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About Maharashtra
Explores all aspects of travel and tourism in the state of Maharashtra in India
Culture
Maharashtra is the third largest state in India. It has a long history of Marathi saints of the Warkari religious movement, such as Gyaneshwar, Namdev, Chokhamela, Eknath and Tukaram which is one of the foundations of Maharashtra culture or Marathi culture.
History
The name Maharashtra first appears in the 7th century in the account of Huan Sang, a contemporary Chinese traveler. In the early modern era, the region of Maharashtra came under the rule of several Islamic dynasties, including the Deccan Sultanate and the Mughal Empire.
Geography
The dominant physical feature of the state is its plateau character; The western part of the coastal plain of Maharashtra, the inverted rims of the west form the Sahyadri Range and its slopes are gradually descending towards the east and south-east.
Maps and Landscape
The word Maharashtra, the land of the Marathi-speaking people, appears to be derived from Maharashtrian, an old form of Prakrit.a synonym for 'Dandakaranya'. Maharashtra is the third largest state (in area) in India after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
District
The Indian State of Maharashtra came into existence on 1 May 1960. It is also known as Maharashtra Day, initially with 26 districts. 10 new districts have been created since then, and currently the number of districts in the state is 36.
Regions
Maharashtra is divided into 36 districts, which are grouped into six divisions. Geographically, historically, politically, and according to cultural sentiments, Maharashtra has six regions. Amravati, Aurangabad, Konkan, Nagpur, Nashik and Pune.
Costumes
Traditional clothes for Maharashtrian males include the dhoti, also known as Dhotar, and pheta, while a choli and nine-yard saree locally known as Nauwari saadi or Lugda is for women. Traditional clothing is famous in rural areas while traditional people from cities also wear these clothing.
Cuisines
Maharashtrian cuisine includes mild and spicy dishes. Wheat, rice, jowar, bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit are dietary staples. Peanuts and cashews are often served with vegetables. Meat was traditionally used sparsely or only by the well off until recently, because of economic conditions and culture.
Festivals
Hindu Marathi people celebrate several festivals during the year. These include Gudi Padwa, Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Narali Pournima, Janmashtami, Ganeshotsav, Diwali, Makar Sankranti, Shivaratri, Holi and many more. Most villages in Maharashtra also have a Jatra or Urus in honor of the village deity.
Spotlight
Travel is one of the most effective forms of introspection.
Lake Lonar, also known as Lonar Crater, is a monument of national geographical heritage, located in the saline lakes of Buldana district in Maharashtra, India. Lonar Lake was formed during the Pleistocene under the influence of an asteroid.
Melghat was declared a tiger reserve and was one of the first nine tiger reserves declared under Project Tiger in 1973-74. It is located at 21 ° 26′45 N 77 ° 11′50 ″ E in the northern part of Amravati district in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Avanti Kalagram Resort offers village tours, craft workshops and traditional Maharashtra food. Location: Avanti Kalagram Resort is located in Katarkhadak, Pune.
The protected forest of Kas Plateau, also known as Kas Pathar, is a plateau located 25 km west of Satara town in Maharashtra, India. It belongs to the Sahyadri sub-group of the Western Ghats and in 2012 became a part of UNESCO World Natural Heritage.
The creatures of the Night Safari, which include tigers, chital deer, gaur, and elephants, are illuminated by moonlight and provide an exciting adventure experience.
Padmalaya is a village in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is 10 km from Erandol and 31.5 km from Jalgaon District Headquarters. 'Padmalaya', an acronym that combines "Padmasya" and "Alaya", means "Home of the Lotus" in Sanskrit.
Tourist Interest
One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things
Experiential Tourism
Best things to do in Maharashtra, those who wish to enjoy sightseeing can visit famous attractions
Holiday Calendar
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| Origin - Destination | Distance in Kilometers | Estimated duration |
| Mumbai - Bangalore | 500 | 5 hour 45 minutes |
| Origin - Destination | Distance in Kilometers | Estimated duration |
| Mumbai - Bangalore | 400 | 8 hour 30 minutes |
| Origin - Destination | Distance in Kilometers | Estimated duration |
| Mumbai - Bangalore | 250 | 2 hours |
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Explore Maharashtra
The beautiful state of Maharashtra is located in the western peninsular region of India. It is the third largest state and the second most populous state in India. Maharashtra has been bestowed with a breathtaking natural beauty of mountain ranges, rivers as well as sea coasts.Maharashtra boasts a number of well known hill stations as well as coastal towns with amazing sea beaches. Some of the well known hill stations that attract tourists are Khandala, Matheran, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani etc. Coastal towns of Alibaug, Malvan, Ganpatipule are also popular with tourists. Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is famous for having three UNESCO World Heritage sites. The state is also well known for its ancient forts and caves including Elephanta Cave in Mumbai and Ajanta and Ellora caves in Aurangabad.
