Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

Aurangabad District is one of the 36 districts of the state of Maharashtra in western India. It borders the districts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmednagar to the south. The city of Aurangabad houses the district's administrative headquarters. The district has an area of 10,100 km², of which 37.55% is urban and the rest is rural. Aurangabad District is a major tourism region in Marathwada.

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Aurangabad. For other uses, see Aurangabad (disambiguation).

Aurangabad District
District of Maharashtra
Location of Aurangabad District in Maharashtra
CountryIndia
StateMaharashtra
DivisionAurangabad Division
HeadquartersAurangabad
Tehsils
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituencies[1]
Area
 • Total10,100 km2 (3,900 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total3,701,282
 • Density370/km2 (950/sq mi)
 • Urban
37.53%
Demographics
 • Literacy61.15%
 • Sex ratio924
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Major highwaysNH-211
Websitehttp://aurangabad.nic.in/

Geography

Aurangabad District is located mainly in the Godavari River Basin and partly in the Tapti River Basin. The district is located between 19 and 20 degrees north longitude and between 74 and 76 degrees east latitude, covering an area of 10,100 km².[2]

Geology

Geological formations

Aurangabad District lies on the Deccan plateau and is covered by the Deccan Traps, which formed during the Late Cretaceous and Lower Eocene ages. Thin alluvial deposits lie above the Deccan Traps along the major rivers. The basaltic lava flows belonging to the Deccan Traps are the only major geological formation in the district. The lava flows are horizontal, with each flow featuring two distinct layers. The upper layer consists of vesicular and amygdule zeolitic basalt, while the lower layer consists of massive basalt.[3]

Elevation and mountains

The average height of southern portion of the district is between 600 and 670 metres. The district features four distinct mountains:[2]

  • Antur – 827 m
  • Abbasgad – 671 m
  • Satonda – 552 m
  • Ajintha – 578 m

Rivers

The major rivers in Aurangabad District are the Godavari, Purna, Shivana, and Kham rivers.[2]

The Narangi river rises on the southern slopes of the water divide south of the Maniyad river near the village of Naral. It flows past Vaijapur, where it is joined by the Deo Nala river from Nasik District. The Narangi follows a long south-southwesterly course before its point of entry into the Godavari. It is joined by the Chor nala from the west and the Kurla nala from the east, continuing the trend of the Kurla river after the Kurla's confluence.

Climate

The rainy season lasts from June through September and the average rainfall is 734 mm. The temperature ranges from 14 to 40 degrees Celsius on average. The winter season is from October to February and the summer season is from March to May.

Climate data for Aurangabad
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.7
(85.5)		 32.5
(90.5)		 36.1
(97.0)		 39.0
(102.2)		 39.9
(103.8)		 34.9
(94.8)		 30.3
(86.5)		 29.1
(84.4)		 30.4
(86.7)		 32.6
(90.7)		 30.9
(87.6)		 29.3
(84.7)		 32.9
(91.2)
Average low °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6)		 16.3
(61.3)		 20.2
(68.4)		 23.7
(74.7)		 24.6
(76.3)		 23.0
(73.4)		 21.8
(71.2)		 21.1
(70.0)		 20.9
(69.6)		 19.7
(67.5)		 16.4
(61.5)		 14.0
(57.2)		 19.7
(67.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.2
(0.09)		 2.9
(0.11)		 5.1
(0.20)		 6.3
(0.25)		 25.5
(1.00)		 131.4
(5.17)		 167.0
(6.57)		 165.0
(6.50)		 135.3
(5.33)		 52.6
(2.07)		 29.3
(1.15)		 8.4
(0.33)		 731.0
(28.78)
Source: IMD

Administrative divisions

The district comprises nine tehsils: Kannad, Soyagaon, Sillod, Phulambri, Aurangabad, Khuldabad, Vaijapur, Gangapur, and Paithan.

Nine Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha constituencies are located in this district: Sillod, Kannad, Phulambri, Aurangabad Central, Aurangabad West, Aurangabad East, Paithan, Gangapur, and Vaijapur.

