The city of Aurangabad was founded in 1610, on the site of a village, Khirki by Malik Ambar - the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's son turned successor in 1626, he gave the city the name 'Fatehpur'. Later in 1653, when Prince Aurangzeb became Viceroy of the Deccan, he made the city his capital and called it Aurangabad. The walls which enclose the central part of the city, were added by Aurangzeb in 1686 in order to withstand attacks from the Marathas. There are four principle gateways to the city - the Delhi Darwaza, the Jalna Darwaza, the Paithan Darwaza , the Mecca Darwaza. Nine secondary gateways also formed a part of the defensive system of this city.rnrnMaurya rule marked the arrival of Buddhism in Maharashtra. The earliest caves at Ajanta and Pitalkhora were excavated during the Satvahana period (in the 2nd century B.C.) During the Chalukya reign, Buddhism continued to flourish. This resulted in several 'viharas' (monasteries) and ' chaityas' (chapels) being excavated at Aurangabad , Ajanta and Ellora. In later years the Rashtrakutas built several temples, the most significant being the Kailas Temple (Cave 16, Ellora) - an unrivaled example of Indian architecture.
Aurangabad today is a bustling city of Maharashtra with diverse big and small industries, fine silken textiles, and exquisite hand woven brocades of silver and gold fabrics, Himroo of world frame.
To scholars and lovers of art and culture the city is more familiar as the gateway to the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora, both famous as treasure houses of Indian Art and Sculpture.
