Latur or Lattaluru is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Latur district and taluka, and it is the third largest city in the Marathwada. The city is a tourist hub surrounded by many historical monuments, including the Kharosa Caves. Latur has an ancient history, which probably dates to the Rashtrakuta period. It was home to a branch of Rashtrakutas which ruled the Deccan from 753 to 973 AD. The first Rashtrakuta king, Dantidurga, was from Lattalur, probably the ancient name for Latur. Ratnapur is also mentioned as an historic name for Latur. The King Amoghavarsha of Rashtrakutas developed the Latur city, originally the native place of the Rashtrakutas. The Rashtrakutas who succeeded the Chalukyas of Badami in 753 AD called themselves the residents of Lattalut. It was, over the centuries, variously ruled by the Satavahanas, the Sakas, the Chalukyas, the Yadavas of Deogiri, the Delhi Sultans, the Bahamani rulers of South India, Adilshahi, and the Mughals. Later in the 19th century, Latur became part of the independent princely state of Hyderabad. In 1905 it was merged with surrounding areas and renamed Latur tehsil, becoming part of Osmanabad district. Before 1948, Latur was a part of Hyderabad State under Nizam. The chief of Nizam's Razakar army, Qasim Rizwi, was from Latur. After Indian independence and the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, Osmanabad became part of Bombay Province. In 1960, with the creation of Maharashtra, Latur became one of its districts. On August 16, 1982, a separate Latur district was carved out of Osmanabad district. Latur is connected by roads with various major cities of Maharashtra and other states. Road connectivity is excellent and road connecting to Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Aurangabad are being upgraded into four-lane highway. Latur city has one national highway running through it, NH 361. The scheme of nationalisation of passenger transport services was started as early as 1932 by the State of Hyderabad, which was one of the pioneers in the field of public road transport, first in collaboration with the railways and then as a separate Government Department. After the reorganisation of the Indian states and with an effective date from 1 July 1961, the Marathwada State Transport was amalgamated with the Bombay State Road Transport Corporation into the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation.[12][13] The "Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation" (MSRTC)[14] and numerous other private bus operators provide a bus service to all parts of the state. The "Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation" (MSRTC) and numerous other private bus operators provide a bus service to all parts of the state. Private buses have an established network to connect the city with all the major cities in Maharashtra and other states. "Latur Municipal Transport" (LMT) is an intra-city bus service which covers almost all parts of the city and also connects to the more distant industrial suburbs. LMT (Latur Municipal Transport) intra-city buses ply throughout the city including the outskirts and connect different parts of the city and adjoining suburbs together. Latur is served by Latur Airport, which is near Chincholiraowadi, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of the city. The Airport facilities include aircraft fuelling, night landing with navigational aids, aircraft parking, CAT VII airport fire fighting and rescue service. A well equipped terminal building has VIP lounges, departure and arrival lounges, transit suites and snooze cabins, visitors' waiting area, and a cafeteria. The Latur-Miraj Railway was established by the British in latur The Latur-Miraj Railway (metre gauge) runs for 391 miles (629 km) north-west from Latur city to Miraj on the south-western section of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway and was built between 1929 and 1931. Latur (Station Code: LUR) is a station located on the Latur-Miraj section of the Solapur railway division (SUR) of the Central Railway zone (CR). The Manmad-Kacheguda broad-gauge railway line, which emanates from the Vikarabad-Latur-Road-Parli trunk route at Latur Road, is an important artery of traffic in Latur district, its importance resting on the fact that it has opened for traffic the coal tract in the Marathwada region. It also serves as a link between Aurangabad and Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh; and it was formerly the only route, as there were no good roads in the Marathwada region. Latur has rail connectivity with Manmad, Aurangabad, Nanded, Parbhani, Parli Vaijnath, Osmanabad, Gangakhed, Mudkhed, Adilabad, Nagpur, Basar, Nizamabad, Nashik, Mumbai, Pune, Daund, and Kachiguda (HYB). Latur will become a junction due to increase in rail traffic, as it is going to be connected with Tirupati, Hubli, Coimbatore, and Delhi. Siddheshwar & Ratneshwar Temple: Situated about 2 kilometres (2,000 m) from the city. It is a beautiful temple built by King Tamradwaj. It is a gramdaivat of Latur town. Ganj Golai: Latur city has the famous 'Ganjgolai' as the central place of the city. The town planner Shri Faiyajuddin prepared the plan for the 'Ganjgolai Chowk'. The main building of the Golai is a huge two-storied structure which was constructed around the year 1917. In the middle of the circular structure is the temple of Goddess Ambabai. There are 16 roads connecting to this Golai and along these roads are separate markets selling all kinds of traditional local wares such as gold ornaments to footwear and food items from chilli to jaggery. Thus, the 'Ganjgolai' has become the main commercial and trade centre of this city. Astavinayak Temple: Shri Ashtavinayak Mandir is located in Shivaji Nagar, Latur. Constructed in 1989, it is a newly built temple famous for its beauty, there are gardens on both sides of the temple, as well as some artificial fountains in front. Statue of lord Shiva, standing 8 to 9 feet tall is situated in the garden.