Tourism in Marathwada

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Kailashanatha Temple in Ellora Caves

Tourism in Marathwada refers to tourism in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state of India. Aurangabad city is a regional headquarter of Marathwada and tourism capital of Maharashtra state.[1] Out of 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra, 2 of them are in Marathwada.[2][3][4] Also there are 110 monuments in Marathwada which are protected by Government of Maharashtra and recognized by Archaeological Survey of India.[5] Marathwada is also important region for Religious tourism, out of 12 Jyotirlingas of Hindu God Shiva, 3 are in Marathwada.[6] Hazur Sahib Nanded is the second holiest place in Sikhism after Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) of Amritsir.[7] There are also sufi shrines in Marathwada, most famous among them is Turabul Haq Dargah at Parbhani where thousands of people of all religion visits dargah annually.[8][9][10][11][12] Pathri in Parbhani district is birthplace of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Sai Baba Birth Temple in Pathri is one of major religious tourism place in Marathwada.

Caves[]

Pitalkhora Caves: This colorful Buddhist caves are 17 Km away Kannad Town. It is carved in 1 century and is first cave in Asia.

  • : Rohilagad Caves are very beautiful for visit.in Rohilagad 3 Caves available for see. Rohilagad is only 44 km from aurangabad.and 45 km from Jalna, dates back Satvahan yug, many art were added to Rohilagad samrajya.the sculptures of Rohilagad, considered masterpieces of Hindu religious art.
  • Ajanta Caves: Ajanta Caves are UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.), many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art.[3]
  • Ellora Caves: Ellora Caves are UNESCO World Heritage Site, dates back to 600 AD to 1000 AD, its sanctuaries are devoted to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. UNESCO described it as "it illustrates the spirit of tolerance that was characteristic of ancient India".[4]
  • Aurangabad Caves: 3rd century 12 Buddhist Caves in campus of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University , Aurangabad.[13]
  • Ghatotkacha Cave: In Aurangabad.
  • Jogeshwari Caves: In Aurangabad.
  • Rudreshwar Caves: In Aurangabad district.
  • Kharosa Caves: In Latur district
  • Shivleni Caves: In Ambajogai, Beed district
  • Bhokardan Caves: In Bhokardan, Jalna district.
  • Pandava Caves: In Nanded district.
  • Brahmani Caves: In Nanded district.
  • Dharashiv Caves: Dharashiv caves are the nexus of 7 caves located 8 km away from Osmanabad city in Balaghat mountains.[14][15][16] The caves were taken note by Archaeological Department of India and mentioned in the book Archaeological survey of India by James Burges.[17] Dharashiv Caves have been declared as Protected area by Government of Maharashtra.[18]

  • Ajanta Caves view from nearby hill.

  • Entrance of Cave 19 of Ajanta.

  • The Buddha in a preaching pose flanked by bodhisattvas, Cave 4, Ajanta

  • Cave 10 of Ellora Caves

  • Indra Sabha, Ellora Caves

  • Cave 21 of Ellora

  • A Jain cave in Ellora.

  • Art in Aurangabad Caves.

  • Shivleni Caves in Ambajogai, Beed district.

Religious tourism[]

Hindu temples[]

Jyotirlingas are known as "Sign of God Shiva". These are mentioned in Shiva Purana. It is believed that Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the Aridra Nakshatra, thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment. Though contested with other claimants elsewhere for each of these, there are the following Jyotirlingas in Marathwada.

other two Jyothirlings, Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple are in Maharashtra state, close to Marathwada.

Other major temples

  • Tulja Bhavani Temple: Located in Tuljapur, Osmanabad district, it is considered[by whom?] as one of 51 Shakti Peethas and one among the Saadeteen (3.5) Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra. Shakti Pitha is a place to worship various forms of goddess Shakti.
  • Renuka Devi temple : Located in Mahur, Nanded district, it is also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and one among the Saadeteen (3.5) Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra.
  • Ambajogai/Yogeshwari Temple: In .
  • Kailasa temple, Ellora: In Aurangabad district is one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples. It was built by the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I.
  • : In Jalna district, It is a one of complete peethas of lord Ganesha situated on hill in Rajur.

on Angaraki Chaturthi most of devotees visit the temple.

  • Sai Baba Birth Temple, Pathri: It is a birthplace of Indian spiritual master Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Sikh gurudwaras[]

Tourism in Marathwada is located in India
Akal Takht Sahib
Akal Takht Sahib
Damdama Sahib
Damdama Sahib
Keshgarh Sahib
Keshgarh Sahib
Hazur Sahib Nanded
Hazur Sahib Nanded
Patna Sahib
Patna Sahib
Location of five Takhts of Sikhism in India.

