwar Temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva is recommended before heading back into the city.
Once we are back into the city, we visit the Bibi Ka Maqbara, a famous tomb of Dilras Banu Begum commissioned by her husband Aurangzeb in 1660, followed by a visit to the local Paithani silk Weaving Centre to understand the art of weaving one of the most sought-after silk work. The weaving centre displays a wide array of intricate designs such as peacocks, parrots etc. weaved by colorful threads and also helps preserve the Himroo & Bidri art work which is on the verge of extinction.
We now head back to the hotel, rest our weary legs until it is time to head out for some more local food experience.
Dinner recommendation : For some more fun head to KA Lounge a vegetarian gastro pub. Lounging at this upbeat place is one of the mandate things to do in Aurangabad. The place boasts a top-notch ambience, modern interiors, ample spacing between loungers and friendly staff. People go gaga for the innovative dishes served here such as Godzilla garlic bread, gunpowder kebab, Pacho Nacho, hulk pizza and seafood risotto etc.
Overnight at Aurangabad. (B)