Nature, history and religion together sum up places nearby Aurangabad. Drive out of the city in any direction and you are sure to stumble upon something incredible. Explore this region of Maharashtra and witness the wonders that have enamored visitors from time immemorial. This Deccan city, once known as khirki (window to the south), was established by the Ethiopian-origin leader Malik Ambar, who was brought to India as a slave and through sheer meritocracy rose to become a prime minister. Though founded in 1610, the city's surrounding has witnessed a unique phenomenon more than 500,000 years ago, when a high velocity meteor struck earth and created a crater. That site is today popular worldwide as Lonar Crater Lake. The hilly surroundings have also witnessed unparalleled religious activity. Out of the 12 natural Shiva Lingas or Jyotirlingas in India, Aurangabad is home to the twelfth, known as Ghrishneshwara.

The region is home to Sachkhand Gurudwara in Nanded, Sikhism's second holiest place (after Amritsar in Punjab). Similarly, the heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves are host to Buddhist, Jain and Hindu temples. These cave sites are located on the two extremes of a forest and that natural heritage is now popular as Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Besides, the area also includes two erstwhile capital cities of Pratishtan or Paithan (Satavahana Dynasty from 2nd century BCE) and Devgiri or Daulatabad (Yadava Dynasty and later Muhammad Bin Tughlaq).

Best way to do these places is to hire a cab and go for easy drives spread over a week or so. If you are on a budget, local buses could take you there too. The city offers many hotels and guesthouses for all pockets. Though the season between October and March is always ideal, choose monsoons (June to September) for a dramatic experience as the region cools down and dons a full green hue.