Aurangabad to Gwalior Flights

  About Aurangabad

Aurangabad is a popular tourist destination in Maharashtra, especially because of the Ajanta and Ellora caves. The caves have been appointed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1983. You would also want to check out the Aurangabad caves. They are not as popular as the Ajanta and Ellora caves, and they are totally worth visiting. The caves were carved out of soft rocks in the fifth-sixth century. The city was initially called Khadki which was later changed to Fatehnagar after Fateh Khan, who ruled the city then. The city got its name, Aurangabad, after Mughal Prince Aurangzeb was made the Viceroy for the second time. Interesting fact: Aurangabad was a part of Hyderabad until 1956. It was during this year that the city was officially declared as a part of Maharashtra.

Apart from the caves, the city is also popular for Bibi Ka Maqbara, which is also known as the second Taj Mahal of India. The mausoleum is a tomb that was made for Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's first wife Dilras Banu Begum who was called Rabia Daurani posthumously. The two of them had five kids together, and sadly, she passed away a month after delivering their fifth child, due to complications that came with the delivery. A grief-stricken Aurangzeb later decided to create a mausoleum as the final resting place of Rabia Daurani and called it Bibi Ka Maqbara which translates to Tomb of the Lady.

The city also boasts of several temples like the Bhadri Maruti Temple and Jyothirlinga Grishneshwar temple. The latter is believed to be one of the last Jyotirlinga temples in the world. Apart from these, there is also the Daulatabad Fort and a couple of gardens that were made during the Mughal era that you can visit. Aurangabad is one of the most notable tourist hubs in Maharashtra, and you will not regret it one bit. Not to mention, you can treat yourself to the best Maharashtrian food in the city. A delicious Maharashtrian Thali for lunch and some moong dal pakoda is just what you need to make your day.

Another interesting fact about Aurangabad is how the place was called the City of Gates since it boasted of 52 gates, out of which only four have survived now. Bhadkal Gate is one of the oldest, biggest gates that has survived and you'll come across it near the Naukhanda Palace of Nizams.

Best Time to Visit Aurangabad

The city experiences summer from March to May. The maximum temperature during summer is 31 degrees Celsius, and it's not too hot, but tourists avoid travelling to Aurangabad during this season. Monsoon hits the city from June to September. It doesn't rain too heavily, but it wouldn't hurt to carry an extra umbrella or raincoat. Winters are quite pleasant and start from October through February. Winter is also the best time to visit the city, and you'll have an enjoyable trip at all of the places you choose to visit during this time.

Places to Visit in Aurangabad

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are one of the most important places to visit in Aurangabad. The Ajanta caves depict the artistry of the Buddhist monks who used simple tools to paint and sculpt stories from the Jataka Tales. While you'll find a lot of stories carved on the caves at Ajanta, the Ellora caves throw light on three religions, namely Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. The intricate work on the walls of the caves will surely leave you speechless. You will be mesmerised by the beauty of these caves.

Aurangabad has a lot of stories to tell from the past right from its inception. Visit the Naukhanda Palace of Nizams to find out more about the lifestyle of the royals who lived here. You can also visit the Bhadkal gate, one of the four gates (of 52 total) that have survived now. The Bibi Ka Maqbara, also popularly known as India's second Taj Mahal, is a popular tourist attraction of the city. It depicts Aurangzeb's love for his first wife and chief consort, Rabia Daurani. The tomb is her final resting place and was completed three years after her demise. You can also visit the Siddharth Garden Zoo. You will find wild animals like crocodiles, hyenas, snakes and much more. Take this opportunity and pack a picnic basket to make a fun memory of a picnic in the garden with your family.

Embrace your spiritual side at the Bhadra Maruti temple, which was made to worship Lord Hanuman and the Jyotirlinga Grishneshwar temple where you can offer prayers to Lord Shiva and other Gods and Goddesses. It is the last of the Jyotirlinga temples in the world. It's popular among pilgrims, too. Closer to the Ellora caves, you'll also find the Valley of the Sufi Saints which is the resting place of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb and a lot of other Sufi saints. It's a holy shrine built in their honour. It's not very difficult to reach here. You'll easily find a bus, taxi or a rickshaw that will drop you to the Valley of the Sufi Saints.

Things to do in Aurangabad

You can take a bus or hire a taxi to reach the Ajanta and Ellora caves from Aurangabad. You'll also find quite a lot of tour guides in the area who will tell you tales of every carving and every cave that you visit here. Just a fair warning, there might be a few caves with an overwhelming smell since these have bats living in them. It's also known to be one of the best places to take loads of pictures. You can either make use of your photography skills to get more likes and followers on Instagram or make memories with all the selfies you take with your family or friends. It would be best if you also tried the thali at Bhoj, one of the most popular restaurants in the city. You can also visit the Shrimant Chatrapathi Shivaji Museum. Be amazed to look at a 500-year-old war suit and 400-year-old Paithani sari and lots of other artefacts that are from the Mughal era and of the Marathas.

