How to Reach By Air

Some of Maharashtra’s major airports are ChhatrapatiShivaji International Airport in Mumbai, Pune International Airport, DrBabasahebAmbedkar International Airport in Nagpur, Aurangabad Airport and Shirdi International Airport. ChhatrapatiShivaji International Airport in Mumbai is one of India’s major airports that is linked to countries and cities all over the world such as New Delhi, Jaipur, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ahmedabad, Dubai, Muscat and so on. Flights within Maharashtra also travel from Mumbai to Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Kolhapur.

Some of the airlines flying to and from Mumbai are Air France, Air India, Alliance Air, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, GoAir, IndiGo, Iraqi Airways, SpiceJet, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, SpiceJet, United Airlines and Vistara. Kolkata, Jaipur, Goa, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mangalore are some of the busiest places from where Mumbai receives its domestic flights. Mumbai’s airport comes with all facilities and amenities such as medical centres, banks, ATMs, car parking, forex, lounge and a food court to spend some time and fill your stomach as you wait for your flight.

The Pune International Airport also has good connectivity with all the major cities in the country such as Goa, Ahmedabad, Kochi, New Delhi and so on. It has basic amenities such as luggage facilities, free Wi-Fi, power sockets, portals to book cabs as well as taxi and auto rickshaw stands.

The recently opened Shirdi International Airport offers good connectivity with Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Pune. SpiceJet and Air Alliance are the two major airlines to be operating from this airport.

It would be advisable to book your tickets well in advance, especially if you are travelling in the peak season.

How to Reach By Rail

Maharashtra has a vast array of rail networks that connect it to all the major cities of the country. Some of the frequently used and major railway stations in Maharashtra are in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Jalgaon and Nagpur that are well linked to other parts of the country. While the Duronto Express known to be a long- distance train also halts in Mumbai. Nagpur, Pune, Nashik and Jalgaon have one station each but are also halting points for major trains. Shatabdi and Rajdhani also have Mumbai as their stoppage point. If you are looking to sit back and enjoy a luxurious train journey through Maharashtra, do hop onto the Deccan Odyssey. This is a seven-day-journey that takes you to places such as Nashik, Aurangabad, Ajanta Caves, Kolhapur, Goa and Sindhudurg from Mumbai.

How to Reach By Road

Being a major state, Maharashtra is rather easy to access by road. National Highways and State Highways provide good connectivity with the rest of the country. You can also avail comfortable Volvos that ply from Kolhapur to Bangalore, Mumbai-Bangalore, Mumbai-Goa and Pune -Bangalore through National Highway 48. Note that Maharashtra is connected with its neighbouring states via 18 National Highways. Some of the major expressways and highways are the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Nagpur-Aurangabad-Mumbai Highway, Mumbai Nashik Expressway and Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway.

These highways also connected to other major cities in Maharashtra such as Amravati, Akola, Ahmednagar, Washim and Jalgaon.

Note that National Highways 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 16 and 17 connect Mumbai to the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and the rest of the country.

Transportation in Maharashtra

How to commute within Maharashtra: Maharashtra has a wide range of transportation means as well as a plethora of well-connected transportation routes to enable locals and tourists as they get around the state and its various cities and villages. From local bus services to private buses, city-suburban rail services to taxis and cabs, one has many options on reaching this state.

By AIR: Since Maharashtra is a huge state with many cities and towns, one can easily travel internally by air to major cities. Some of the prominent airports located in Maharashtra are ChhatrapatiShivaji International Airport in Mumbai, Pune International Airport, DrBabasahebAmbedkar International Airport in Nagpur, Aurangabad Airport and Shirdi International Airport. These flights make travelling within the state faster and comfortable. All the mentioned airports have basic amenities such as luggage facilities, snacks and refreshments, free Wi-Fi along with taxi/cab and rickshaw stands for passengers to avail.

