Maharashtra state of India occupying a large part of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is bordered by the Arabian Sea in its the west as about 750 Kms western coastline. The long coastline of Arabian Sea has gifted many famous beaches to Maharashtra state along with many water sports activities and mountains of western ghat has gifted many famous hill stations. The densely forested hills and valleys of this state are home of various flora and fauna, ancient caves. This state is scattered with many tourist attraction sites, famous destinations are:
Ajanta and Ellora Caves:
Ajanta and Ellora caves located near Aurangabad in Maharashtra state of India are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are word popular destinations. The Ajanta caves, 29 in number, were built during the 2nd century BC to 6th century AD and the Ellora Caves, 34 in number, were built during 6th and 11th Century AD. These hand-carved caves complex decorated with beautiful sculptures and paintings including Buddhist monasteries and Hindu & Jain temples were built by support of the rulers of that periods and almost hidden in thick forests. The Ajanta Caves about 100 Kms north to Aurangabad are Buddhist sites which were used by Buddhist Monks as their retreat, whereas the Ellora Caves about 15 Kms west to Aurangabad are mix of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist sites. These rock-cut caves are the best examples of ancient Indian sculpture, architecture and spiritual customs of that time. This destination is about 235 kms from Pune and about 350 kms from Mumbai in Aurangabad district.
Mumbai:
Mumbai formerly known as Bombay is the capital of Maharashtra state and known as the financial capital of India. This cosmopolitan city of India, famously known as the City of Dreams, is a beautifully blended pot of cultures and lifestyles. This city is a amazing paradox of chaos and hope, glamour and squalor, modernity and tradition. Mumbai Is the centre of art, culture, music, dance, and theatre and is the film industry of India which proudly boasts the stories of different walks of human survival.
The must visit Places in Mumbai are:
- Elephanta caves,
- Marine drive,
- Juhu Beach,
- Colaba Causeway,
- Gateway of India,
- Film City,
- Hanging Gardens,
- Prince of Wales Museum,
- Mumbai Zoo,
- National Museum of Indian Cinema,
- Siddhivinayak Temple,
- National gallery of Modern Art,
- Haji Ali Dargah, Fashion Street,
- Bandra Worli Sea Link,
- ISKCON Temple,
- Kanheri Caves,
- Girgaum Chowpatty,
- Mandwa Beach,
- Mahakali caves,
Khandala:
Khandala is a famous hill station in the Western Ghat in satara district of Maharashtra, state in India. This place is famous for its beautiful rock formations. Khandala is about 70 kms from Pune and about 100 kms from Mumbai.
The tourist attractions in and around Khandala are :
- Lion’s Point,
- Tiger’s Leap,
- Celebrity wax Museum,.
- Bhushi Lake, Duke Nose,
- Rajmachi Fort,
- Duke’s Nose,
- Kune Waterfalls,
- Shrivardhan Fort,
- Shingroba Temple,
- Lonavala Lake,
- Shooting Point .
Mahabaleshwar:
Mahabaleshwar, a hill station known for the many rivers and majestic peaks, is situated in the Western Ghats in Satara district of Maharashtra state of India. This destination located at about 120 Kms from Pune and about 285 Kms from Mumbai is an easily visited weekend picnic spot from these metro cities. This destination is also a sacred pilgrimage center for Hindus as the Krishna river originates from here. The glorious Pratapgad Fort is also located near it.
The must visit Places in and around Mahabaleshwar are:
- Mahabaleshwar Temple,
- Elephant’s Head Point,
- Chinaman’s Falls,
- Dhobi waterfall,
- Arthur’s Seat,
- Venna Lake,
- Wilson Point, Panchgani,
- Tapola, Elphinstone Point, Pratapgad fort .
Shirdi:
Shirdi, the home of Sai Baba, is located at about 122 Km from Nasik district headquarter in Maharashtra state of India. It is believed that Sai Baba arrived at Shirdi in 1858 and lived here tilll he attained salvation in 1918, so lived here about 60 years. Other than famous is shrine of Sai Baba, here are many other temples in the complex such as Chavadi, Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai. The famous Shani Shignapur temple of Lord Shani is located at about 72 kms from Shirdi. This destination, shirdi, is about 185 kms from Pune and about 355 kms from Mumbai.
Pune:
Pune located at about 150 Kms from Mumbai is the second largest city of Maharashtra of India. Pune, the native land of Marathas and centre of power during the Maratha Empire, is an economical & industrial center and also known as ‘The Oxford of the East’. Pune represents the native Marathi culture and ethos, in which education, arts and crafts, and theatres are given due prominence and is also the birthplace of Tukaram (in Dehu) the poet-saint and Jnaneshvara (in Alandi) the author of ‘Jnaneshwari’,on the “Bhagavad Gita”.
