Aurangabad

Located west of Mumbai, Aurangabad, takes its name from the great Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, who made it his capital. Filled with impressive monuments and architecture, most notably the 17th-century marble Bibi ka Maqbara shrine, styled on the Taj Mahal. Just three-hours drive it is also used as a base to explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ellora and Ajanta. These 34 gargantuan hand-carved cave temples date from between the 5th and 9th centuries and are some of the world’s most impressive examples of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain art. Unmissable. The best time to visit is between November and February.