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Aurangabad district, Maharashtra

Coordinates: 19°53′19.63″N 75°20′36.37″E / 19.8887861°N 75.3434361°E / 19.8887861; 75.3434361
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Aurangabad. For other uses, see Aurangabad (disambiguation).

Aurangabad district
District of Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district
From top, left to right: Kailasha temple at the Ellora Caves; facade of Ajanta Cave 19; Buddha carvings to the right of Cave 19's entrance; Bibi Ka Maqbara; Tomb of Aurangzeb, Khuldabad; Daulatabad Fort
Location in Maharashtra
Location in Maharashtra
Map
Aurangabad district
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DivisionAurangabad
HeadquartersAurangabad
Tehsils
List of tehsils
Government
 • BodyAurangabad Zilla Parishad
 • Guardian MinisterAbdul Sattar
Additional charge
(Cabinet Minister)
 • President Zilla Parishad
  • President
    Meena Shelke
  • Vice President
    Lahanu Gaikwad
 • District collectorDeelip Swami (IAS)
 • CEO Zilla ParishadNilesh R. Gatne (IAS)
 • MPs
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
Official LanguageMarathi
Per capita income(Aurangabad district)INR 1,63,325(2019–20)[1]
Nominal gross domestic product(Aurangabad district)INR 74,738crores (2019–20)[2]
Websiteaurangabad.gov.in

Aurangabad district (Marathi pronunciation: [əu̯ɾəŋɡaːbaːd̪]),[3] officially known as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district,[4] 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, with attractions including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves.

Geography

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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.[5]

Geology

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Geological formations

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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.[6]

Elevation and mountains

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The average height of southern portion of the district is between 600 and 670 metres. The district features four distinct mountains:[5]

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

Rivers

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The major rivers in Aurangabad District are the Godavari, Purna, Shivana, and Kham rivers.[5]

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.[citation needed]

Climate

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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
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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

Demographics

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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:[7]

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, and the population growth rate between 2001 and 2011 was 27.33%.[8] The district has a sex ratio of 917 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 80.4%. 43.77% of the population live in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 14.57% and 3.87% of the population respectively.[8]

Religions

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Religions in Aurangabad district (2011)[9]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 68.77%
Islam
 
 21.25%
Buddhism
 
 8.35%
Jainism
 
 0.84%
Christianity
 
 0.43%
Other or not stated
 
 0.36%

According to the 2011 census, Hinduism is the most followed religion in the district and is practiced by 69.77% of the population. Other popular religions include Islam (21.25%), Buddhism (8.35%) and Jainism (0.84%). In rural areas, Hindus are nearly 80% of the population while Muslims are nearly 15% of the population.[9]

Languages

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Languages in Aurangabad district (2011)[10]

  Marathi (69.66%)
  Urdu (14.51%)
  Hindi (9.49%)
  Lambadi (2.57%)
  'Other' Hindi (1.06%)
  Others (2.71%)

As of the 2011 Census of India, 69.66% of the population in the district speaks Marathi, 14.51% Urdu, 9.49% Hindi and 2.57% Lambadi as their first language. 1.06% of the population recorded their language as 'Others' under Hindi.[10]

Government and politics

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Administrative divisions

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The district comprises nine tehsils: Kannad, Soyagaon, Sillod, Phulambri, Aurangabad, Khuldabad, Vaijapur, Gangapur, and Paithan. The new proposal for tehsil is lasur and pishor. The big towns were divide from gangapur tehsil and kannad tehsil

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.[11]

Villages

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Officers

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Members of Parliament

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Guardian Minister

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Guardian Minister Aurangabad
Emblem of India
Incumbent
Abdul Sattar
Additional Charge
since 04 June 2024
StyleThe Honourable
ResidenceAurangabad
AppointerChief Minister of Maharashtra
Term length5 years / No time limit
Websiteaurangabad.gov.in/en/
list of Guardian Minister
[edit]
Name Term of office
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil 7 November 2009– 10 November 2010
Rajendra Darda 11 November 2010– 26 September 2014
Ramdas Kadam 5 December 2014 - 8 November 2019
Subhash Desai 9 January 2020 - 29 June 2022
Sandipanrao Bhumre 24 September 2022- 04 June 2024
Abdul Sattar
Additional charge 		04 June 2024- Incumbent

District Magistrate/Collector

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District Magistrate / Collector Aurangabad
Emblem of India
Incumbent
Deelip Swami (IAS)
ResidenceAt Aurangabad District
AppointerGovernment of Maharashtra
Term lengthNo time limit
Websiteaurangabad.gov.in/en/

Tourism

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See also: Tourism in Marathwada

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

Indian rock-cut architecture

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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.
    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.
    Buddhist "Chaitya Griha" (prayer hall) with a seated Buddha in Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.
  • Chaitya with stupa, Cave 4, Aurangabad Caves.
    Chaitya with stupa, Cave 4, Aurangabad Caves.
  • Various sculptors next to an entrance at Aurangabad Caves.
    Various sculptors next to an entrance at Aurangabad Caves.
  • Central pillar near Kailasa temple at Ellora Caves.
    Central pillar near Kailasa temple at Ellora Caves.
  • Statue of the Buddha seated. Part of the Carpenter's cave (Buddhist Cave 10).
    Statue of the Buddha seated. Part of the Carpenter's cave (Buddhist Cave 10).
  • Kailasa temple, Ellora, Aurangabad
    Kailasa temple, Ellora, Aurangabad
  • Buddhist monks praying in front of the Dagoba of Chaitya in Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.
    Buddhist monks praying in front of the Dagoba of Chaitya in Cave 26 of the Ajanta Caves.