Make sure you do visit the Bibi Ka Maqbara. Though it's not as popular as the Taj Mahal, the designs and structure are quite similar to it. Aurangabad also has a lot of upcoming and new places for the youngsters to go chill or party. You'll find a lot of hip restaurants and party spots in the city, too. Though they are not widely popular yet. Aurangabad also has an amusement park that goes by the name H20 Water Park. Spend an entire day with your family or friends. This place is a delight to all the water babies who love floating on tubes or getting on those fun water slides.

Food and Restaurants in Aurangabad

You'll find everything that you feel like eating in Aurangabad. While there are places that serve traditional Mughlai and Maharashtrian food, there are also restaurants that specialise in continental, Chinese and other types of foods that you love. Bhoj Thali Restaurant is one of the most popular places in the city. You must eat here at least once before you leave the city. The Green Leaf restaurant is yet another place that has gained popularity over time. You must try the rabdi jalebis here.

Yalla Yalla is a new restaurant that has become a rage among the locals and tourists, too. It specialises in North Indian food and is like heaven for non-vegetarians. The achari chicken, prawn koliwadas and the mutton dum biryani are only some of the most popular dishes in this restaurant. Don't hesitate to try the street food in the city. Grab a plate of moong dal pakodas with a glass of chai to add to a perfect evening.

How to reach Aurangabad (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is the Aurangabad airport, and the flight connectivity to and from Aurangabad to all the major cities is also impeccable. However, you will not find a direct international flight from here and will probably have to figure out which city you want a connecting flight from. It's easier to get cheap flight tickets to Aurangabad from the major cities of India like Delhi, Udaipur, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Pune and Nagpur.

By Rail

The Aurangabad railway station is well-connected with all of the major cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune, Amritsar, Madurai, Bhopal, Chennai, Rajkot and so on. Trains run to and from Aurangabad’s domestic routes quite regularly, and it will not be difficult for you to get the train tickets. You won't even have to wait a lot to get your tickets to or from the city.

By Road

Government and private buses are running to and from the city. You'll also get AC buses that run from major cities that stop at either Central Bus station or the CIDCO bus station in Aurangabad. The two bus stops are 6 km apart, and you can pick whichever one is closest to and can further book your hotel room in Aurangabad.

  About Gwalior

Gwalior is known to be one of the major cities in Madhya Pradesh with pivotal cultural and political significance. The city is illustrious concerning the history, culture and royal appeal. The city has seen rulers from the 13th-century Tomars to the Mughal Empire to the Marathas to the 18th-century Scindias. Although the Scindias do not rule the city of Gwalior anymore, the descendants of the royal family continue to stay in the palace built by their ancestors. Gwalior easily becomes one of the most important as well as developed cities in India.

Best time to visit Gwalior

Gwalior sees cool winters as the temperatures range around 25 degrees Celsius but can even go to subzero levels. Thanks to such temperatures, the air is cool, and the vibe is quite pleasant. This makes it one of the best seasons to visit the city. Pick any months from October to March, and you'll have a good time in Gwalior. Between November and December, there is a lovely Tandem Music Festival that takes place to celebrate classical music. If you are a music enthusiast who would enjoy some classical tunes, then you should opt for these months.

Gwalior has a reputation for enjoying a subtropical climate. This means the atmosphere is hot and mildly humid as well. It does increase during monsoon, though. As the heavy rains take over the streets of Gwalior, the humidity in the air also escalates to an unbearable level. The temperatures too see an erratic change as it ranges between 25 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. If you can handle the humidity then going to Gwalior would be fun.

Summers are the worst in Gwalior as the temperatures skyrocket to 48 degrees Celsius, which is pretty bad. People have often succumbed to heat strokes and other such health hazards. Even though the flight tickets are cheap as it is off-season, avoid going to Gwalior during this time unless you have some professional commitment that needs to be addressed. For tourism, summers aren't the best.

Places to visit in Gwalior

Gwalior Fort

One of the most impressive attractions in Gwalior is the Gwalior Fort. The structure is visible from all corners of the city, much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Perched over a high cliff, the impenetrable fortress stares down at the beautiful city of Gwalior. It'll take you an entire day to complete a tour of the fort but the time will undoubtedly be worth it.

Jai Vilas Palace

Built by Jayaji Rao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, the Jai Vilas Palace came into existence to flaunt the opulent culture and heritage of Madhya Pradesh. While the descendants of the royal family continue to live in the majestic palace, there is a segment that is open for tourism. The state has also installed a museum within the palace premise which sheds light on the history and British influence as well.

Man Mandir Palace

Man Mandir Palace is built within the vicinity of Jai Vilas Palace, by Man Singh Tomar. Although, some segments of the palace have turned into ruins, nevertheless, there are some relics of the royal Tomars, who lived in the palace. The structure should definitely be explored as it offers a glimpse at some fun history.