Land of Saints
Maharashtra or the land of the Marathas produced a large number of Saints,
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Festival & Events
Blessed in the festival which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love
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Food Festival - at Mumbai Central Railway Station .
Mumbai
India is not just home to varied cultures, communities, languages, and religions but it is also home to some assorted flavors in the form of dishes, cuisines, snacks, and street foods. The Navi...
Read More 1Narali Pournima or Raksha Bandhan .
Maharashtra
Consider this scenario: the monsoon winds are gradually fading after the heavy rains. The sun and the gloomy clouds are playing hide-and-seek. Beautiful colors of green have blanketed the soil,...
Read More 2Lord Ganesh Festival In Mumbai .
Mumbai
One of the most popular deities in India, Lord Ganesh is a symbol of wisdom and good luck. It is said that his elephant head epitomises everything related to wisdom - small shrewd eyes, large...
Read More 3Ellora Festival Maharashtra .
Aurangabad
Ellora festival is the festival of classical dance and music organized under the backdrop of the Ellora caves. This festival, which is organized by Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation...
Read More 4Cuisine to Explore
You feed yourself with more than just food when you travel
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Puran Poli
Puran poli is a sweet flatbread stuffed with a sweet lentil filling made from husked spilt bengal gram (chana dal) and jaggery.
Read MorePav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a fast food dish from India consisting of a thick vegetable curry (Bhaji) served with a soft bread roll (Pav). Its origins are in the state of Maharashtra.
Read MoreMalvani Fish Curry
Malvani Style Fish Curry Recipe is a special dish that is originated western coastal region of India. Malvani cuisine has got its influence from both Maharashtra and Goa.
Read MoreVada Pav
Vada Pav, alternatively spelt Wada Pao, is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the state of Maharashtra.
Read MoreBatti
Dal Batti or Dal Bafle is one of the authentic dish of India. Khandeshi Dal Batti is widely prepared in north west part of Maharashtra.
Read MoreBharit
Bharit is a Maharashtrian vangyache, it is a fire-roasted eggplant, mashed and cooked with onion, tomatoes, garlic and green chilies.
Read MoreMisal Pav
Misal Pav is a popular Mumbai street food of usal (Sprouts curry) topped with onions, Tomatoes, Farsan (Fried savory mixture), Lemon juice and served with Pav.
Read MoreMarathi Thali
Maharashtrian thali is a platter of complete meal comprising of snack, salad, side dishes, rice, flatbread, yogurt. Condiments such as salt and chutneys.
Read MorePomfret Thali
Pomfret Thali is the stuff dreams and is made of two rotis, curry, rice, kokum curry, one vati prawns chutney, one vati squid fry and one vati shark chilly fry.
Read MoreTop Attractions in Maharashtra
Better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times
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Ajanta
'Ajanta caves' is a complex of 31 Buddhist caves, located in a scenic valley of river Waghur near Aurangabad. It includes well-preserved paintings dating back to 1500 years and is a recognized World Heritage for its murals and sculptural masterpieces.
Karle Caves
The cave at Karle is a cluster of 15 ancient Buddhist caves. It is approx. 11 KM from Lonavala and very easily accessible by road. Cave 8 is the main chaitya (Buddhist Prayer Hall) here and is considered as 'the largest and best preserved' chaitya from its period.
Elephanta Cave
As you stand at Mumbai’s most well-known spot of tourist interest – the Gateway of India – the most overwhelming desire you will experience is to step into a boat and explore the Arabian Sea.
Ellora Cave
Ellora is a UNESCO World Heritage site from Aurangabad district, comprising more than 100 rock-cut caves. Out of which, only 34 are open to the public. The complex has caves from Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain faith. It is famous for the exceptional monolithic shrine of Kailash Mandir.
Kuda Caves
The Kuda Caves are in Janjira hills facing the Arabian sea. It is known by the name of the village with the same name from the Raigad district. The natural surrounding and architectural designs of these caves together give a blissful experience.
Mangi Tungi Hills
A popular and prominent Digambara Jaina tirtha, at least since the 12th -13th century CE, are the Jaina caves on the hills of Mangi-Tungi in Nashik District. They are also famously known as ‘Siddhakshetra’, where legendary beings and 99 crore Jaina munis are believed to have achieved nirvana.