The tourist attractions in and around Pune are:
- Lal Mahal (Red Palace),
- Khadakwasla dam,
- Shivneri Fort,
- Shaniwar Wada,
- Agakhan Palace,
- Sinhagad,
- Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple,
- Osho Ashram .
Aurangabad:
Aurangabad city is the district headquarter in Maharashtra state of India which is known for the 17th-century marble Bibi ka Maqbara built in the style of famous monument Taj Mahal of Agra. Aurangabad is about 235 kms from Pune and about 370 kms from Mumbai.
The tourist attractions in and around Aurangabadare:
- Bibi Ka Maqbara,
- Shivaji Maharaj Museum,
- Rock-cut Buddhist shrines,
- Daulatabad Fort,
- Hazur Sahib Nanded,
- Pitalkhora Caves,
- Siddharth Garden,
- Valley of the Sufi Saints,
- Grishneshwar Temple,
- Bhadra Maruti Temple .
Lonavala:
Lonavala, surrounded by green valleys, is a hill station located at about 96 Kms from Mumbai and about 64 Kms from Pune in Maharashtra state of India. The nearby Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves, ancient Buddhist shrines, are the main attractions of this destination.
The tourist attractions in and around Lonavala are:
- Karla Caves and the Bhaja Caves,
- Lohagad Fort,
- Tiger Point or Tiger’s Leap,
- Bhushi Dam,
- Dukes Nose,
- Pawna Lake,
- Rajmachi Fort,
- Narayani Dham Temple,
- Sunil’s celebrity wax museum,
- Kune waterfalls,
- Tungarli Lake,
- Canyon Valley,
- Imagica Adlabs .
Nashik:
Nashik city the district headquarter in Maharashtra state of India is an ancient holy city where Kumbh Mela is also organized and have its links to the “Ramayana” epic.
The Panchavati temple complex on the Godavari River is believed to be the place where Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Lord. Lakshman stayed during their 14 years exile (vanavas. A cave, Sita Gupha, in this complex is believed to be the place where Sita remained stayed when Ram and Lakshman used to go out in search of food.
It is believed that Lord Rama used to take bath in Ram Kund water tank located in this complex and it is belived that bathing in this waters purifies ones soul and allows him to start afresh with a more positive and kind outlook. The Kalaram temple dedicated to Lord Rama which was built in about 1788 is one of the most religious & tourist places in Nashik, this temple named Kala Ram because the statue of Lord Rama present in the temple is black.
This city located at about 180 km from Mumbai and about 210 Kms from Pune is also called the “Wine Capital of India” as about half of India’s wineries are located in Nashik district.
The tourist attractions in and around Nashik are:
- Panchavati,
- Ramkund,
- Temples in the Tapovan,
- Mangi Tungi Temple,
- Pandav Caves,
- Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple,
- Shree Saptshrungi Gad Vani,
- Shree Someshwar Temple,
- Dhammagiri Vipassana Centre,
- Kushavart Tirtha(Trimbakeshwar).
Kolhapur:
Kolhapur city is district headquarter located on the banks of the Panchaganga River in Maharashtra state of India which is known as ‘Dakshin Kashi’ because of its spiritual history and the ancient shrine Mahalakshmi Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site, better known as Ambabai. Kolhapur is about 235 kms from Pune and about 375 kms from Mumbai.
The tourist attractions in and around Kolhapur are:
- Mahalaxmi Temple,
- Kopeshwar Temple,
- Siddhagiri Museum,
- Narsinhwadi Datta Mandir,
- Kaneri Math,
- Rankala Lake,
- Shree Jyotirling Devasthan,
- Panhala Fort,
- Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary,
- Shri Chatrapati Shahu Museum (New Palace),
- Gaganbawda,
- Sajja Kothi,
- Bhavani Mandap .
Matheran:
Matheran is a beautiful small hill station of Western Ghats near Mumbai in Maharashtra state of India. Travellers and tourists visit this place by walking on foot to explore it as Motor vehicles are banned and many visitors arrive by narrow-gauge railway on the 1907 Neral–Matheran Toy Train. Matheran is about 120 kms from Pune and about 83 kms from Mumbai in Raigad district.
The tourist attractions in and around Matheran are:
- Louisa point,
- Charlotte lake,
- Monkey point,
- Shivaji’s ladder,
- Panorama point,
- One Tree Hill point,
- Echo Point,
- Neral Matheran Toy Train,
- Ambarnath Temple,
- Porcupine point,
- Alexander point,
- Hart point,
- Little Chowk Point,
- Honeymoon Point,
- Rambagh point,
- Prabalgad Fort,
- Chanderi Fort .
