Weekend Excursions From Aurangabad by newsdesk Khuldabad (24 km)Aurangzeb chose Rauza (Abode of Peace) on Khuldabad’s outskirts as the place where he wanted to be buried. Khuldabad itself is unpretentious about being the last resting place of an emperor. Perhaps that’s the way Aurangzeb would have liked it, for this most feared of the Mughal emperors saved money for this simple structure through the sale of skullcaps he stitched, and copies of the Koran he personally wrote. The showy additions came much later, built by the English and the Hyderabadi Nizams. Attar and gemstones are sold at tiny shops outside the tomb for those wanting a souvenir of their visit to Aurangzeb. Paithan (55 km)Paithan, formerly Pratishthan, is the most ancient city in Marathwada, once visited by Greek traders before the birth of Christ. The archaeologist in the tourist may be briefly excited by the traces of old Paithan surviving in the disintegrating walls that jostle for space amidst newer structures. Several shrines including those of Eknath Maharaja and Mukteshwar dot the city. The Eknath complex hugs the Godavari River. Check out the small tank where Eknath attained a watery samadhi in 1598. Paithan is also home to the most prized and valued of all Maharashtrian saris, whose motifs are derived from the carvings at the Ajanta Caves. Legend tells that once Parvati didn’t have a new sari for an apsara’s wedding. Overhearing this, Shiva asked his weavers to create special apparel for her. Instead of embellishing a silk ground with gold, they reversed the expression and wove gold ground with silk motifs. In old Paithani saris so perfect is the weave that it is practically impossible to make out the positive from the negative side of the textile. Check out ‘The Paithani Design-Cum-Demonstration Centre’ for readymade saris or place an order. Weekend Excursions From Aurangabad by newsdesk.