Historical

When Nizam Ali Khan was at Aurangabad, he occupied the Naukonda Palace. The whole building is in ruins now. The palace consists of 5 zananas. It also consists a Dewan-i-Am, a Dewan-i-Khas, a masjid and a Kachari. Each section of the palace is provided with a garden and a water tank.

The central part of the palace is in a good state. Also a hamam meaning hot bath which is attached to the palace is also in a fine shape. The wood work and the ornament plaster are missing. The kachari consists a gadi of the Nizams.

Aurangzeb in the year 1692 had ordered to built a palace. This palace is called the Killa Arak. The ruins of the Killa Arak extend from Delhi to Mecca gate.

The Killa Arak has 4 entrances and a Nakarkhana for musicians. The Dabar hall and the Jumma Masjid are the only remains which are of some interest.

For the intentions of sport a piece of ground which is close to the masjid was walled. The gate to the ground bears an inscription which dates back to 1659 AD.

The monument Bibi Ka Maqbara was built in 1679 AD by Aurangzeb’s son. He built it in memory of his mother Rabia. Ata Ullah was the architect and he based the design on the Taj Mahal. Aurangzeb's son Azan Shah has built as a tribute to his mother Begum Rabia Durani, Bibi ka Maqbara is the most visited attraction in aurangabad city. The elegant structure and exquisite marble carvings make the locals to call it twin Taj Mahal. The entire structure in not in marble.

The memorial is built of sandstone with plastered walls and has a marble dome. It has an flowery wall around with an entrance which provides the best view of the memorial. The enclosure of the tomb is made of marble and is octagonal.

The ruins of Aurangabad are a place of interest to romantic tourists. The ruins have more than a ghastly interest.

The Baradari Iwaz Khan Aqueduct is also a place of ruins in Aurangabad. Only rubbles of this complex remains. The years have beaten-up the walls. The force of the attacks of the Marathas also have to an extend played a role in battering up the walls.

The Baradari Iwaz Khan Aqueduct shows the style of architecture and now it is also in a state of ruins in the present days.

The Madhavgad Fort gives good views of the surrounding forests. The fort can be reached only from the northern side. It gives a terrific view of the Konkan and the Arabian Sea.

The Madhavgad Fort is 4 times the size of Shaniwarwada in Pune. It is in a state of ruins in the present days. It is a memorial on the main road. The fort gives us an idea of the war that took place in the olden days. On one of the tombstone an inscription can be seen that ‘only one British soldier died in the battle.’

At a distance of 300 meters from Khanderi is the fort of Undheri which is an island fort. It was built by Siddi Qasam in 1680. The fort changed hands from the Siddis, Peshwas, Angres and the British. The visitors can hire local thal fishing boats to visit the fort.

The Kolaba Fort was constructed by Shivaji Maharaj. It is located 2 km inside the sea. Visitors can visit the fort only during low tide.

The fort consists of sweet water well in the middle. There are many temples and fortifications along guns which face the sea. The fort is 300 years old.

Carvings of tigers, peacocks, and elephants on the entrance arch can be seen. Near the gate there are shrines of Mahishasura and Padmavathi and other gods along with fort deity. A Ganesha temple was built in front of the sweet water tank in 1759.

The Khanderi Fort is 3-4 km into the sea from Thai beach. The fort was built in the year 1678. The Fort stands on a small island. A lighthouse was constructed later on. The fort was under the British control for a long time.

The various attempts made by the British to capture the island fort of Khanderi were not fruitful till the year 1750. The Fort was finally handed over to the British as part of the Peshwa territory.

Today the Khanderi Fort is under Bombay Port trust administration. The fort can be visited in local boats with the permission of the Bombay port trust.

This magnificent establishment is located at an altitude of 2,600 m and is visited by many a tourist. It is an assortment of houses encircled by beautiful fields and orchards.