If it happens, Aurangabad would be the unique distinction of having four world heritage sites. This city was in news recently for the sale of 161 Mercedes in a single day and as the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries chairman, Mr M S Powar, told visiting journalists from Delhi recently, the idea was to attract attention of world’s industrialists towards this historic city and protection of its heritage monuments.
Named after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the city is a hub of tourists for its world famous Ajanta and Elora caves, especially from Asian countries like Japan, China and Sri Lanka. In Ajanta, there are 30 caves which depict Buddhism and attract lots of tourists. A replica of Ajanta caves is being made in Fardapur with Japanese bank assistance. In Elora, there are 34 caves in all, 12 Buddhists, 17 Hindus and 5 from Jainism.
The district also has one of the 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas, the Ghrineshwar. It is also famous for traditional Paithani Sarees. In fact, these Sarees are made 56 km away from 
the city in a village called Paithan. This art is 2000 year old. Then there is famous Bibi ka Maqbara, the tomb of Aurangzeb’s wife which is even called as Tajmahal of Aurangabad.
Little wonder than that both the state government and the chamber is making all out efforts to see that this city is developed as state’s tourist capital at the earliest. In the past 6-7 years, over Rs. 400 crore have been spent on basic infrastructure here, something which is visible too when one visits these historical monuments. And soon, helicopter service between Aurangabad and holy shrine of Shirdi is expected. And in the annual budget presented in the state assembly last month, the Maharashtra government has enhanced the publicity budget on tourism from a meager rs 5 crore to rs 25 crore.
However, the tourism industry here want abolition of service tax which they feel is hampering the growth of the industry in the state besides tourism-friendly policies as are there in the states of Kerala and Rajasthan.
Aware of the growing tourism potential in the state, the Chief Minister, Prithviraj Chavan, told journalists that plans were afoot to promote a forts circuit while there already are luxury trains connecting all beaches.