Teli Ka Mandir

Teli Ka Mandir is another important tourist attraction that should be visited in Gwalior. The Hindu temple has some illustrious architecture with an amalgam of inspirations from North as well as South. The temple is built for Lord Vishnu. It is said that the temple grounds were used to process oil, which is how the temple got its name.

Sun Temple

The famed Sun Temple is located in the city of Gwalior. The temple was constructed by industrialist GD Birla in 1988 and has since been a tourist place that attracts many devotees. Be it the architectural bliss and the tranquil environment that the temple possesses, it manages to see a lot of ardent followers of Sun God, who visit the place to seek blessings.

Tomb of Mohammad Ghaus

Mohammad Ghaus was a 26th-century Sufi saint who played an advisor to King Babur as well as helped train Tansen, who went ahead to become a music prodigy. The tomb has been built in honour of the Saint who played a pivotal role during King Babur's rule. Hence, the architectural style of the tomb is very Mughal-inspired and continues to see tremendous visitors.

Things to do in Gwalior

Explore the Scindia Museum

Take a tour through the quaint European-style Scindia Museum to learn more about the Gwalior history. There are glass furniture's, model trains and exhibitions of intriguing artefacts from the Scindia Dynasty that you'll find in the museum. Take this time to delve into the history and learn and the cultural heritage of the royal family.

Langar at the Gurdwara Bandi Chor Sahib

Aside from being a spiritual expedition, the biggest highlight of gurdwaras is the lovely langars that the authorities host to ensure that no person leaves the premise hungry. While you learn about the sixth guru of the Sikhs at the Gurdwara, you can further enjoy the delicious Langar food too.

Shopping spree at Sarafa Bazaar

Gwalior's famous market place, Sarafa Bazaar, beckons all shopaholics to come over and peruse through the authentic collection of souvenirs, collectibles, clothes and other such commodities. What makes the shopping experience engaging is how you can also indulge in some street food while you're purchasing beautiful things from the marketplace.

Stroll around Phool Bagh

The garden was originally built by Madho Rao Scindia and later inaugurated by the Prince of Wales during his visit in 1922, the vicinity has a sacred space dedicated to prayers. While the premise of the Phool Bagh is beautiful owing to the plants and flowers, it will also put you in a state of happy trance as it also boasts tranquillity.

Food and Restaurants in Gwalior

Gwalior's restaurants have managed to find fame in some of the big metropolitan cities. For an exquisite thali venerating the cuisine of MP, visit Panchvati Gaurav. They only serve thalis with unlimited refills. You will ask for more as the thali has some of the finest dishes from the laps of Madhya Pradesh. Moti Mahal Deluxe is another famous restaurant in Gwalior that offers some of the best delicacies in the city. Similar to Panchvati Gaurav is the Rajasthani Bhojanalaya, where you will get the authentic cuisine of the desert state of India.

Stuff yourself with the lip-smacking daal bhati churma, various flavours of daal, jalebi with rabdi and many such flavourful dishes. Other venerated restaurants with a strong legacy in Gwalior include The Mansingh, Alfanzo and Volga Restaurant that had consistently kept customers happy.

How to reach Gwalior

By Air

Rajamata Vijaya Raje Scindia Airport, or better known as Gwalior Airport, is actually an Indian Air Force Base which was later converted into a commercial airport. Intending to enhance the connectivity of the state of Madhya Pradesh, the state government transformed the essential Air Force Base station into an airport. This has actually helped better the flight connectivity to and from Gwalior. Although an Air Force Base stationing Mirage fighters is also prevalent in the area, the bigger expanse has been given to the airport.

Various domestic airlines fly via domestic routes connect Gwalior to big cities in India. While Air India has flights to and from Delhi, Mumbai and Indore, SpiceJet has dedicated flights flying to and from Bangalore, Jammu, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Overall, exceptional flight connectivity makes it easier to travel to Gwalior. One can book flight tickets to Gwalior for a cheap and affordable rate. Peruse a little more, and you will be able to snag some online flight deals for your flight tickets to Gwalior.

By Rail

Just like the flight connectivity, Gwalior' railway is also well-connected across the country. There are dedicated direct trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jammu Amritsar, Kanyakumari, Patna, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Dehradun, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and more major cities. The Gwalior Railway station falls under the jurisdiction of Jhansi Rail Division and is one of the major railway stations in Madhya Pradesh.

Getting ticket reservations is a little tough as the line is busy and always on demand. Nevertheless, trains are an easy way to reach Gwalior, and they are comfortable as well. From the railway station, you can easily venture into the city as there are auto-rickshaws, auto tempos, prepaid taxi cabs and more available. The city is entirely developed with fancy hotels to book. Make your hotel bookings ahead of the travel though.

By Road

The big city of Gwalior has impeccable roadway network too. The National Express Highway as well as the National Highway 3 (famously known as the Agra-Mumbai road) help connect Gwalior to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Indore and Agra. There are many bus services, both state-owned and private, that run within the city. However, the roadway could get time-consuming and hence isn't always the first option.