Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly known as Aurangabad) is the tourism capital of Maharashtra. The city is a historical crossroads, having been built, contested, and embellished by multiple dynasties over thousands of years.
Chronological History
The city’s history functions like layers of a palimpsest, changing hands and names as different empires rose and fell across the Deccan plateau.
The Ancient Era & Caves
2nd Century BCE – 10th Century CE
The region thrived under the Satavahana dynasty (with their nearby capital at Pratishthan, modern-day Paithan). Wealthy Buddhist communities, merchants, and patron kings began excavating the magnificent Ajanta and Ellora Caves along major ancient trade routes.
Yadava Rule & Devgiri
1187 – 1317 CE
The Yadavas of Devgiri established their capital nearby, building an extraordinarily strong hill citadel—the Devgiri Fort. Their reign ended abruptly with the historic invasions by Alauddin Khilji and the Delhi Sultanate.
The Founding of ‘Khadki’
1610 CE
Malik Ambar, a brilliant military commander and Prime Minister of the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmednagar, founded the actual city on the site of a village called Khadki. He introduced an ingenious underground water canal network known as Nahar-e-Ambari to support the new town.
Mughal Powerhouse & Aurangabad
1653 – 1707 CE
Mughal Prince Aurangzeb (son of Shah Jahan) was appointed Viceroy of the Deccan and made the city his capital, renaming it Aurangabad. During this period, the city was heavily fortified with its famous 52 gates, and iconic monuments like the Bibi Ka Maqbara (the “Taj of the Deccan”) were constructed.
Nizams & Modern Integration
1724 – 1948 CE
Following the collapse of Mughal dominance, the city fell under the control of the Nizams of Hyderabad, who governed the area under British paramountcy until India’s independence and the subsequent integration of Hyderabad state into the Union in 1948.
A Reclaimed Identity
2023 CE
The Government of Maharashtra officially renamed the city Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to honor the ultimate sacrifice, valor, and memory of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire and eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Iconic Historical Sites to Visit
If you’re exploring the area, the key historical destinations span ancient engineering to grand imperial architecture:
- Ellora & Ajanta Caves: UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ellora features the breathtaking Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), the world’s largest monolithic rock-cut structure carved top-down out of a single basalt cliff face.
- Daulatabad Fort (Devgiri): A structural masterpiece featuring a complex maze of concentric defensive walls, a massive moat, and the terrifying Bhool Bhulaiya (a pitch-black, trick-filled subterranean entry tunnel designed to trap invading armies).
- Bibi Ka Maqbara: Built by Aurangzeb’s son, Azam Shah, in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum. It heavily mirrors the architecture of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
- Panchakki: A 17th-century water mill that showcases medieval Indian engineering, utilizing an underground clay pipe network to generate enough hydro-power to grind grain for pilgrims.