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Paithan caves are situated 56-km south of
Aurangabad
on the banks of the river Godavari. The modern village of Paithan is built
on top of a large settlement mound that extends back to early history and
perhaps prehistory. It was previously known as "Pratisthan" and
was the ancient capital city of the Satvahanas from 2nd Century B.C.
Paithan caves are located deep in the Daroq Mountains, they are not
visited frequently because of its tradition of death. Today, it is also an
important excavation site. Centuries ago, the famous Marathi poet - Saint
Eknath lived here.
On the banks of the river at the southwest corner of the village is an
unoccupied archaeological reserve where excavations have been conducted in
recent years. Excavations are being still undertaken to collect the
archaeo-botanical evidence. Sediment samples for flotation and
archaeo-botanical analysis were collected from selected trenches and
layers.
Analysis of this material is still underway. It is also famous for its
beautiful Paithani saris that are prized by all Indian women. The town is
also famous for the Dnyaneshwar Udyan, which is the largest garden in
Maharashtra, and a museum, which treasures a fascinating collection of
art.
Road: Paithan is easily accessible from Aurangabad. There is an airport and a railway station at Aurangabad. Tourists can take either taxi or the buses run by state transport, which leave at regular intervals for Paithan from Aurangabad.
Accommodation is available at the various hotels at Aurangabad .