Aurangabad, officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, is a city in the Marathwada region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district (formerly Aurangabad district) and the Aurangabad division. Historically significant as a Mughal-era capital and an important centre of trade and craft, the city is today a major industrial, educational, and tourism hub of central Maharashtra.
Key facts
| Official name | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Region | Marathwada |
| District | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar |
| Division | Aurangabad division |
| Civic body | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation |
| Languages | Marathi (official), Hindi, Urdu, English |
| Notable nearby sites | Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Daulatabad Fort, Bibi Ka Maqbara |
Etymology and renaming
The city was named Aurangabad after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who made it his base in the Deccan during the late 17th century. In 2022, the Government of Maharashtra announced the renaming of the city to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in honour of Sambhaji, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. The Union Government subsequently approved the change, and the new name has been used in official correspondence and on the district nameplate, although the older name remains in common usage.
Geography
The city lies on the Deccan Plateau in north-central Maharashtra, along the Kham and Sukhna rivers, both tributaries of the Godavari. The terrain is largely undulating with rocky outcrops, and the climate is semi-arid, marked by hot summers, a monsoon between June and September, and mild winters. Aurangabad is surrounded by hills, including those that house the rock-cut Aurangabad Caves to the north.
History
Origins and Khadki
The settlement was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the Ethiopian-origin prime minister of the Nizam Shahi dynasty of Ahmadnagar, who named it Khadki. Malik Ambar developed the town with planned neighbourhoods and an extensive water-supply system of underground channels known as the Nahr-e-Ambari.
Mughal period
After Malik Ambar's death, the city was renamed Fatehnagar by his son Fateh Khan. With the Mughal annexation of the Deccan, it came under imperial control and was renamed Aurangabad when Aurangzeb chose it as his Deccan capital. The city flourished as an administrative and military headquarters during his prolonged campaigns against the Marathas.
Asaf Jahi and Hyderabad State
Following the decline of Mughal authority, Aurangabad came under the Asaf Jahi Nizams of Hyderabad in the 18th century and remained an important provincial centre. It continued under Hyderabad State until 1948, when the state was integrated into the Indian Union through Operation Polo. Following the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, the Marathwada region, including Aurangabad, was transferred to Bombay State, and in 1960 became part of the newly formed state of Maharashtra.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census of India, Aurangabad was among the larger cities of Maharashtra by population. Marathi is the predominant language, with sizeable Urdu- and Hindi-speaking communities. The city has a religiously diverse population, including Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Jain communities, reflecting its layered history.
Economy
Aurangabad is one of the principal industrial centres of Maharashtra. Major industrial estates have been developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) at Waluj, Chikalthana, Shendra, and Bidkin. The city hosts manufacturing operations in the automobile, auto-components, pharmaceuticals, brewing, and engineering sectors. The Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor includes the Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC) at Shendra–Bidkin, planned as a greenfield smart industrial city.
The traditional economy includes the weaving of Himroo and Paithani silk-and-brocade fabrics, hand-loom textiles, and Bid