Ganpatipule:
Ganpatipule is a beach and pilgrimage town on the Konkan Coast of western Ghat in Ratnagiri district of Maharastra state in India. This town is famous for its beaches and it is one of the only two white sand beaches in Maharashtra. , the ancient Swayambhu Ganpati Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh makes it an important pilgrimage for Hindus. Location of Ganpatipule is about 350 kms from Mumbai, about 310 Kms from Pune, about 195 Kms from Mahabaleshwar, about 155 Kms from Kohlapur and about 25 Kms from Ratnagiri.
The tourist attractions in and around Ganpatipule are:
- Swayambhu Ganpati Temple,
- Ganapatipule Beach,
- Water Sports in Ganapatipule,
- Prachin Konkan Museum,
- Arey Ware Beach,
- Malgund Beach,
- Magic Garden, Kavi Keshavsoot Smarak,
- Advika Beach,
- Jaigad Fort & Lighthouse,
- Malgund village,
- Velneshwar village & its Beach .
Alibaug:
Alibaug also known as Alibag is a coastal town in western ghat in Rajgad district of Maharastra state of India at about 100 Kms from Mumbai and about 140 Kms from Pune.This town also known as ‘Mini Goa’ is well connected by road & rail and is famous for its beaches, villas & scenic surroundings along with historic monuments.
The tourist attractions in and around Alibaug/ Alibag are:
- Alibaug beach,
- Water Sports in Alibaug,
- Kolaba Fort,
- Murud Janjira Fort,
- Varsoli Beach,
- Kihim Beach,
- Nagaon Beach,
- Alibaug Beach,
- Murud Beach,
- Awas Beach,
- Mandwa Beach,
- Kashid Beach .
Amboli:
Amboli village is a famous hill station, at an altitude of about 700 metres above sea level, in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra state in India and is the last hill station of state before the seaside highlands of Goa in the Sahyadri Hills of western ghat having large number of strange flora and fauna. Amboli is about 350 kms from Pune and about 500 kms from Mumbai.
The tourist attractions in and around Amboli are:
- Amboli Falls,
- Madhavgad Fort,
- Shirgaonkar Point,
- Hiranya Keshi Temple,
- Durg Dhakoba Trek,
- Nangarta Falls,
- Sunset Point .
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Panchgani:
Panchgani is a hill station, at an altitude of 4242 ft above the sea level, in Satara district of Maharashtra state inIndia. This is a famous destination for the worldwide tourists who are lovers of natural beauty and this place was a summer retreat for British officials. Panchgani is about 100 kms from Pune and about 245 kms from Mumbai.
The tourist attractions in and around Panchgani are:
- Kaas Plateau(UNESCO World Natural Heritage site),
- Table Land, Sydney Point,
- Kamalgad Fort,
- Parsi Point,
- Devrai Art Village,
- Lingmala falls,
- Venna Lake(Mahabaleshwar) .
Kashid:
Kashid is a beach town on the western coast in the Raigad district of Maharashtra state of India located at about 125 kms from Mumbai and about 175 kms from Pune. Kashid beach popular for its white sand and blue seas situated is the one of the safest beaches in the Konkan region at about 30 km from the Alibaug to enjoy a relaxed beach holiday. Chaul is a nearby historic town having many Buddhist caves of public interest, famous churches, temples and Korlai Fort is an another tourist attraction here.
The tourist attractions in and around Kashid are:
Kamshet:
Kamshet is a village in Mawal taluka of Pune district in Maharashtra state of India which is popularly known as the paragliders’ paradise due to paragliding facilities here.There are many paragliding schools and Shinde Wadi Hills is the popular take-off point for paragliding. Kamshet is about 48 kms from Pune and about 102 kms from Mumbai.
The must visit Places in and around Kamshet are :
- Shinde Wadi Hills,
- Buddhist Bedse Caves,
- Ancient Kondeshwar Temple,
- Bhairi Caves,
- Uksan Lake,
- Bhandar Dongar hilltop,
- Bhaje waterfalls,
- Ekvira Devi Temple,
- Andra Valley Dam,
- Sri Durga Parameshwari temple,
- Vadivali lake, Pawna Lake
Tadoba National :
The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve which includes the Tadoba National Park & the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary is an oldest & largest national park & wildlife sanctuary in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra state in India.
Bhandardara Tourism:
Bhandardara village is a hill station located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra state of India in the Sahyadri ranges at about 150 Kms from Mumbai & 135 Kms from Pune and well connected by road. This place has the blessings of lush greenery, the waterfalls and surrounded by high mountains which makes it the perfect holiday spot.
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