The Vidhan Sabha constituencies are grouped into two Lok Sabha constituencies: Aurangabad and Jalna.[4]

Demographics

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901444,492—    
1911533,331+1.84%
1921436,921−1.97%
1931579,857+2.87%
1941656,289+1.25%
1951714,894+0.86%
1961943,092+2.81%
19711,241,195+2.78%
19811,589,754+2.51%
19912,218,615+3.39%
20012,902,602+2.72%
20113,701,282+2.46%
source:[5]

According to the 2011 census, Aurangabad District has a population of 3,701,282 inhabitants and a population density of 365 inhabitants per square kilometre (950/sq mi). It is the 72nd most populous district in India out of 640 total districts, and the population growth rate between 2001 and 2011 was 27.33%.[6] The population of the district is 37.53% urban as of 2001.[7]

The district has a sex ratio of 917 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 80.4%.[6]

Languages

Mother tongues in Aurangabad District (2011)

  Marathi (69.66%)
  Urdu (14.51%)
  Hindi (14.05%)
  Telugu (0.42%)
  Other (1.36%)

As of the 2011 Census of India, 69.66% of the population in the district speaks Marathi, 14.51% speaks Urdu, 14.05% speaks Hindi, and 0.42% speaks Telugu as their first language.[8] Other languages spoken include Ahirani, a Kandeshi tongue similar to Bhili[9] with approximately 780,000 speakers; and Andh, a Marathi-Konkani language spoken by 100,000 people near the southwest border of the district.

Religions

Religions in Aurangabad District (2011)

  Hinduism (69.00%)
  Islam (21.00%)
  Buddhism (8.35%)
  Jainism (0.84%)
  Sikhism (0.69%)
  Other (0.12%)

According to the 2011 census, Hinduism is the most popular religion in the district and is practiced by 69% of the population. Other popular religions include Islam (21%), Buddhism (mainly Navayana Buddhism, 8.35%), Jainism (0.84%), and Sikhism (0.69%).[10]

Locality

Hindus

Muslims

Buddhists

Jains

Aurangabad 51.07% 30.79% 15.17% 1.62%
Paithan 74.66% 21.71% 2.45% 0.72%
Paithan Taluka 78.23% 17.38% 3.6% 0.43%
Phulambri Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
Phulambri Taluka 82.52% 12.02% 4.77% 0.06%
Wadegaon Kolhati 88.36% 1.16% 8.48% Unknown
Satara, Aurangabad 60.58% 23.50% 13.81% Unknown
Waluj 63.68% 25.53% 8.72% Unknown
Chitegaon 65.85% 22.95% 10.17% Unknown
Pandharpur, Aurangabad 55.68% 25.76% 16.90% Unknown
Vaijapur 64.09% 29.10% 3.69% 2.40%
Vaijapur Taluka 84.98% 10.24% 3.84% 0.64%
Gangapur 63.42% 30.01% 5.07% 1.02%
Gangapur Taluka 75.61% 15.07% 8.16% 0.57%

Transportation

Road
  • Mumbai – Aurangabad
  • Hyderabad – Aurangabad
  • Nagpur – Aurangabad
  • Dhule – Aurangabad
  • Pune – Aurangabad (approximately 4.5 hours journey time)
  • Solapur – Aurangabad

Rail

The Manmad-Kachiguda Railway Station Broad gauge railway line emanates from the Mumbai-Bhusawal-Howrah trunk route at Manmad and is an important traffic artery in Aurangabad District. Routes include:

  • Mumbai – Aurangabad
  • Hyderabad – Nanded – Aurangabad
  • Secunderabad – Bangalore – Parbhani – Aurangabad
  • Delhi – Aurangabad – Delhi
  • Nagpur – Aurangabad – Nagpur
  • Mumbai-Aurangabad – Mumbai – Janshatabdi Express (daily service)
  • Nandigram Express – via – Aurangabad to Mumbai (daily service)
  • Devgiri Express – via – Aurangabad to Mumbai (daily service)
  • Tapovan Express (daily service)

Air

Aurangabad Airport has flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad-Tirupati, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Udaipur, and Jaipur.

Tourism
See also: Tourism in Marathwada

There are many points of interest in Aurangabad District, including temples, villages, gardens, and sanctuaries.

Indian rock-cut architecture
Main article: Indian rock-cut architecture
  • Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad Caves and Ellora Caves
  • The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments built beneath the Vakatakas.
  • Buddhist "Chaitya Griha" (prayer hall) with a seated Buddha in Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.
  • Chaitya with stupa, Cave 4, Aurangabad Caves.
  • Various sculptors next to an entrance at Aurangabad Caves.
  • Central pillar near Kailasa temple at Ellora Caves.
  • Statue of the Buddha seated. Part of the Carpenter's cave (Buddhist Cave 10).
  • Kailasa temple, Ellora, Aurangabad
  • Buddhist monks praying in front of the Dagoba of Chaitya in Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.

