AURANGABAD

town, west-central Maharashtra state, western India, on the Kaum River. Originally known as Khadki, it was founded by Malik 'Ambar in 1610. Its name was changed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who built the Bibika Makbara tomb, an imitation of the Taj Mahal, near the town. Aurangabad remained the headquarters of the independent Nizams, but it declined when the capital was moved to Hyderabad. With the accession of Hyderabad state, it became part of the Indian Union in 1947. Aurangabad is known for its artistic silk fabrics, particularly shawls. Seat of Marathwada University (1958), it is a prominent educational centre containing several branch colleges. Aurangabad is also a popular tourist centre, a result of its proximity to the Ellora and Ajanta cave temples. Pop. (1981) town, 284,607; metropolitan area, 316,421.