"Khuldabad" Khuldabad by MM212

One of the holiest towns on the Deccan Plateau, Khuldabad, whose name translates to "Abode of Eternity," is the burial place of some 1500 14th century Sufi Moslem saints. The abundance of domed shrines earned the town the nickname "Valley of the Saints." Its religious importance led the pious Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal Emperor, to select it as his own burial place. Although his wife is buried in an elaborate mausoleum in Aurangabad, he himself was buried upon his death in 1707 in a very simple tomb, next to one of the most revered Sufi saints.

Khuldabad is located a short distance from Ellora, on the road to Aurangabad. It makes an interesting quick stop on the way to Ellora or back and completes the understanding of the history of Aurangabad.

16-day India itinerary in Feb/Mar 2009:

Mumbai - Elephanta Island; Aurangabad - Daulatabad - Ellora - Khuldabad - Ajanta; New Delhi; Jaipur - Amber - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Sikandra; New Delhi - Delhi