About Maharashtra Information
Standing
mostly on the high Deccan Plateau, the state of Maharashtra is one of the
largest states of the country. The state is a treasure house of exquisite
temples, forts and rock-cut caves and is an epitome of diverse cultural
heritage. The state is the second most populous in India and Hinduism is the
predominant religion. Marathi is the official language of the state. The
state has great potential for expanding the tourism industry in the country.
Maharshtra abounds in ancient monuments, enchanting beaches, lush green
locales, theme parks, resorts and five star hotels. The state is also home
to India's biggest motion picture industry.
Major Towns and Cities of Maharashtra
» Mumbai -
The Land of Multiple Faiths - Mumbai, the land of multiple faiths, is
the capital city of Maharashtra. The city is centre of fashion and glamour
as India's biggest film industry lies here. The city is always bustling with
commercial and financial activities.
¤ The Gateway of India - Designed by George
Wittet, the Gateway of India is one's entrance to the wealthy city of
Mumbai. The structure is built in yellow basalt and is a prime attraction of
the city.
¤ Juhu Beach - The residents of the city live by
the beach. The beach gives intoxicating views of the Arabian Sea. There are
shacks and stalls all along the beach providing everything from soft drinks,
Bhel Puri and coconut water to local cuisine.
¤ Haji Ali Tomb - It stands in dedication to a
Muslim saint. The vast expanse of waters and the boulders around impart
phenomenal beauty to the tomb. It can only be visited during low tide as the
walkway gets immersed during high tide.
¤ Marine Drive - The Marine Drive thoroughfare is
located in the heart of the city. Lined with beautiful towering buildings,
the place gives a miraculous view of the Arabian waters and is one's haunt
to breath in some fresh air.
»
Pune - The Oxford of the East - The magnificent land and sea forts of
the city are testimony to its glorious past. Pune was home to the legendary
Maratha ruler Shivaji. It is privileged to have one of India's oldest
universities.
¤ Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum - The museum houses a
fascinating collection of Indian artifacts collected by late Shree Dinkar
Kelkar. The museum is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm daily.
¤ Osho Ashram - The ashram offers myriad of
expensive courses on meditation. The site attracts a large number of
visitors from all around the globe.
¤ Shaniwar Wada - Shaniwar Wada was built in the
year 1736 and was once the palace of the Peshawar rulers. In 1827 the palace
suffered severe damages in a fire. The entrance of the palace was specially
designed to deter enemy attacks.
¤ Parvati Hill - Located on the southern end of
the city, the Parvati hill is a climb of 108 wide stone steps. Atop the hill
is the Parvati Temple which was once the private shrine of the Peshwa
rulers. The temples, four in number, are dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha, Vishnu
and Kartikeya.
» Aurangabad
- The Land of a Multitude of Attractions - Aurangabad is one of the
chief cities of Maharashtra. The city has a multitude of attractions for the
tourists and holiday-makers and is also known as Sambhjinagar.
¤ Ajanta and Ellora Caves - Carved out in the 6th or 7th century,
Ajanta and Ellora caves are considered to be among the finest rock-cut
shrines in the country. The caves also symbolise Buddhist architecture
brilliance and are the masterpieces of the time.
¤ Bibi Ka Maqbara - Azam Shah built the structure
in 1678. Bibi Ka Maqbara is a son's tribute to his mother Begum Rabia
Durrani, the queen of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It is a replica of the Taj
Mahal at Agra.
¤ Panchakki - Panchakki was built of Malik Ambar
in 1695. It is truly an engineering marvel of the earlier times. The water
mill was used to power the flour mill and to grind grains for the pilgrims.
¤ Darwazas - There are four main gates or Darwazas
that are one's entrance to the city of Aurangbad. These gates were a part of
the defence system of the city.
» Hill Stations - The Western Ghats run from north
to south throughout the length of the state. The foothills of these ranges,
as they approach to the Arabian Sea, provide stupefying sights. Nestled into
the ranges of the Western Ghats are the hill stations of Mharashtra.
Lonavala, Khandala and Karla hill stations are located along the Mumbai-Pune
Highway. Khandala is a 2-hour drive from Mumbai by road or by rail. Karla,
12 km from Lonavala, takes pride in its cautiously preserved caves dating
back to 160 BC. Mahabaleshwar hill station is located at an elevation of
1372 metres above sea-level. Panchgani, at an altitude of 1334 meters, is on
the way to Mahabaleshwar. Jawahar, Amboli and Panhala are some other
phenomenal hill resorts.
Reaching
» Air - Mumbai has Sahar(International) and Santa
Cruz(Domestic) airports. There are domestic flights to all the major cities
of India.
» Railway - An excellent rail-network connects
Mumbai to all the major metropolis of the country.
» Road - Mumbai is well connected by road to all the
cities of Maharashtra.
