History Aurangabad — Founding, Facts & Complete Overview

The history Aurangabad carries spans over four centuries, from a small village called Khadki to a major Mughal-era capital, and finally to the modern city officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023. Located in Maharashtra, India — not to be confused with searches for “Aurangabad Madhya Pradesh,” since no major city of that name exists in Madhya Pradesh — this city in the Marathwada region is best known today as the gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, but its own layered Aurangabad history is worth understanding in its own right.

Aurangabad — Quick Facts

For readers searching in Hindi, Aurangabad in Hindi is written as औरंगाबाद, and the city is now officially known in both English and Hindi as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (छत्रपती संभाजीनगर).

Note for anyone searching “Aurangabad Madhya Pradesh”: this table confirms the state as Maharashtra. Aurangabad Madhya Pradesh is not a recognised location — the confusion likely stems from the similarity between the two state names.

Aurangabad Direction & Location

Aurangabad sits at coordinates 19.88°N, 75.32°E, in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra. Anyone researching Aurangabad direction from major nearby cities will find the following approximate orientations useful:

• From Mumbai — Aurangabad lies roughly to the east-northeast, approximately 335 km away by road.
• From Pune — Aurangabad lies roughly to the northeast, approximately 235 km away by road.
• From Hyderabad — Aurangabad lies roughly to the northwest, at a considerably greater distance given its location well within Maharashtra.

Within Maharashtra itself, Aurangabad sits in a fairly central-eastern position relative to the state’s overall shape, making it a natural hub connecting the state’s western coastal region with its eastern Vidarbha and southern Marathwada districts.

History Aurangabad — Founding of the City by Malik Ambar

The story of Aurangabad’s history begins in 1610, when Malik Ambar — an Ethiopian-born former slave who rose to become Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate — founded a new city on the site of the village of Khadki. Malik Ambar was a remarkable figure: brought to India as a slave, he eventually became one of the Deccan’s most capable military and administrative leaders, known for his skill in guerrilla warfare tactics that later influenced the Marathas.

Beyond founding the city, Malik Ambar is credited with designing its early water infrastructure — the “Neher” system, an aqueduct network built in 1612 that carried water from nearby hills into the city through clay and stone channels, turning an otherwise arid area into a livable capital. Remnants of this engineering achievement remain part of the city’s historical legacy today.

From Khadki to Fatehnagar to Aurangabad

Malik Ambar died in 1626, and his son Fateh Khan inherited his position, promptly renaming the city Fatehnagar (also recorded as Fatehpur) in his own honour. This was only the first of several name changes the city would undergo over the following decades, reflecting the shifting political control of the Deccan region during this turbulent period.

In 1636, the city came under Mughal control when Prince Aurangzeb, serving as Viceroy of the Deccan under his father Emperor Shah Jahan, annexed the territory into the Mughal Empire. It wasn’t until 1653, however, that Aurangzeb formally renamed the city Aurangabad and established it as the capital of the Mughal Deccan — the name that would define the city for the next 370 years.

The Mughal Era Under Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb spent a significant portion of his reign based in the Deccan, and much of that time was centred on Aurangabad. From 1681 until his death in 1707, the emperor was largely present in the region, and the city functioned as a key administrative and military base during his southern campaigns against the Marathas and other Deccan powers. This period represents one of the most well-documented chapters of history Aurangabad has to offer, given the extensive Mughal-era records surviving from this time.

Many of the Rajput princes allied with Aurangzeb settled around the city in small camps known as “puras,” contributing to its growth during this period. The monumental architecture associated with Aurangabad — including Bibi Ka Maqbara, built as a tribute resembling the Taj Mahal — dates from this Mughal era of the city’s history.

Nizam Rule & Integration into Maharashtra

Following Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, control of the region eventually passed to the Nizam of Hyderabad, under whose administration Aurangabad remained for over two centuries. This period saw the city continue as a regional centre, though it gradually lost some of the political prominence it held during the height of Mughal rule. Anyone tracing history Aurangabad experienced under Nizam rule will find this era marked more by administrative continuity than dramatic political change.