Caves
  • The Ajanta Caves are situated 107 km (66 mi) from Aurangabad city. They comprise 30 rock-cut caves around a gorge and were built by the Satavahana, Vakataka and Chalukya dynasties between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE.[11] They contain various works of ancient Indian art, including paintings which are among the rarest and finest surviving examples of their era.[12] The Ajanta Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • The Ellora Caves are 29 km (18 mi) from Aurangabad city. They consist of 34 caves built between the 5th and 10th centuries CE under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. They represent the epitome of Indian rock cut architecture.[13] Like the Ajanta Caves, the Ellora Caves are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • The Aurangabad Caves are 5 km (3 mi) from Aurangabad city. Nestled amidst the hills are 12 Buddhist caves dating back to 3 A.D. Of particular interest are the Tantric influences evident in the iconography and architectural design of the caves.

Holy sites
  • Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India. It was built by Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century CE. The structure is a unique example of Bhoomija architecture with a Maratha style influence.[14]
  • Kachner Jain Temple is a 250 year old temple dedicated to Parshvanatha. It contains an idol called Chintamani Parshvanath.
  • Shuli Bhanjan is a hill near Aurangabad. It is believed that Saint Eknath Maharaj carried his Tapasya here.

Hindu temples and shrines

Due to the popularity of Hinduism in the region, there are dozens of Hindu temples and shrines.

Hindu temples and shrines in Aurangabad

Gates and forts
See also: Gates in Aurangabad

The city of Aurangabad is known for its 52 gates and has been called the "City of Gates". These gates were built during Mughal era.[15]

Daulatabad Fort (aka Devagiri Fort), located some 15 km (9 mi) north-west of Aurangabad, was built in the 12th century CE by the Yadava Dynasty. It was one of the most powerful forts during the medieval era. The fort was built on a 200-metre-high (660 ft) conical hill and defended by moats, trenches, and three encircling walls with bastions. It also had two fixed massive canons which could be pivoted. The fort was never conquered by any military force.[16]

Mughal architecture
  • The Bibi Ka Maqbara is the burial mausoleum of Emperor Aurangzeb's wife, Dilras Banu Begum (posthumously known as Rabia-ud-Daurani). The site is 3 km (2 mi) from Aurangabad city. It is an imitation of the Taj Mahal at Agra and is popularly known as the "Taj of the Deccan".[17]
  • The Tomb of Aurangzeb is located in the village of Khuldabad, 24 km (15 mi) to the north-west of Aurangabad city, in the south-eastern corner of the complex of the dargah of Sheikh Zainuddin.[18] Aurangzeb is considered to have been last great Mughal emperor.[19]

Other notable sites
  • Panchakki was designed to generate energy from water flowing down a mountain. It displays the scientific thought process that guided medieval Indian architecture.
  • Salim Ali Lake
  • Siddharth Garden near a bus stand in Aurangabad
  • Panchakki, which literally means "water mill", is a 17th-century water mill situated within the old city of Aurangabad. It is known for its underground channel, which carries water from hills over 8 km away. The channel culminates in an artificial waterfall that powers the mill.
  • Salim Ali Lake & Bird Sanctuary is located in the northern part of the city near Delhi Darwaza, opposite Himayat Bagh. During the Mughal period, it was known as Khiziri Talab. It was renamed after the great ornithologist and naturalist Salim Ali. It features a bird sanctuary and a garden maintained by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation.
  • Siddharth Garden and Zoo is situated near the central bus station in Aurangabad city. It is the only zoo in the Marathwada region. It is home to several species of animals, birds, flowers, and trees. The name "Siddhartha" is a reference to Gautama Buddha.[20][21][22]
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See also

References
  1. "Maharashtra Election Commission map" (PDF). Election Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  2. "About District". District Aurangabad. Government of Maharashtra. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  3. K.R. Aher and S.M. Deshpande 'Assessment of Water Quality of the Maniyad Reservoir of Parala Village, district Aurangabad: Suitability for Multipurpose Usage', International Journal of Recent Trends in Science And Technology, Vol.1(3), pp 91–95, 2011, E-ISSN 2249-8109.
  4. "District wise List of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra website. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009.
  5. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  6. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue
  9. M. Paul Lewis, ed. (2009). "Ahirani: A language of India". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (16th ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  10. "C-1 Population By Religious Community". Census. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  11. "Indian Heritage – Ajanta Cave paintings – Period of Excavation, Patronage, Re-discovery". Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  12. "Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  13. "Ellora Caves, Maharashtra – Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. Banerjee, Rajiv (12 April 2009). "History revisited at Aurangabad the 'city of gates'". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  16. "Daulatabad Fort – Ticketed Monument – Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  17. P., Bhaskar. "The Taj of Deccan". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  18. "Tomb of Aurangzeb" (PDF). Archaeological Survey of India, Aurangabad. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  19. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. https://abpmajha.abplive.in/aurangabad/animal-museum-in-siddhartha-garden-of-aurangabad-will-be-closed-609661
  22. "Siddharth Garden Zoo". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2015.

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