By Train: Maharashtra comprises a vast network of rail services that connects you with other parts of the country. Some of the prominent railway stations in Maharashtra are; Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Jalgaon and Nagpur that provide good connectivity within and outside the state. Mumbai is rightfully known as the maximum city since it has around 50 railway substations across the city divided into the central, western and harbour line. While the Duronto Express known to be a long-distance train also halts in Mumbai. Nagpur, Pune, Nashik and Jalgaon have one station each but are also halting points for major trains.

By Bus: The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation runs a wide network of bus services connecting major cities, towns and remote villages within Maharashtra. Several private and state-run buses take you to places and remote villages within each city. Note that the major air-conditioned buses that run are Shivneri and Shivshahi all over Maharashtra. The major bus stations in Maharashtra are in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur. Other towns and villages that these buses will connect you to are Ratnagiri, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Satara, Told, Solapur, Latur and many more.

By Car: If you would like to travel at your own pace, you could also hire a car and make your way to places with close proximity such as from Mumbai to Pune or even Goa for that matter. However, public transport is a lot cheaper and is highly preferred. Some car rental agencies do offer one-way intercity trips. You can also hire an Ola or Uber to traverse your way within cities or outstation too. You could book a week prior or even an hour, at the latest. When you’re contemplating how to travel in Maharashtra, all the above options should be considered before you take your pick!

The monsoon season rejuvenates nature like nothing else can. Thus, when you think of monsoon getaways, you always think of lush green nature, or clouds over the mountains, or rain near a serene lake. The season beckons you to spend a few relaxing days in the arms of enthralling nature. In Maharashtra, there are a number of monsoon holiday destinations, which can help to soothe your mind and body, and relieve you from the daily stress. One of the best places to visit in the monsoon in Maharashtra is a place called Tapola. This is also known as the Kashmir of the West coast. The place is 300 Km away from Mumbai and 150 km away from Pune and is a pastoral area which has grown up around the beautiful Shivsagar Lake. It is heaven for trekkers. Another place to visit during the monsoon holidays is Bhimsankar. Though it is famous for being a religious place, it also has a wildlife sanctuary, a gushing waterfall which becomes alluring during the monsoon season. You can also embark on an adventurous trekking expedition from ShidiGhat to Ganesh Ghat. If you are looking for long monsoon getaways, then you can visit a few places one after another, starting from the places closest to you and move further ahead.

Some of the other top places around Mumbai to explore during the monsoon include the MalshejGhat, which is a serene hill station situated within the Sahyadri mountain ranges; the twin hill stations Lonavala and Khandala that are quite well known for their natural beauty; Mulshi dam, which is one of the best short getaways you can take from Mumbai, also well known for bird sighting, etc. If you are interested in water sports, then Kolad is the best place for you, though it can be difficult to reach if there is an extremely heavy downpour.

Shopping in Maharashtra offers diverse varieties. As Maharashtra is a vast state, every region and every district has its own specialty. Mumbai offers wide ranges of shopping to visitors. There are marketplaces, which can be suited to every type of pockets. Chor Bazaar, Mutton Street and Zaveri Bazar are some of the important areas, where shoppers enjoy with delight.

The shopping arcades of five-star hotels like Oberoi and TajMahal offer a good variety of up-market shops. In central and suburban Mumbai, the Dadar, Bandra-Linking Road, and Juhu Road areas are good spots for shopping. Colaba and Flora Fountain (HutatamaChowk) has full of shopping items like ethnic artifacts and departmental stores.

State emporiums at the World Trade Centre, at Cuffe Parade are a perfect for buying souvenir, a rare artifact or textiles. The prices at the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (Apollo Bunder) and Khadi Village Industries Emporium (D.N.Road) are fixed. But the quality is genuine.

When we talk of shopping in Aurangabad, himroo shawls, mashroo and kimkhab weaves click on one's mind. We can't also forget the well-known fine paithani silk sarees. The silver inlay craft of Bidri ware too is world famous.

