The airport at Aurangabad, Chikalthana Airport, is a small hub that only flies to other domestic routes meaning travellers wishing to fly in will have to change at one of the major air hubs, typically in Mumbai. Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Deccan all fly between Aurangabad and Mumbai, the flight taking approximately 1 hour. Getting from the airport into the city is a straightforward journey that takes just 15 minutes.

Nearby Pune has a limited number of international flights, but the most convenient gateway to Chikalthana Airport is Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the biggest and busiest air hub in India. With more than 20 million passengers flying in and out of Mumbai’s airport, there are plenty of routes into the country before making that flight to Aurangabad.

The airport has two international terminals with Air India the main carrier. Routes on the national flag carrier include those to Los Angeles, London, Toronto and Kuwait. There are also flights on Air India from Mumbai to Australia and also to Beijing.

Almost every other major airline in the world flies to Mumbai, including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Cathay Pacific and British Airways. That means Aurangabad is never more than two flights away from most major cities in the world given that Mumbai connects to Sydney, Johannesburg, New York, Tokyo. The only difficult region from which to get here is via South America, the only continent without direct services to Mumbai.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is a modern air hub which plans to double its capacity to 40 million passengers a year by the year 2010 courtesy of an ambitious expansion blueprint. In the meantime, the airport has a full range of facilities including ATMs in every terminal hall courtesy of ICICI and Canara banks along with a number of restaurants and cafés, a lost and found section and medical centres that can offer immediate first-aid.

International travellers who are changing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on their way to Aurangabad will have to transfer between terminals and should allow adequate time to do so. It is possible to travel all the way from your home country on Air India to Aurangabad (via Mumbai) in which case your luggage can be checked all the way. All international connections come into 2A and 2C. Indian Airways flights to Aurangabad depart from domestic terminal 1A while flights on Jet Airways and Air Deccan go from terminal 1B. A bus shuttle service is available to make the switch, free of charge.

Aurangabad has fairly good inner city transport, with the familiar auto-rickshaws and buses the most common ways to get around. Auto-rickshaws are available on most main streets in the centre of the city and can be flagged down from the pavement. Try to confirm what the fare is beforehand or at least how it is going to be worked out once you get to your destination.

The bus system is even more complicated for those who do not speak the local Marathi language, which equates to just about every foreign visitor here. Your best bet is to ask someone in your hotel before you leave what bus you would need to take to get to your planned destination. If you can track down this bus and get on as well as let the driver know your destination, then buses here are very convenient and inexpensive at just a couple of rupees per trip.

Some hotels will be able to offer travellers bicycles to rent; so too a handful of tour operators in the city. Cycling is a great way to get around Aurangabad as the city centre itself is a manageable size but you’re still likely to break out in a sweat. To take things even more steady, travel short distances on foot and stop regularly for cold drinks to get your breath back. Many of the pavements are in a poor state of repair, so when walking at night try to stay to well-lit areas, which means the main streets.