Neighborhood

Location
Our hotel in Aurangabad, in the center of the downtown commercial and shopping hub

Located in the heart of Aurangabad, the hotel is a short journey from the legendary Ajanta and Ellora caves. The hotel is easily accessible from key manufacturing hubs like Chikalthana, Waluj, Chitegaon, Shendra and Paithan.

Airport and Railway Station

• Distance from airport 4 kms (approximately 10 minutes)
• Distance from railway station 8 kms (approximately 20 minutes)

Directions from Airport

Exit from the airport take a left on Jalna road until you reach Cidco bus stand chowk, go straight and take a u-turn from the High Court. Lemon Tree Hotel, Aurangabad will come up on the left before the signal at Cidco bus stand.

Corporations and Businesses nearby

• Manufacturing:
• Pharmaceuticals, steel recycling, auto parts, and beverage production (soft drinks and beer in particular) are major industries.
• The Shendra, Chikalthana and Waluj MIDC Industrial Areas are prominent industrial zones, with various major multinational groups having set up manufacturing or processing plants.
• Bajaj Auto, followed by Garware, Videocon set up huge plants in the Walunj area a couple of decades ago
• Soon to follow were some Pharma biggies in the Paithan area with the likes of Lupin setting up major Formulation and Research and Development facilities there.
• The station area as well as Chikalthana MIDC Industrial areas were also booming with the advent of ancillary suppliers.
• Companies like Johnson and Johnson, Hughes Telecom, Reliance Infocom (launching Wireless Local Loop), Wockhart and breweries like Fosters have set up shop in Aurangabad.
• The Maharashtra government has also set up a new STP (Software Technology Park).

Aurangabad as a Destination.

Aurangabad, commonly used as a base for a visit to the World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora is seeped in medieval history. Named after Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal Emperors, Aurangabad acquired plenty of monuments and a rich culture as its heritage from the middle ages. Under Aurangzeb, Aurangabad became the seat of the powerful Mughal Empire for a short while. The Mughal court moved to Aurangabad and remained there till his death. Built during his years in Aurangabad were such architectural gems as the Bibi-ka-Maqbara, a mausoleum with a marked resemblance to the Taj Mahal and a medieval watermill. Aurangabad became a thriving industrial centre with many fine academic institutions. Its textiles became much sought after and even today, the weavers of Aurangabad produce fine textiles like pathani, himroo and kimkhwab.

Aurangabad is said to be a 'City of Gates' as one can not miss the strong presence of these as one drives through the city. The entire city of Aurangabad was fortified and huge entrance gates were erected. The gates of prime importance were the ones facing the four directions, Delhi Gate facing the North, Paithan gate facing South, Makai Gate (Mecca Gate) facing East and the Khas Gate facing the West. Out of 54 gates only 13 have survived over the period of time.

However, step into the city of Aurangabad and you wonder whether you are in the local version of Lucknow. The influence of Nizamshahi and the easygoing lifestyle that came along with it has not yet completely disappeared. The minarets, maqbaras and the numerous bazaars dotting the cityscape lend a very distinctive touch to the older parts of the city as also the trademark Indian congestion, traffic, chaos, and the various flea markets and Meena Bazaars.
Local Attractions. Aurangabad is the hub for the world heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora.

Nearby Cities

• Daulatabad -- 13 kms
• Ellora caves -- 30 kms
• Paithan -- 56 kms
• Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary -- 70 kms
• Pitalkhora -- 78 kms
• Ajanta caves -- 99 kms

• The Ajanta caves depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 B.C. and 650 A.D. These caves were discovered in the 19th century by some British Officers who had been on a tiger hunt. These 29 caves were built by Buddhist monks using simple tools like hammer & chisel. These caves were the retreats of Buddhist monks who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning. The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales.
• The Ellora (Verul) Caves have been carved during 350 A.D. to 700 A.D. these structures represent the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These caves 34 in number are located 29 km. from Aurangabad. They are fascinating and the finest example of cave temple architecture housing elaborate facades and exquisite interiors. The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are Jain. Without a doubt, the rock-cut monuments at Ajanta and Ellora are the prime attraction for people visiting Aurangabad. Both these architectural marvels figure on the World Heritage list.
• Lonar: This is site of a meteor which crashed on earth some 50,000 years ago and formed a large crater (few hundred meters in diameter).
• Paithan: Paithan is an ancient taluka town well known for its exquisite saris. It was a trade centre earlier and also the capital of the Satavahanas. MSSIDC (Maharashtra Small Scale Industrial Development Corporation) has a weaving centre where the traditional art is still practiced. It has formed a very important excavation site recently. Of the few attractions found nearby, the Jayakwadi dam is a treat to the eyes of the avid bird watchers. Next is the Dnyaneshwar Udyan, which is supposedly Maharashtra's largest garden planned and landscaped on the lines of the Vrindavan gardens at Mysore.
• Daulatabad: Daulatabad, earlier known as Devgiri, is known as the city of fortune. It houses a stupendous 12th century fortress atop a charming hill. This invincible fortress boasts of a 5 kilometer sturdy wall and an intricate series of ramparts.
• Siddharth Garden is a beautiful landscaped garden. There is a small aquarium inside the garden, however the biggest attraction is the Siddharth Garden Zoo, with a variety of animals i.e. lions, tigers (White Bengal), leopards, crocodiles, snakes (snake-house), civet cats, hyena, fox, porcupine, emu, deer.
• Bibi ka Maqbara: A replica of the Taj Mahal, the Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the only example of Mughal architecture of its kind in the Deccan plateau. It was built in 1679 by Aurangzeb's son, in tribute to his mother, Begum Rabia Durani. Close to the begum's tomb is the unmarked grave of her devoted nurse.
• Aurangabad Caves: The caves lie just outside the city and are believed to have been excavated between the 2nd and the 6th century. They house the most stunningly intricate carvings. There are nine caves in all, most of them being the viharas. The 4th cave stands well supported on 12 columns carved with scenes depicting the stories from the Jataka tales, whereas the 7th cave is embedded with carvings of women, adorned with jewels. The main attraction is the sculpture of a 'Bodhisatva' praying for deliverance.
• Panchakki: Pan Chakki is a 17th century water mill. The name has been derived from the mill that crushed grain for the pilgrims. There is a picturesque garden here that houses several beautiful fish tanks and it plays abode to the memorial of a Sufi Saint. It is an interesting water-powered flourmill built in the 17th century, an engineering masterpiece of its day. The water is pumped from a reservoir 6 km away into a tank, that today houses entire shoals of khol fish. It lies in the same complex as a memorial to the Sufi saint Baba Shah Muzaffar, Aurangzeb's spiritual guide.
• Ghrishneshwar temple is half a kilometer from the Ellora Caves. It is an 18th century temple that presents outstanding architecture and carving. This place forms one of the five Jyotirlinga sites in Maharashtra where Lord Shiva is worshipped.
• Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary is a dense forest reserve, with rare flora and fauna. Home to leopards, bears, wolves, hyenas, jackals, flying squirrels and 85 different species of colorful birds.
• Pitalkhora lies peacefully nestled in the Satmala ranges of the Sahyadris, at a distance of 78 kilometers from Aurangabad. There are 13 cave sanctuaries embedded in this region. These monasteries date back from 2nd century BC to 5th century AD. Rich carvings with elaborate details can be seen in these monuments.