Shopping in Pune too is like that of Mumbai. Jewellery, Maharashtrian traditional wares, pearl nose ring, necklace and the nine-yard sarees are readily available at TulsiBaug. ChhatrapatiSambhaji Nagar or Deccan Gymkhana is another place for good shopping, while Mahatma Gandhi Road is a place with big stores.

Kolhapur is popular for its cotton textiles, in particular Kolhapurisarees. This city is also popular for its jewellery and leather sandals or Kolhapurichappals. Kolhapur is also famous for its special type of necklace called Kolhapur saaj. This jewellery is very much special for Maharashtrian women. Har and malas, mohanmal, bormal, chaplahar, kolhapurisaaj, pohehar and putlihar are the jewelleries that are made in Kolhapur. These names are derived from the peculiar shapes of the jewelleries. Thushi, a choker with closely bound tiny gold beads, is very popular in Kolhapur.

In Nagpur, Sitabuldi, WHC Road, Dharampeth Road, Residency Road (Sadar) are famous for shopping. Poonam Chambers in Chhindwara Road is a shopping mall for branded clothes and non-branded clothes, shoes, super bazaar, gifts and cards, jewellry shops, furniture, snacks and fast food, and music. Nagpur is famous for its world-class oranges as well. Orange products like jam, jelly, marmalade and fruit squash can also be purchased in cheapest rates with best quality.

In Nashik one can find wide varieties of little brass statues and beaded necklaces are available everywhere. Nashik is popular for its jewellery as well.

Adventure tourism in Maharashtra! Are you up for it? The state has all the elements to offer you an opportunity to take part in exciting activities. Maharashtra boasts of a magnanimous canvas, which is home to some of the iconic attractions of our country. UNESCO World Heritage Sites, exemplary cave temples, beaches and mountains are some of the components that add life to that canvas. Now, imagine the thrill of witnessing all of this in a single trip. It can be awe-inspiring and, at the same time enthralling, as well.

Whether the visitor is a trained rock climber or just an adventure-seeking soul wanting to paraglide, this state plays host to a loads of activities that are curated specially for adventure holiday. If you are sure that it is adventure that you are eager for, we have you covered. Check our guide below, choose the activity that suits you the best, and go ahead to take that plunge. Along with parachute gliding, hand gliding is also one of the most preferred activities among the travellers.

Kamshet and Hadapsar Airfields are two places that promote aero-sports tourism in Maharashtra. This small town, surrounded by greenery and rugged hills, makes for an appropriate location for adventure tourism. Here, you get to experience paragliding in tandem, which means a qualified pilot jumps along with you. This also means you don’t have to be an expert in this activity, all you need to do is sit back, enjoy flying like a bird, and take in the views that seems much more beautiful from up there. This is an ideal location for camping, because you get to experience digital detox here. Well, almost most of the time, you will have no mobile connectivity, which will enable you to introspect and help you reconnect yourself amidst nature. Situated near Mumbai, reaching this place will not be a big deal for you. Also, the abundance of natural beauty makes it an appropriate location for camping. Then, there are a lot of trails too, in case you are up for some more fun. If you are keen for some excitement, you need to take part in a Kundalika river rafting expedition. Originating from the town of Bhira, this small rivulet has good rapids, making it a good spot for rafting. Further, the area being rich in flora and fauna, has always remained a paradise for the nature lovers.

Further, it is the only white water rafting facility in our country that remains accessible all through the year. Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Once you make up your mind to plunge yourself into the riveting scuba diving session here, your instructor will take you through all the learning steps, such as how to breathe underwater and offer you other important tips as well. The session will last for around 45 min, and you will be provided with all the safety equipments and following all the procedures. It is an adventure activity, where you descend down a massive rock patch in the middle of a cascading waterfall. You will be hung up there with a rope, with a harness of course. So your safety is assured, and unlimited thrill is guaranteed too.

