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Maharashtra
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Travel is one of the most effective forms of introspection.

Shaniwar Wada, the palace of the Peshwa witnessed the rise and fall of the glory of the Maratha Empire.

Sevagram Ashram is one of the places from where Mahatma Gandhi had started his fight for the freedom of India.

Uruli Kanchan is a village which is well known for its relation to Mahatma Gandhi and his disciple Manibhai Desai.
Kaas Pathar or Plateau located in the Satara district consists of several varieties of flowers that bloom at a particular season of the year

The Gateway of India is one of the significant and unique landmarks located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Village of Hemalkasa is known for its Lok Biradari Project. The village was adopted by Dr Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr Mandakini Amte in 1973.






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
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.
Holiday Calendar
Travel Opens your heart, broadens your mind, and fills your file with stories to tell.
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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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Things To Do
Investment in travel is an investment yourself
Cuisine to Explore
You feed yourself with more than just food when you travel
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Pomfret fry
Pomfret fry is a very popular dish in coastal Maharashtra and is considered a signature dish of Konkan.
Read MoreModaks
Modak is a sweet dessert prepared mainly in two forms as fried and steamed ones. In short, the variety of preparations that are primarily spherical or ball-like are referred to as Modak in...
Read MoreKhaja
Khaja is a sweet usually consumed by children. It is also used in religious rituals as offerings to distribute among gatherings as sweet.
Read MoreMalvani Thali
Malvani Thali primarily comes under the category of regional Indian food. The literal meaning of Thali is a plate, but here it is used as a plate full of different food items making one meal.
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.

Aurangabad Caves
These caves are located on the outskirts of Aurangabad city, not far from the Bibi Ka Maqbara there are three groups of Buddhist Caves. It consists of twelve caves spread from east to west. These are known as Aurangabad caves.

Bedse Caves
Bedse Caves are a group of Buddhist Caves that can be dated back to the 1st Century BC. The caves complex is a beautiful example of Buddhist Architecture.

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.

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.

Pandavleni Caves
It is a cave complex with 24 caves on the Mumbai Nashik Highway. Many of the rock-cut caves in Maharashtra are believed to be built by Pandava from Mahabharat and are called Pandavleni.

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.

Bhira Dam
Bhira Dam is in Roha taluka near the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. The dam is located on the river Kundalika and is also known as the Tata Powerhouse dam. The dam is famous for hydroelectricity generation, but at the same time, it is much popular as a tourist destination.

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.

Juhu Beach
Juhu Beach is the longest beach in Mumbai and the most sought-after among locals and tourists alike. It’s known for an array of lip-smacking street food with a distinctive Mumbai taste, typically sweet and sour.

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.

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.

Chikhaldara
A hill station with tigers in the vicinity! How does that sound? Dangerous or interesting? Well, there is actually nothing to fear but only to enjoy when you plan a visit to the quiet hill station of Chikhaldara where you will be transported to a serene zone of just flora and fauna. In fact, if you are really looking for a place to unwind, Chikhaldara is where you should be.

Igatpuri
Igatpuri is a town and hill station in the Western Ghat mountains of Maharashtra, western India. The huge Dhamma Giri academy is dedicated to the teaching of Vipassana meditation.

Jawhar
Jawhar is a city and municipal council in the Palghar district of Maharashtra state in the Konkan division of India. Jawhar is known for its pleasant and panoramic setting and energetic ancient cultural heritage. It is one of the oldest municipal councils in the state of Maharashtra.

Lonavala
Lonavala is a hilly area surrounded by green valleys in western India. It is known as "Jewel of Sahyadri Mountains" and "City of Caves". It is also known for manufacturing tough sweet chikkis.

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

Aravali hot water springs
The Aravali hot water springs are in the Aravali village in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra State, India. It is a natural phenomenon situated to the south of the bridge over the Gad river. The average temperature of these springs is 40°C.

Ganeshpuri Hot Water Spring
Ganeshpuri Hot Water spring is in the Bhiwandi taluka of Thane district in Maharashtra State, India. The place is famous for its natural hot springs.

Khindsi Lake
Khindsi Lake is a lake near Ramtek city in the Nagpur district. It is known as central India’s largest boating centre and amusement park. Numerous tourists visit this lake every year. It offersvariety of activities such as boating, water sports, etc. and it also has a resort.

Lonar Lake
Lonar lake, also known as Lonar crater, is formed due to the meteorite collision. It is a notified Geo-heritage Monument with saline and alkaline water.

Nimboli Hot Water Springs
Nimboli hot water springs are in Nimboli village, few kilometres away from the Vajreshwari Hot water springs. These are natural springs and is one of the several found on the banks of the Tansa river in the Thane district.

Powai Lake
Powai Lake is an artificial lake in Mumbai. It is near the Powai village in between the Andheri and Vikhroli suburbs of Mumbai. The area has been developed significantly in the last few decades, and is considered one of the most expensive real estate hubs from Mumbai.

Pandav Kund
Pandav Kund is also known as Pandavkada is a waterfall in the Kharghar region of Navi Mumbai. The waterfall is considered one of the tallest (approximately 105 metres) waterfalls near Mumbai.