Caves

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  • 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.[12] They contain various works of ancient Indian art, including paintings which are among the rarest and finest surviving examples of their era.[13] 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.[14] 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

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  • 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.[15]
  • The 250 year old Kachner Jain Temple is 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

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There are dozens of Hindu temples and shrines in the region.

  • Grishneshwar temple
  • Kailash temple, Ellora caves, Verul
  • Khadakeshwar temple.
  • Vitthal Mandir, Pandharpur, A'bad.
  • Renukamata mandir, Karnapura. Karnapura Temple.
  • Sansthan Ganapati mandir.
  • Siddhivinayak mandir.
  • Pavan Ganesh mandir.
  • Sai Tekadi (Hill).
  • Hanuman Tekadi (Hill).
  • Khandoba Mandir, Satara.
  • Bhadra Maruti Temple, Khuldabad.
  • Sant Dnyaneshwar Mandir, Paithan.
  • Eknath Maharaj Mandir, Paithan.
  • Savata Maharaj Mandir, Vaijapur.
  • Mahalakshmi Mandir, Vaijapur.
  • Virbhadra Temple, Vaijapur.
  • Sant Danshower Maharaj Sansthan.
  • Mhasoba Maharaj Mandir, Sillod.
  • Sindhi mandir, Sillod.
  • Shree Chakradhar Swami Mandir, Gangapur.
  • Panchavati Mahadev mandir, Gangapur.
  • Ekmukhi Datt Mandir, Gangapur.
  • Bhairavnath Mandir, Soegaon.
  • Munjoba mandir, Soegaon.
  • Mahamuni Agasti Maharaj Warkari Shikshan Sansthan, Soegaon.
  • Ram mandir, Kannad.
  • Bajarangbali mandir, Kannad.
  • Jagrut Siddhivinayak temple, Kannad.

Gates and forts

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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.[16]

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.[17]

Mughal architecture

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Other notable sites

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  • Panchakki was designed to generate energy from water flowing down a mountain. It displays the scientific thought process that guided medieval Indian architecture.
    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
    Salim Ali Lake
  • Siddharth Garden near a bus stand in Aurangabad
    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.[21][22][23]

Transportation

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Road

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

Rail

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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 (AWB to NED)(Nanded) or (AWB to CSTM )(Mumbai)(daily service)
  • Marathwada Express- (AWB to DAB)(Darmabad) or AWB To MMR(Manmad Jn) (daily service)
  • Sachkhand Express- (AWB to NED)(Nanded) or (AWB to ASR) Amritsar JN (daily service)

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Records, Official. "Per capita income of district of Maharashtra 2019-20". economy Department, Government of Maharashtra, India. Maharashtra Vidhanmanda. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  2. ^ Records, Official. "nominal gross district Domestic Product of Maharashtra 2019-20". economy Department, Government of Maharashtra, India. Maharashtra Vidhanmanda. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  3. ^ Urdu pronunciation:[ɔːɾəŋɡaːbaːd̪]
  4. ^ "Aurangabad formally renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Osmanabad as Dharashiv". Hindustan Times. 16 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "About District". District Aurangabad. Government of Maharashtra. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  6. ^ K.R. Aher and S.M. Deshpande 'Assessment of Water Quality of the Maniyad Reservoir of Parala Village, district Aurangabad: Suitability for Multipurpose Usage Vol.1(3), pp 91–95, 2011, E-ISSN 2249-8109.
  7. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  8. ^ a b "District Census Hand Book – Aurangabad" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  9. ^ a b "Population by Religion - Maharashtra". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Maharashtra". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  11. ^ "District wise List of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra website. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009.
  12. ^ "Indian Heritage – Ajanta Cave paintings – Period of Excavation, Patronage, Re-discovery". Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  13. ^ "Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  14. ^ "Ellora Caves, Maharashtra – Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Aurangabad". Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Daulatabad Fort – Ticketed Monument – Archaeological Survey of India". Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  18. ^ P., Bhaskar. "The Taj of Deccan". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Tomb of Aurangzeb" (PDF). Archaeological Survey of India, Aurangabad. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  20. ^ "India's 10 greatest warrior Emperors and Kings | All About History". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  21. ^ "वृक्ष, वन्यप्राण्यांचे सवंर्धन करा". Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  22. ^ "औरंगाबादच्या सिद्धार्थ उद्यानातील प्राणी संग्रहालय बंद होणार !". December 2018.
  23. ^ "Siddharth Garden Zoo". Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
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