Pitalkhora
Pitalkhora is a group of 18 Buddhist caves located in Gautala Sanctuary near Aurangabad. This group is known for the unique sculptural panels and murals in the caves.
Caves Of Mumbai
As the most enduring remnants of India’s treasured past, the caves in Mumbai, otherwise known as the commercial capital of the country, present a rich legacy of spiritual thought, faith and the culture of those times.
Bhandardara Dam
Bhandardara is a dam built by British during their regime in the western ghats of India.
Pawna Dam
Pawna dam is constructed on the Pawna river. The backwaters of this dam foms the Pawna lake which is also known for several adventure activities like camping, fishing, and watersports.
Gangapur Dam
Gangapur Dam is on the Godavari river near Nashik in Maharashtra, India. The dam is one of the oldest dams in Maharashtra that provides drinking water to the Nashik city. Many migratory birds can be spotted in the evening.
Jayakwadi Dam
Jayakwadi is a dam on the Godavari river in Paithan tehsil of Aurangabad district in Maharashtra, India. It is the biggest irrigation project in Maharashtra state. This dam is surrounded by a bird sanctuary.
Radhanagari Dam
Radhanagari Dam is one of the oldest dams in India built on the river Bhogawati in Radhanagari near Kolhapur. The water is used for irrigation, harnessing hydro-power, and for the consumption in several adjoining villages. It offers panoramic views hence attract a lot of tourists.
Koyana Dam
With the rugged beauty of the Western Ghats reflected in an endless pool of shimmering waters, Koyna is a landscape photographer’s dream come true. Situated in the Satara district, the backwaters of Koyna form the massive Shivasagar reservoir.
Vaitarna Dam
Vaitarna Dam is in the Palghar and Nashik districts of Maharashtra. It is constructed on the Vaitarna river and supplies water to Palghar and Mumbai districts. The dam is also known as Modaksagar dam.
Ujani Dam
Ujani Dam is a panoramic place from the Solapur district. It is constructed on the Bhima river and is hence also known as the Bhima dam. It features a variety of indigenous and migratory birds; and is famous for bird watching, especially flamingo and wildlife birds.
Harihareshwar
Harihareshwar is on the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is a combination of rocky as well as sandy beaches. The place is in the proximity of Diveagar and Shrivardhan beach. It's known for the shiva temple adjacent to the beach and is considered an important pilgrim by many shiva worshippers.
Vengurla Beach
A picturesque town in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra just north of Goa, Vengurla defines a typical Konkani ambience and culture with the Arabian Sea located on its west and the land surrounded by a semi-circular range of hills.
Kihim Beach
Kihim beach is a famous tourist destination near Alibaug, and offers a complete break from urban pressures. Spend time at this long and wide beach and let the sight of an ocean and the soft rhythm of the waves lapping at the shore soothe your nerves.
Tarkarli Beach
Warm white sands, a pristine beach and waters you can see through. That’s Tarkarli, the heart of Malvan hospitality. This undiscovered little alcove of sun, surf and sand is an idyllic getaway for every season.
Harnai-Murud
A wide range of beautiful and serene beaches is what makes the twin villages of Harnai and Murud in the Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district such a big favourite of tourists all year round.
Velas Beach
A remote village called Velas would have remained unknown had it not achieved international attention for the turtles that come here to lay their eggs.
Ganapatipule Beach
Ganapatipule Beach is a spectacular paradise along the Konkan Coast. It's a perfect gateway that captivates beach lovers, adventure enthusiasts, and pilgrims as well. It simply looks stunning with the Ganapati temple on the shores that offers a soothing atmosphere.
Shrivardhan Beach
Famous for its betel nut ‘Shrivardhan Rotha’, the beautiful town of Shrivardhan was once the home town of the Peshwas, the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire.
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is known as the erstwhile summer capital of the Old Bombay Presidency. This hill station of Maharashtra is captivated by its pleasing greenery, gardens alongside old historical landmarks and breathtaking views.
Panchgani
Panchgani is a hill station southeast of Mumbai in the Maharashtra state of India. Toward the southeast, the Rajapuri Caves are encircled by sacred lakes and contain a temple devoted to the Hindu god Lord Kartikeya.
Matheran
Matheran is a hill station, near Mumbai, in the western part of Maharashtra. It's popular for its cold climate, and pollution-free air as Motor vehicles are banned at this hill station. As one travels by the Toy train from Neral to Matheran the place offers numerous picturesque locations.