Marathwada has been the 2nd most visited region by Sikhs in India after Punjab. Central Gurudwara in Marathwada is Hazur Sahib Nanded. Nanded has been associated with the first and the last of the Sikh Gurus. While Guru Nanak Dev passed through it during his extensive travels which took him as far south as Sri Lanka, Guru Gobind Singh spent his last years in Nanded. Bhai Daya Singh who is among Panj Pyare of Sikhism, lived in Aurangabad and Gurdwara named Gurdwara Bhai Daya Singh is established in Aurangabad which is visited by large number of Sikhs.[19]

Following are the major Gurdwaras in Marathwada:

  • Hazur Sahib Nanded: It is most sacred takht among Panj Takht of Sikhism.[20] It is known for annual event in November Guru Gaddi which marks establishment of Guru Granth Sahib as permanent Guru by 10th Guru Guru Gobind Singh. In 2008 on 300th anniversary of establishment of Guru Granth Sahib thousands of followers visited Gurdwara.[21][22]
  • Gurdwara Bhai Daya Singh: Gurudwara related to Daya Singh is in Aurangabad.
  • Gurdwara Nagina Ghat Sahib: Gurudwara is on river bank in Nanded.
  • Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur Ghat: Iis in Nanded, it is the place where Banda Singh Bahadur lived.
  • Gurdwara Hira Ghat Sahib: It is the place where Guru Gobind Singh first pitched his tent in Nanded on banks of Godavari river.
  • Gurdwara Mata Sahib
  • Gurdwara Shikar Ghat Sahib
  • Gurdwara Mal Tekari Sahib
  • Gurdwara Sangat Sahib

  • Hazur Sahib Nanded

  • Interior of Hazur Sahib

Islamic places[]

Main article: Sufi saints of Aurangabad

In history Marathwada was part of Mughal empire and Nizam of Hyderabad. Marathwada has its own Islamic heritage in the form of art and culture.

Following are some of important Sufism and Muslim leaders related places in Marathwada.

  • Tomb of Aurangzeb in Khuldabad.

  • Zainuddin Shirzai Maqbara, Khuldabad.

  • Panchakki, Dargah Baba Shah Mosafar 1880s.

  • Tomb of Zar Zari Zar Baksh, Khuldabad, 1890s.

  • Tomb of Sayyid Burhan-ud-din, Khuldabad

  • Tomb of Malik Ambar, Khuldabad

  • Shrine of Turabul Haq Dargah in Parbhani.

  • 108-year-old annual Parbhani festival at Turabul Haq Dargah.

Monuments and forts[]

Main articles: List of State Protected Monuments in Maharashtra; Gates in Aurangabad, Maharashtra; and List of Monuments of National Importance in Aurangabad circle

There are 110 state protected monuments in Marathwada out of total 244 state protected monuments in Maharashtra state.[23]

Following are some of monuments.

  • Bird eye view of Bibi Ka Maqbara in Aurangabad.

  • Main entrance of Naldurg Fort in Osmanabad

  • Bhadkal Gate in Aurangabad

  • Mecca Gate in Aurangabad

  • Daulatabad (Deogiri) Fort

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Forbes India Magazine - The Value Hunters of Aurangabad". Forbesindia.com. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. ^ "MAHARASHTRA TOURISM, The Official Website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. - WorldHeritage". Maharashtratourism.gov.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. ^ a b UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Ajanta Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  4. ^ a b UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Ellora Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. ^ "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Arunachal Pradesh - Archaeological Survey of India". Asi.nic.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. ^ "12 JyotirLinga Temples of Lord Shankar - Location, Significance, & Information about Jyotirling". Shaivam.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. ^ "MAHARASHTRA TOURISM, The Official Website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. - Sikh_Identity". Maharashtratourism.gov.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Parbhani, India". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.hoparoundindia.com/maharashtra/Parbhani-attractions-history-of/Hazarat-Turabul-Haq-Shah-Dargah.aspx
  10. ^ "सय्यद शाह तुराबुल हक साहेब (फोटो फिचर)". Sakal (in Marathi). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  11. ^ http://www.holidayiq.com/Hazarat-Turabul-Haq-Shah-Dargah-Parbhani-Sightseeing-1042-15240.html
  12. ^ "उरुस". Ekmat. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Aurangabad Caves". ASI. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Dharashiv caves". osmanabad online. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Osmanabad". Incredible India. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  16. ^ "दयनीय अवस्थेत धाराशीव लेण्या!". Sakal (in Marathi). 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Dharashiv Caves - Historical Background". Osmanabad. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  18. ^ "ऐतिहासिक धाराशिव लेण्यांचे अस्तित्व धोक्यात" (in Marathi). Lokmat. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Gurdwaras in Marathwada". gurbaani. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Nanded set for tercentenary of Guru Granth Sahib". The Hindu. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Grand celebrations for Guru-da-Gaddi in Nanded". 26 October 2008.
  22. ^ "Nanded will become world famous due to Guru-da-Gaddi: Deshmukh".
  23. ^ "Protected Monuments". ASI. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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