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Aurangabad

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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar is a large and busy city in India.

CIDCO Aerial- Canought Place
CIDCO Aerial- Canought Place

It sits in the state of Maharashtra. The city is part of the Marathwada region. It is located on hilly land called the Deccan Traps. This area is surrounded by the Ajanta mountain range in every direction. The city is the fifth-largest urban area in its state. It has a very large population of 1,175,116 people.

BAMU gate
BAMU gate

The ground beneath the city is very special. It is made of old lava flows. These flows are called basaltic lava. These layers of rock can hold water in different ways. Some parts of the rock are porous, which means they have tiny holes. These holes help the ground hold and move groundwater. The soil in the area is mostly black. This soil comes from the broken-down igneous rocks. The weather is often dry, which is called a semiarid climate.

This city has a very long and changing history. Long ago, the area was home to the Satavahana and Yadava dynasties. In 1327, a ruler named Muhammad bin Tughluq moved the capital of the Delhi Sultanate here. Later, a leader named Malik Ambar built a city called Khadki.

Painting of the profile of Malik Ambar of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the founder of Khadki (later Aurangabad)
Painting of the profile of Malik Ambar of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the founder of Khadki (later Aurangabad)

His son, Fateh Khan, changed the name to Fatehnagar. In 1653, a ruler named Aurangzeb renamed the city Aurangabad. He made it the capital of the Deccan region.

Bhadkal Gate
Bhadkal Gate

Many people visit the city to see amazing sights. The Ajanta and Ellora caves are nearby. These are famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also see the Bibi Ka Maqbara and the Devagiri Fort.

BIBI KA MAQBARA (TOMB OF THE LADY) 2
BIBI KA MAQBARA (TOMB OF THE LADY) 2

The city was once known as the "City of Gates." This is because there were 52 gates in the city walls. Some of these gates, like the Delhi Gate, still stand today. The city is also a place where people make beautiful silk and cotton fabrics.

Zaibunissa palace
Zaibunissa palace

Today, the city is a major center for learning and work. It is home to the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

BAMU gate
BAMU gate

The city is also part of a big plan to build smart cities. In 2019, the Aurangabad Industrial City became India's first greenfield smart city. Most people in the city speak Marathi. Many others speak Urdu or Hindi. It is a place where old history meets new ways of living.

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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Zaibunissa palace.jpg
Zaibunissa palace.jpg
File:Painting of the profile of Malik Ambar of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, the founder of Khadki (later Aurangabad).jpg
Painting of the profile of Malik Ambar of...
File:Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk.jpg
Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk.jpg
File:CIDCO Aerial- Canought Place.jpg
CIDCO Aerial- Canought Place.jpg
File:Kachner Parshwanath Idol.jpg
Kachner Parshwanath Idol.jpg
File:Bhadkal Gate.JPG
Bhadkal Gate.JPG
File:BIBI KA MAQBARA (TOMB OF THE LADY) 2.jpg
BIBI KA MAQBARA (TOMB OF THE LADY) 2.jpg
File:Naan Qalia.jpg
Naan Qalia.jpg
File:BAMU gate.jpg
BAMU gate.jpg
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