Mhaismal
Mhaismal is a hill station situated in the Aurangabad District of Maharashtra in India. This hill station has a plateau with lavish greenery, hills and forest covering that gives a feel of heaven
Bhimashankar
A pristine natural environment with hills, waterfalls and forests; a wild life sanctuary and an ancient temple! Bhimashankar offers the ideal setting to find spirituality.
Lonavala Khandala
Lonavala is a hill station encompassed by green valleys in western India. It is known as the "Jewel of the Sahyadri mountain" and "City of Caves". It is additionally known for its manufacturing of the hard sweets Chikki.
Tamhini Ghat
If you would like to see nature at its best and also pack in a little adventure, one of the best choices, especially during the monsoon, is Tamhini Ghat.
Wai
A popular temple town with ancient mythological links, Wai is also a favourite tourist destination because of its scenic ambience and the fact that it can be a stop-over on the way to the hill-stations of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar.
Lonavala Khandala
Those living in Mumbai or Pune consider it a blessing indeed that they have the twin hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala almost a hop, skip and jump away.
Radhanagari Dam
Radhanagari Dam is one of the oldest dams in India built on the river Bhogawati in Radhanagari near Kolhapur. The water is used for irrigation, harnessing hydro-power, and for the consumption in several adjoining villages.
Bhandardara Dam
At times, it seems that a landscape with a roaring waterfall, gushing waters from a dam, towering hills in the background and greenery all around can only belong to the movies or the imagination of a writer.
Malshej Ghat
Malshej Ghat is a popular hill station in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. It has numerous lakes, waterfalls, mountains, and flourishing flora and fauna. It is one of the popular spots amongst hikers, trekkers and nature lovers.
Dhamapur
In itself, Dhamapur, a small village situated in the Sindhudurg district, remains a silent spectator. But then once a year it bursts into frenetic activity during the annual fair of goddess Bhagavati held during the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra
Koyana Dam
With the rugged beauty of the Western Ghats reflected in an endless pool of shimmering waters, Koyna is a landscape photographer’s dream come true. Situated in the Satara district, the backwaters of Koyna form the massive Shivasagar reservoir.
Amboli Waterfall
The beautiful hill-station of Amboli is rightly called the ‘queen’ of Maharashtra; such is its natural splendour. Famous among environmentalists as a precious ecological hotspot, it is cool, calm, serene and enriched with all the treasures that the world of flora and fauna can bestow upon it.
Ghodazari Lake
“Ghorazari Lake / Ghorazari Talav ". Ghorazari Dam was constructed as parts of Irrigation Projects by the Britishers during the British Raj in the Year.1923. It is built on and impounds Gorazari River. This is an earth fill Dam surrounded by abundance of nature and forest.
Bhimashankar Wild Life Sanctuary
A pristine natural environment with hills, waterfalls, and forests, as well as a wildlife refuge and an ancient temple!
Radhanagari Bison Sanctuary
Sanjay Gandhi National Park falls within the suburban region of Mumbai. It covers 87 sq. KM of land, out of which 34 sq. KM is the core protected zone. More than 2 million visitors pay a visit to Sanjay Gandhi National Park every year.
Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is an area protected in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is on the borders of three Tehsils of Sangli District: Kadegaon, Walva and Palus.
Nagzira Wild Life Sanctuary
Nagzira is located in Maharashtra's eastern region, bordering Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Other than the Western Ghats, the North East, and widely dispersed and unconnected patches, this region of the country contains some of India's last remaining pristine forests.
Navegaon National Park
Navegaon Lake is an example of a water body that has seen a long history of Gond tribal rule, British rule, and post-independence India. Since then, a large number of birds have been flocking to this lake.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Tadoba is most likely one of India's best tiger reserves. Because of the success of the protection and conservation mechanisms, the number of Tigers in this reserve has increased to near-optimal holding capacity.
Chikhaldara
A hill station surrounded by tigers! What do you think about that? Is it more dangerous or interesting? When you plan a trip to the peaceful hill station of Chikhaldara, you will be transported to a serene zone of only flora and fauna.
Melghat Tiger Reserve
The interesting undulating landscape is what distinguishes Melghat. Though this makes seeing glamorous animals more difficult than in many of the flatter forests, tourists are blessed with a fantastic jungle experience.
Pratapgad (Mahabaleshwar)
Pratapgad Fort is a huge mountain fort situated in Satara District of Maharashtra state. The fort is encircled by dense forest and hills too. It disregards the ways connecting the Deccan Plateau with Konkan.
Lohagad Visapur
The Lohagad Fort is in Maval tehsil of Pune District in Maharashtra. It is a hill fort near popular hill stations Lonavala and Khandala. It is one of the most visited forts in Maharashtra. Lohagad has an elevation of approx 3608 ft. above sea level and falls in the beginners' category in trekking.
