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AURANGABAD INFORMATION

Aurangabad meaning "built by the throne" was named after Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. The City is a tourist hub, surrounded with many historcal monuments including Ajanta and Ellora World heritage sites. This district center is the administrative headquarters of 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.

The city used to be a village named Kirki. According to historians, the city was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar who was the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II of Ahmednagarm, the ruler of the Deccan. It is believed that city took shape between 1604 and 1610 under Malik Ambar's rule.

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.

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. There is evidence to believe that Aurangabad was developed as a trading hub four centuries ago.

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.

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.

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.