The main purpose of going on a vacation to any place is to roam around, go on sightseeing trips and have fun. However, for moving around in a state, or for that matter even a city, you need to know about the modes of local transport that are available there. Unless and until you are planning to drive down there in your car, you are bound to become dependent on the public transportation. At the same time, moving around this way helps in knowing much more about the place, its people as well as its culture. Keeping this in mind, we have provided information on the forms of local transportation that are available within the state.

Trains

There are railway junctions, whether small or large, in the majority of cities in Maharashtra. Through these trains, you can easily travel from one city to the other. Apart from that, some of the cities in Maharashtra, like Mumbai, have their own suburban railway network, through which people can move from one locality to the other. However, you will have to make yourself used to the heavy rush at railway stations.

Buses

State-transport as well as private buses run throughout the length and breadth of Maharashtra. You can get local buses, semi-deluxe buses, deluxe buses, and so on, for traveling to one city from the other. Local buses are also available for covering short distances within the city.

Taxis

Taxis are easily available in Maharashtra, for going from one city to the other as well as for traveling within the city. However, make sure to either go by meter or to fix the fare in advance. In the latter case, bargaining will help you reach a justified cost.

Auto Rickshaws

Auto Rickshaws are the perfect for moving over short distances, in the city itself. Infact, if you are in group of three-four, it is much better to hire an auto rickshaw. Most of the auto rickshaws in Maharashtra go by meter. However, if they are not willing to go by meter, ask the fare in advance and make sure to bargain a little.

Total number of Districts in Maharashtra are 36 (Thirty-Six)

a) Konkan region

b) Pachim Maharashtra

c) Khandesh

d) Marathwada

e) Vidarbha

a) Pandharpur

b) Panchgani

c) Toranmal

d) Lonavala

e) Khandala

f) Lonar lake

a) Satpuda

b) Sahyadri

Mumbai

Marathi

a) Kashid Beach

b) Alibag Beach

c) Diveagar Beach

d) Murud Beach

e) Tarkali Beach

f) Nagaon Beach

g) Mandwa Beach

h) Aksa Beach

i) Kelwa Beach

j) Arnala Beach

a) Ellora

b) Kanheri Caves

c) Elephanta Caves

d) Karla Caves

e) Bhaje Caves

f) Bedse Caves

g) Lenyadri Caves

h) Pandavleni Caves

i) Pitalkhora Caves

j) Aurangabad Caves

a) Koyna Dam

b) Vaitarna Dam

c) Jayakwadi Dam

d) Bhatsa Dam

e) Bhandardara Dam

f) Totladoh Dam

g) Isapur Dam

h) Yeldari Dam

i) Bhushi Dam

j) Mulshi Dam

a) Pratapgad Fort

b) Shivneri Fort

c) Lohagad Fort

d) Visapur Fort

e) Rajmachi Fort

f) Daultabad (Devigiri) Fort

g) Korlai Fort

h) Narnala Fort

i) Sindhudurg Fort

j) Panhala Fort

k) Mahuli Fort

l) Vasai Fort

m) Gavilgad Fort

n) Arnala Fort

o) Birwadi fort

p) Balapur Fort

q) Jaigad Fort

r) Raigad Fort

s) Sinhagad Fort

t) Torna Fort

a) ChhatrapatiShivaji Museum

b) ShriBhavani Museum

c) Cavalry Tank Museum

d) BhauDaji Lad Museum

e) Nehru Centre

f) Prince of Wales Museum

g) Jehangir Art Gallery

h) Kelkar Museum

a) Tadoba

b) Chandoli

c) Navegaon

d) Sanjay Gandhi National Park

e) UmriZamindari

f) Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary

a) Kalsubai

b) Lohagad

c) Takmak Fort

d) Rajmachi

e) Vasota Fort

f) Harishchandra Gad

g) Vairat point

h) Satpuda Hills

i) Tapola

a) Puranpoli

b) Pavbhaji

c) AamRas

d) Bahrit

e) MisalPav

f) Paplet