In 1956, following the reorganisation of Indian states along linguistic lines, Aurangabad and the surrounding Marathwada region were integrated into Bombay State, which was later split to form the state of Maharashtra in 1960 — placing Aurangabad firmly within Maharashtra, where it remains today.

Renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

In 2023, the Maharashtra state government officially renamed Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, honouring the Maratha ruler Sambhaji Maharaj. This is the most recent chapter in the city’s long history of name changes, following the earlier shifts from Khadki to Fatehnagar to Aurangabad across the 17th century. Despite the official renaming, the older name Aurangabad remains in wide everyday use, including in the names of many local businesses, landmarks, and search terms.

What Is Aurangabad Famous For?

Beyond its layered political history, Aurangabad is famous for being the gateway city to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the Ajanta Caves, known for ancient Buddhist paintings, and the Ellora Caves, home to the monolithic Kailasa Temple. The city itself hosts Bibi Ka Maqbara, often called the “Taj of the Deccan,” along with Daulatabad Fort, Panchakki, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga nearby. See our places to visit in Aurangabad Maharashtra guide for the full list of attractions connected to this history Aurangabad has built up over four centuries.

This concentration of heritage sites within a compact, drivable region is precisely why Aurangabad functions as the natural base for heritage tourism across this part of Maharashtra, drawing visitors interested in everything from ancient rock-cut art to Mughal-era monuments. For the individual sites themselves, see our dedicated Ajanta Caves guide, Ellora Caves guide, or our Ajanta and Ellora Caves from Aurangabad guide for the full combined circuit. Pilgrims can also see our 3 Jyotirlinga tour package from Aurangabad. For local travel, see our CIDCO Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar taxi service page, or our Aurangabad airport taxi page if arriving by flight.

City of Gates — Nicknames & Identity

Aurangabad carries the nickname “City of Gates,” a reference to the 52 fortified gates originally built around the city under Aurangzeb’s rule, of which roughly 13 survive today, including the well-known Bhadkal Gate and Roshan Gate. This gate network was originally built for defensive purposes, reflecting the city’s military significance during the Mughal era.

History of Aurangabad — FAQs

1. Who founded Aurangabad?

Malik Ambar, the Ethiopian-born Prime Minister of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, founded the city in 1610 on the site of the village of Khadki.

2. Why is it called Aurangabad?

The city was renamed Aurangabad in 1653 by Mughal prince Aurangzeb, who made it the capital of the Mughal Deccan region.

3. Aurangabad is in which state?

Aurangabad is located in the state of Maharashtra, India, within the Marathwada region — not Madhya Pradesh, a common mix-up given the similar-sounding state names. There is no major city named Aurangabad in Madhya Pradesh; the famous Aurangabad known for the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga is entirely a Maharashtra city.

4. What is Aurangabad famous for?

Aurangabad is famous for being the gateway to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, along with Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort, and Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga.

5. What is Aurangabad called now?

Aurangabad was officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in 2023, though the older name remains in wide everyday use.

6. What was Aurangabad’s original name?

The city was originally called Khadki when founded in 1610, later renamed Fatehnagar in 1626, before becoming Aurangabad in 1653.

7. Which district is Aurangabad in?

Aurangabad is the headquarters of Aurangabad district (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district) in Maharashtra.

8. Why is Aurangabad called the City of Gates?

The nickname comes from the 52 fortified gates originally built around the city under Aurangzeb’s rule, of which around 13 survive today.

9. Is Aurangabad in Madhya Pradesh?

No, Aurangabad is not in Madhya Pradesh — it is located in Maharashtra. There is no significant city named Aurangabad in Madhya Pradesh; this is a common confusion given the two states’ similar-sounding names. Searches for “Aurangabad Madhya Pradesh” almost always intend this Maharashtra city.

10. What is the Aurangabad direction from Mumbai?

Aurangabad lies roughly to the east-northeast of Mumbai, approximately 335 km away by road, within the Marathwada region of Maharashtra.