Shivneri
Shivneri is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is near the historic city of Junnar.
Rajmachi Fort
Rajmachi is another fort near the Lonavala Khandala hill stations in Maharashtra. It consists of two twin fortresses named Shrivardhan and Manaranjan with a wide machi (plateau). The fort is accessible from the Udhewadi village. It falls in the beginners' category for trekking.
Narnala fort
Very few places would be able to surpass the majestic combination of a hill fort with an amazing variety of wildlife surrounding it as is the case with Narnala.
Sindhudurg Fort
The fort Sindhudurg is on an island off the coast of Malvan town in the Sindhudurg district of the Konkan region of Maharashtra State. This fort is a protected monument by the Central Government of India.
Janjira Fort
Murud-Janjira is a well-known sea fort. This fort is known to stay unconquered in any fight until it was handed over to the Indian region after autonomy from the Britisher.
Daultabad Fort
Daulatabad Fort is also known as the Devgiri Fort or the Hill of Gods. The fort is in the vicinity of the historical city of Aurangabad.
Siddhivinayak Siddhatek
Ashtavinayak of Siddhatek is called Siddhivinayak. Siddhatek is located in the Ahmednagar district. Siddhatek is one of the most famous Ganesha temples of Ashtavinayak.
Ranjangaon (Ashtavinayak)
Earlier known as Manipur, Ranjangaon near Pune is believed to have been created by none other than Lord Shiva. This was after Shiva prayed to Ganesha to make him victorious in a battle with the demon Tripurasur.
Akkalkot
Akkalkot Swami was a spiritual guru of the Dattatreya tradition. His temple is even known as Vatavruksha Swami Samartha Temple due to the presence of the Banyan tree.
Vajreshwari
The temple of goddess Vajreshwari is near the historical cities of Vasai and Sopara in Palghar District of Maharashtra. The temple is in the village Vadavali also known as Vajreshwari after the preceding deity where the temple is situated is on the bank of the river Tanasa.
Haji Ali Dargah
The Haji Ali Dargah is one of the most popular religious places in Mumbai. People of all religions visit there. It is one of the famous places and prestigious landmarks situated about 500 yards from the Mumbai shoreline in the middle of the Arabian Sea off Lala Lajpatrai Marg.
Mount Merry Church
The Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount is commonly known as Mount Mary Church. It is a Roman Catholic Church and has stood erect for over 100 years.
Jyotiba
The Jyotiba Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The village is also known as Kedarnath or Wadi Ratnagiri. The temple is on a hill, and the deity in the temple is known as Kedareshwar.
Mahalakshmi
Mahalakshmi temple of Kolhapur is situated in the ancient Indian city of Karveer. This temple is built with the dry masonry-style popularly known as Hemadpanti style of architecture and is a must while visiting Kolhapur.
Meandering in the Skies
It’s not the same as sitting in an aircraft and watching a canopy of clouds at a height of 40,000 feet or more. It’s not the same as getting strapped to a hang glider and feeling like a bird.
Kolad Riding the River
If you ever get into a mood for some good river rafting adventure, head straight for river Kundalika in western Maharashtra which is open for the sport throughout the year.
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving in which a scuba diver uses a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus(scuba) to breathe underwater.
Harishchandragad
Harishchandragad is on the western ghats of India in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. It is a hilly fort and one of the most famous trekking places in Maharashtra. The main attraction is the sunset view from Kokankada.
Kalsubai
Kalsubai is known as the Everest of Maharashtra, is in the western ghats of Maharashtra. It is the highest peak in the Sahyadri mountain range of Maharashtra at an elevation of 1646 mts. It is easily accessible from Mumbai and Pune.
Paragliding
Spread Your Wings….and Fly! If you have always envied the birds for being able to soar in the skies, here’s how you can do it too. Learn paragliding to be able to experience the thrill of free flying or just sign up for a ‘tandem flight’ with any of the paragliding schools in Maharashtra.
Devbag
Devbag is on the western coast of India in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. It is near Tarkarli, and it has popular activities such as scuba diving and snorkelling. It takes you to another world where you will witness some exotic marine life and colourful reefs.
Rajmachi Fort
Rajmachi Fort is in the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats in Pune district of Maharashtra. The site is situated close to the renowned hill station of Lonavala. Rajmachi fort is one of the most popular trekking places in Maharashtra state.
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"Even if there were a sword in the hands of everyone, it is willpower that establishes a government."
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
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