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Sanjay Singh Badnor

On my last day at Aurangabad, I decided to visit Paithan, the former capital of the Satvahahas. Located 56 km south of Aurangabad on the banks of the river Godavari, it was once a great centre of learning. Today, this ancient city is more famous for its saris.

The six-yard Paithani sari is made from pure silk yarn and the gold thread used is drawn from pure gold. An ordinary Paithani sari takes about a month to complete and costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000

The heavy brocade Paithani takes at least six months to complete and costs over Rs 50,000. The traditional designs -- such as the peacock or parrot motif or the paisly and flower pot design, are used even today.

Fortunately, the 2,000-year-old art of weaving Paithani saris continues to flourish today. Traditional weaving families pass on the skill to the younger generations. The government too encourages this art by setting up looms and workshops.

After a visit to the state weaving centre, where I indulged and bought myself an exquisite Paithani wall piece, I walked down to the riverside which was bustling with activity. There was a local fair in progress and people were waiting their turn to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Godavari. Then, they would head for the nearby Shiva temple and offer their prayers before visiting the fair to participate in the fun and frolic.

A cattle fair had been organised and the usual stalls of sweets, snacks, games, sports and a variety of knickknacks had brisk business. The festival, in honour of the local god's birth anniversary, was being celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Accessible by air, rail and road, Aurangabad is a destination in itself. By air, it is directly linked to Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur and Bombay. By rail it has convenient links to Pune and Bombay. By road, it is 388 km to Pune and 410 km to Bombay while Delhi -- via Mathura, Agra, Gwalior and Indore -- is about 1,400 kms.

Although the best season to visit this region is October to March, the monsoon is also highly recommended. I must mention some of the lesser known, but equally interesting sights which are also worth a visit. The natural and scenic beauty of the Mahaismal hills, the Gautala bird sanctuary, the Jayakwadi dam on the river Godavari near Paithan and the Dnyaneshwar Udyan (which are patterned on the Vrindavan gardens).

Numerous picturesque plateau tops abound around Aurangabad. There is the 50,000 old meteorite crater at Lonar, about 150 km from Aurangabad. Those interested in bird watching will find the Salim Ali lake, the Sukhna lake and the Himmayat Bagh gardens a real treat.

Photographs by Sanjay Singh Badnor

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