Unhavare
Unhavare is a village from Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It is known for its natural hot water springs. It is on the Dapoli-Khed road and is surrounded by a series of hills and the panoramic Konkan ghat.

Chandoli National Park
Chandoli National Park is a public park spread over Satara, Kolhapur and Sangli areas of Maharashtra state in India. It was formed in May 2004. Prior it was a Wildlife Sanctuary declared in 1985. Chandoli Park is imminent as the southern piece of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, with Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary shaping the northern piece of the reserve.

Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
Nothing beats the thrill of walking along a path in a dense forest, anticipating the sighting of wild animals in their natural habitat or absorbing the fantastic and diverse range of colours that the area's flora may have to offer. Radhanagari Forest comes as a part of Western Ghats. Western Ghats is immensely important with unique bio-physical and ecological processes in India.To be able to absorb such a wonderful experience, you should travel to the Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in the Kolhapur district, which provides all of this and more.

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.

Nandur Madhyameshwar Bird Sanctuary
Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary is located at Niphad Tehsil of Nashik District , known as the Bharatpur of Maharashtra. It is designated as Ramsar Site and it's a Maharashtra's first Ramsar site .A stone pickup is constructed across river Godavari at Nandur Madhmeshwar. This resulted into the formation of rich environment for biological diversity. Many species of plants like Babul, Tamarind, Neem, Jamun, Vilayati, Maharukh, Pangara, Mango, Eucalyptus, are found here, also some aquatic plant species are available.

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.

Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary Aurangabad
Jayakwadi Bird Sanctuary is in Aurangabad. The presence of the Nathsagar Lake in the sanctuary makes the surrounding areas rich in aquatic flora and fauna. 'Sant Gyaneshwar Udyan' spread in 124 hectares is set up on the line of the famous 'Vrindavan Gardens' of Karnataka, 'Pinjore Gardens' of 'Haryana' and 'Shalimar Gardens' of Kashmir. This place stands as the main attraction of tourists. Different species of trees are planted in the park. The 'Nathsagar Lake' was constructed in 1976 as an extensive water reservoir including 26 islands with a shallow saucer type water body with a nearly 450-KM long shoreline.

Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, popularly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoo or Katraj Zoo, is situated in Katraj, Pune district, Maharashtra State, India. It is operated and maintained by the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Bandra Fort
Mumbai is made up of 7 islands, and was separated from main land due to Mahim creek. This was an important trade route, and the Mahim fort was built to safeguard it. The Portuguese built Bandra fort near today’s Bandra reclamation (formerly a part of Sashti or Salsette island) to make this region more safe.

Lohagad
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.

Naldurg fort
Naldurg is the biggest land fort in Maharashtra. It has 3 km long fortification wall and 114 bastions. ‘PaniMahal’ is the most attractive monument on this fort. It gives amazing view from inside of this ‘PaniMahal’, when water from ‘Bori’ river flows down from the top of this ‘PaniMahal’. This view can be enjoyed at the end of the monsoons.

Panhala Fort
The fort of Panhala occupies a prime place in the history of Maharashtra and is also a favourite destination as a hill station. Built by the Shilahara dynasty of Kolhapur in 12th century, the fort passed into the hands of the Yadavas of Devgiri, Bahamani, Adilshahi and subsequently the Marathas.

Shivneri
Shivneri is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is near the historic city of Junnar.

Raigad Fort
Raigad is situated in the taluka of Mahad and the fort rises 820 meters above sea level. As historical records show, the fort was known by different names at different times, including Tanas, Rasivata, Nandadeep and Rayari. It was initially under the control of Chandrarao More of Jawali and captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's when he defeated More in a fierce battle in 1656 CE, following which he re-named it Raigad. It was around this time that the boundaries of the Maratha Empire i.e. Swarajya were expanding and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's felt the need to shift the capital from Rajgad.

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.

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.

Siddhivinayak Ganpati
Ashtavinayak of Siddhatek is called Siddhivinayak. Siddhatek is located in the Ahmednagar district. Siddhatek is one of the most famous Ganesha temples of Ashtavinayak.

Mahaganapati Ranjangaon
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 Mary 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.

Kolad
Kolad is a small town located in Rohataluka near the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Over the past few years, the place became famous for its adventure activities and river rafting is the prime activity amongst them.

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.

Diveagar
Diveagar is on the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the safest beaches in the Konkan region. The place is in proximity to Harihareshwar and Shrivardhan beach

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.

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 snorkeling. It takes you to another world where you will witness some exotic marine life and colourful reefs.

Naneghat
Naneghat, also referred to as Nanaghat or Nana Ghat is a mountain pass in the Western Ghats range between the Konkan coast and the ancient town of Junnar in the Deccan plateau.

Nagaon
Nagaon is a small coastal town located on the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. It serves as a central place for surrounding beaches such as Murud, Alibaug, Kihim, Mandva and Akshi. A popular weekend getaway for tourists from Mumbai and Pune.

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.
Virtual Trip to Maharashtra
Let’s begin our travel to Maharashtra with this beautiful bird’s eye view of the State.
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