Geography: The location co-ordinates for Aurangabad are N 19° 53' 47" - E 75° 23' 54". It is located 512 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded by hills on all sides. 
Climate: Aurangabad has moderate type of climate and the temperature difference between summers and winters is not large. The summers are hot and winters are warm. This region experiences good southwestern monsoon rains from  June-September.

One can visit this Mughal capital any time of the year but it is better to come here between October and March.

Situated on the banks of the Kham River, this historical city is famous for its medieval monuments and cultural heritage. The gateway to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora, Aurangabad is named after the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. Aurangabad was earlier known as 'Khirki', due to its strategic position that provided a window view of the Deccan plateau. Though the city looks like a calm and serene city but it is rapidly growing as an industrialized city, trying to be as competitive as possible. Bibi-ka-Makbara, the mausoleum of Aurangzeb's queen, is the main tourist attraction of Aurangabad. This mausoleum is also termed as 'poor man's Taj Mahal' owing to it being a poor replica of the Taj.

One of the major cities of Maharashtra, Aurangabad is a gateway to several Buddhist sites such as Ajanta, Ellora and Pithalkhora. The gateway to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora :
 Ajanta : It was only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group of caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river, were discovered. A group of British officers on a tiger hunt, stumbled on these ancient works of art. They depict the story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to 650 AD. The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve - centres of the Buddhist cultural movement. Using simple tools like hammer and chisel, the monks carved out the impressive figures adorning the walls of these structures.

Aurangabad is located in the northern part of the state of Maharashtra, in the western region of India. It is 375 km from Mumbai .

Aurangabad is well connected by good motorable road with Ajanta 106 kms, Bombay 392 kms, Ellora 30 kms, Nanded 272 kms, Nasik 221 kms, Pune 229 kms, Shirdi 136 kms and other important cities.

Aurangabad is a Railway Station of South-Central railway on Manmad - Secunderabad section. Aurangabad is directly connected by rail with Bombay, Manmad, Nasik Road, Kalyan, Secunderabad (Hyderabad) and with other cities via Manmad.

Aurangabad Airpor, popularly known as the Chikalthana airport is the main domestic airport here.  It  is situated 10 km east of the city. Both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have a daily flight to Mumbai (Bombay). The Indian Airlines has an evening flight to Delhi via Udaipur and Jaipur.

The Ellora Ajanta Aurangabad Festival takes place in Aurangabad's 17th-century architectural marvel, the Soneri Mahal. Indian musicians and dancers perform classical and folk dances. 
Another important festival celebrated in Aurangabad is the Mahashivratri. It is celebrated during the months of February/March in the temple of Ghrishneshwara, which is located near Ellora.
 Other festivals celebrated here are Buddha Jayanti, Dussehra, Ganesh Chaturthi, Paithan Fair and Shivaji Jayanti.

Aurangabad district has a long artistic and cultural history, to which several dynasties have made major contributions over the years. As a result of the long Mughal rule in the region, the cuisine of Aurangabad has been highly influenced by the North Indian method of cooking, . It has retained much of its Islamic feel, although in the present day both Hindu and Muslim population lives in perfect harmony. Principal languages spoken over here are Marathi, Urdu, Hindi and English.

Ghrishneshwar Temple: Ghrishneshwar Temple was built by Rani Ahillyabai Holkar, is one of the twelve-jyotirlingas of India. It is located in the village of Verul, near Ellora caves situated at a distance of 35 kms from the city. The temple is made up of red sand stones built in 18th century and is a fine example of medieval architecture. The idols of God Vishnu, Ganesha and Shiva are placed inside the temple. Devotees rush to the place during Shivratri to get blessings since it enshrines a Jyotirlinga.
 Shirdi: It is one of the most important religious centres of the city. The shrine of Sai baba (a religious saint) is located here. The temple has an assembly hall which can accommodate 600 devotees. The land of sacred Sai Baba, Shirdi is 136km away from Aurangabad. With a puja every Thursday thousands of devotees pay pilgrimage to Shirdi. 
Jama Masjid : The Jama Masjid at Aurangabad was built by Aurangzeb. It is situated in the centre of a grove of trees in Killa Arrack. The Masjid has a low building with minarets and a broad band. This broad band is carved with Koranic inscriptions written through the length of the facade.

Bibi ka Maqbara : The city's most famous monument is the Bibi ka Maqbara. Located outside the walled city, this imitation of the Taj was built in 1678 by Aurangazeb's son, Azam Shah, in memory of his mother Rabia Durrani. Standing in the middle of a large Mughal garden, it has four disproportionately large minarets at the ends of its raised platform. Like the Taj, it uses white marble and stucco, but the lack  of fine artistic  work   here distinguishes Shah Jahan's creation. 
Khuldabad : 3km from Ellora this town houses the holy tomb of emperor Aurangazeb. 
Daulatabad Fort : The exquisite Daulatabad fort is located just 13 kms from Aurangabad on the way to Ellora, makes an excellent travel excursion from Aurangabad. The fort was built during the 12th century by king Bhillama of Yadav dynasty. It is situated on a pyramid shaped hill making it a major attraction here. According to the locals here, the Daulatabad fortress was earlier known as 'Devgiri'. Later the name was changed to Daulatabad by Mohammed Bin Tughlaq, Sultan of Delhi. 
Aurangabad Caves: Travel a few kilometers from Bibi-Ka-Maqbara and you would reach the Aurangabad Caves. The excavation of these caves goes back to the time of 2nd to 6th century AD. The most famous caves of Aurangabad are the 34 caves of Ellora and 29 caves of Ajanta. The world's largest monolithic sculpture, the Kailash Temple is to be found in the Ellora Caves.

