(You’ll find links to all parts of this Maharashtra tour series at the end of this post.)
SUNDAY, MAY 11
We reached Aurangabad Railway Station at 8.15 am — three hours behind schedule. Our train had left Pune late last night due to the delay of the incoming train, but the journey was smooth and comfortable.
Interestingly, while the city's name was changed to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in 2023, the railway station still retains the old name.
Our hotel was just under a kilometre away, so we decided to walk. The roads were quiet, and the morning sun was already making its presence felt.
Once, this was the capital
Sambhaji Nagar is the largest city in the Marathwada region and the fifth-most populous in Maharashtra, after Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik. Located on hilly upland terrain, it has a population of over 1.1 million.
This city is steeped in history. It has seen many rulers over the centuries. During the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, the capital was briefly moved to nearby Daulatabad, which is now a part of Sambhaji Nagar.
Later, in 1636, Aurangzeb — then the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan — annexed the city into the Mughal Empire. He renamed it Aurangabad in 1653 and made it the capital of the Deccan region.
In those times, the city had 54 suburbs within its walls. The most prominent among them were Begumpura and Aurangpura. The city also had 54 gates, serving as protective arches -- only a few can be seen today.
Meeting my Hindi teacher
After freshening up, my friend came to pick us up at 9.30 am. We visited his home for breakfast.
This friend is the brother of our friends from Pune, with whom we had dinner on the 9th. Their father, our Hindi teacher from school, now lives here, their ancestral place.
It was a joy to meet Sir and his lovely family—his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. For breakfast, we had a traditional Maharashtrian dish called Thaalipeeth, served with butter, ghee, curd and payasam. A hot cup of tea followed. It was a heavy and satisfying meal.
We sat for a while, chatting and remembering our school days. Teachers like him shaped our lives in many ways, and we owe them a great deal.
After returning to the hotel in the afternoon, we took some much-needed rest. The overnight train journey and the blazing summer heat — around 40°C — had taken a toll on us.
Siddharth Garden and Zoo
By 5.30 pm, we headed out to Siddharth Garden and Zoo, located about 3 km from the railway station. I’ve always enjoyed watching animals and birds, and it was nice to see that many animals here, like tigers and leopards, were kept in open enclosures, not cages.
The place is well-maintained and quite vast. The lush green lawns, flowering plants, and majestic trees made for a peaceful setting.
Being a Sunday, it was crowded, with children making up much of the lively crowd. The garden is a favourite among joggers, photographers, and nature lovers.
The zoo has a good collection of animals — tigers, leopards, civet cats, snakes, crocodiles, foxes, deer, etc. There is even an aquarium with a colourful variety of fish. We also saw a large Buddha statue being decorated, ahead of Buddha Jayanti celebrations tomorrow.
After a light dinner, we returned to the hotel and called it a day.
Preparing for tomorrow
Tomorrow will be a day of sightseeing. Since it's summer, we plan to set out quite early, maybe around 6 am.
Hopefully, the climate change phenomenon will work in our favour, with maybe even an unexpected summer shower to bring the temperature down.
Either way, we’re looking forward to exploring the historical treasures of this fascinating city.
(To be continued)
Maharashtra tour 2025 series
Day 1 - May 6 - Chugging along to Pune
Day 2 - May 7 - Pune - News, nuisance, and festivities
Day 3 - May 8 - Pune - A day of mixed emotions
Day 4 - May 9 - Pune - History, temple, and reminiscences
Day 5 - May 10 - Pune - Whirlwind tour and news flash
Day 6 - May 11 - Sambhaji Nagar - A special breakfast and a tryst with nature
Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Ellora Caves
Day 7 - May 12 - Sambhaji Nagar - Paithani saris, Bibi Ka Maqbara
Wow, it sounds like you had a great time. You saw a lot.
ReplyDeleteYou're certainly getting to see the sights and getting a nice mix of activities into your day Pradeep. I hope your early start pays off with the weather.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tour you have been having... and I swear I can taste the thaalipeeth! YAM xx
It must have been so nice to meet your former teacher. Some teachers stick in our minds, not necessarily because they were great teachers, but there was a sincerity about them. I afraid I could not be a tourist in 40 degree heat, but you are seeing such wonderful places.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right Andrew about teachers. Regarding heat, we kept our fingers crossed. My travel diary on the remaining days of the tour is coming up. Thanks for reading and commenting.
DeleteSounds like you are having a great time
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. It has been a smooth trip so far!
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