Overview
Khuldabad is a historic town and taluka headquarters in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the Marathwada region, it is widely known as the Valley of Saints (Rauza) for the large number of Sufi shrines that lie within its old walled enclosure. The town is also notable as the burial place of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Key facts
| Name | Khuldabad |
|---|---|
| Earlier name | Rauza (Rouza) |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) |
| Region | Marathwada, Deccan |
| Administrative status | Taluka and Municipal Council |
| Languages | Marathi, Urdu, Hindi |
| Notable feature | Sufi shrines and tomb of Aurangzeb |
Etymology
The name Khuldabad is derived from Persian, meaning "Abode of Eternity" (khuld: paradise/eternity, abad: settled place). The town was earlier called Rauza, a reference to the shrines (mausolea) located there.
Geography
Khuldabad lies in the hills of the western Deccan, close to the historic centres of Daulatabad (Devagiri) and the rock-cut caves of Ellora. It is situated roughly 25 km north-west of Aurangabad city. The old town is enclosed by a fortified wall with seven gateways, originally built to protect the dargahs and the residents of the religious settlement.
History
Medieval period
From the 14th century, Khuldabad emerged as a major centre of the Chishti Sufi order in the Deccan. After the transfer of the Delhi Sultanate's capital to Daulatabad under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, several Sufi saints accompanied the migration and settled at Khuldabad. The town became closely associated with disciples of Nizamuddin Auliya, especially Burhanuddin Gharib and Zainuddin Shirazi, whose dargahs are central landmarks.
Mughal era
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (Alamgir, r. 1658–1707) spent the last decades of his reign in the Deccan and developed a deep personal attachment to Khuldabad. On his death in 1707 at Ahmednagar, he was buried, in keeping with his wishes, in a simple open grave within the dargah complex of Shaikh Zainuddin Shirazi. The grave was later enclosed by a marble screen during the colonial period.
Other notable burials include Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb, and Asaf Jah I (Nizam-ul-Mulk), the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty of Hyderabad, whose family maintained the upkeep of the shrines.
Asaf Jahi and modern period
Under the Nizams of Hyderabad, Khuldabad remained a part of the princely state until 1948, when it was integrated into the Indian Union following Operation Polo. With the linguistic reorganisation of states, the town became part of Bombay State in 1956 and of Maharashtra in 1960.
Religious and cultural significance
- Dargah of Shaikh Burhanuddin Gharib – a 14th-century Chishti saint, disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.
- Dargah of Shaikh Zainuddin Shirazi – successor of Burhanuddin Gharib; the complex contains the grave of Aurangzeb.
- Dargah of Sayyid Yusuf bin Abdullah al-Husaini (Raju Qattal) – associated with Sufi traditions of the Deccan.
- Bhadra Maruti temple – a Hanuman shrine, distinctive for depicting the deity in a reclining posture; an important pilgrimage site, especially during Hanuman Jayanti.
Khuldabad preserves several relics traditionally venerated by visitors, and the annual urs festivals at the dargahs draw pilgrims from across India.
Economy and administration
The local economy is based on agriculture, small-scale trade, handlooms, and tourism linked to nearby heritage sites. Khuldabad is administered by a Municipal Council and serves as the headquarters of Khuldabad taluka within Aurangabad district.