Ellora Caves: (34 Caves) Located about 30 Kms from Aurangabad, Ellora caves are known for the genius of their sculptors. It is generally believed that these caves were constructed by the sculptors who moved on from Ajanta. This cave complex is multicultural, as the caves here provide a mix of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religions. The Buddhist caves came first, about 200 BC - 600 AD followed by the Hindu 500-900 AD and Jain 800-1000 AD.
 Darwazas : As most of the historical monuments in the city are of Nizam Shahi, Mughal and Maratha period they have magnificent Darwazas. Aurangabad city has four main darwazas and nine secondary darwazas, which were   a  part of the defence system of the city.

Nightlife does not exists much here.

Aurangabad Municipal Zoo : Established in 1986, Aurangabad Municipal Zoo is located at Sidharth Garden in Aurangabad. Spread over an area of 14 hectares, the zoo houses some rare species of birds, reptiles and mammals. There are sloth bear, hyena, white tigers, jackal and peafowl.

Aurangabad textiles is  much sought after even today, the weavers of Aurangabad produce fine textiles like pathani, himroo and kimkhwab.
 Himroo Factory: A glimpse of  the conventional type of Himroo Weaving can be seen at the Himroo Factory situated at Aurangabad's Zaffer gate. You can also buy shawls and saris from this factory. 
Paithan, (small town) is located at a distance of 50 kms from Aurangabad. The town is famous for its sarees called Paithani.

As a result of the long Mughal rule in the region, the cuisine of Aurangabad has been highly influenced by the North Indian method of cooking, . The East Station Road in Aurangabad is known for  eating points and restaurants  that charge reasonably. Indian, Chinese and fast food are available across the city in restaurants and hotels. If you are a full Indian meal lover then That-Baat and Bhoj are just for you. Hotel Angithi and Riviera offer good Non-Vegetarian Indian cuisine. If you can digest extremely hot and spicy meat then you can visit The Maratha Hotel - a bit down-market place.

History Museum of Marathwada University : This museum has excavated materials of Sathavahana dynasty and sculptures from Marathwada region. The collections also include Miniature paintings of Maratha, Rajput, Mughal and  paintings of East India Company period. The decorative objects of Chinese and Japanese origin, several manuscripts are also kept in the museum for display.
 State Archaeological Museum, Sonehri Mahal : This museum displays the sculptures and broken panels from archaeological sites in Paithan.

It is true that Aurangabad is not a green hilly destination, though it has a good number of gardens giving you a comfortable stay in the town. 
Aurangabad Municipal Zoo; Sidhrath Garden : Established in 1986, Aurangabad Municipal Zoo is located at Sidharth Garden in Aurangabad. Spread over an area of 14 hectares, the zoo houses some rare species of birds, reptiles and mammals. The residents include sloth bear, hyena, white tigers, jackal and peafowl.

River Kham passes through the city of Aurangabad. Waghora river is situated near Ajanta Caves: 
Panchakki : Panchakki, meaning water mill is another major attraction of Aurangabad. The mill gets its share of water that travels through an underground channel from a source which is 6 km away in the mountains. The water is released on to the wheel creating an enthralling waterfall. The place also has a garden and fountains with fish-filled tanks adding to the beauty of the entire area.

Travellers should note that the World Heritage sites at Ajanta and Ellora are closed for public viewing on Monday. Respect the culture and tradition of the place and remove footwear before entering into temples and mosques. Carry all your important documents along with two or three sets of photocopies in case of loss or theft. Carry a route map for safety.

The Government of India tourist office is located on Station Road West. Aurangabad Holiday Resort, Station Road, Aurangabad-431 001. Tel: 0240 2331513 Fax:331198 Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Registered Office: Express Towers, 9th Floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021. TEL: +91 22 2202 4482/4522 / 4584 FAX: +91 22 2202 4521 E-mail:webmaster@maharashtratourism.gov.in

Bank Of Baroda Paithan Gate, Tilak Road, Near Alfa Lodge, Aurangabad- 431001 Phone : 0240-2341931 ICICI Bank Ltd Tapadia Circle, Nirala Bazar, Aurangabad- 431001 Phone : 0240-2349106 Bank Of Maharashtra C-3, N-3, Town Centre Cidco, Aurangabad- 431003 Phone : 0240-2470455, 2481232 State Bank Of India Adalat Road, Kranti Chowk, Aurangabad- 431005 Phone : 0240-2351126 State Bank Of Hyderabad Plot No 1, Town Centre Cidco, Aurangabad- 431003 Phone : 0240-2487430

A visit to Ajanta and Ellora Caves is a must as it is considered as World Heritage Sites. The imitation of the Taj-Mahal, Bibi ka Maqbara is also a place not to be missed out in your trip.