Maharashtra is a state located in the western region of the country and is the third largest state in India. It is surrounded by Arabian Sea at West, Chhattisgarh to the east, while Goa and Karnataka to South and Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh at North. The most popular area of the state is Mumbai(capital of Maharashtra).
Mumbai, the biggest city in India attracts tourists from all over the world for its many attractions including colonial architecture, beaches, movie industry, shopping and active nightlife. Pune, a city in Maharashtra, also attracts many tourists for its attraction.
Maharashtra consists of many historical heritage's, forts, mountains, hill stations which are the most attractive places to spend your time.
This article will take you through the best must visit places in Maharashtra to enjoy your vacation or explore for a variety of reasons as the state has something for everyone.
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| Aurangabad |
1. Aurangabad
The area surrounding the city was captured and under the control of Bahamani Sultan's, Delhi Sultanate, Nizam Shahis, Mughals and even Hyderabad Nizams back in 1600AD.
Aurangabad is a historical place at situated 350 km from Mumbai. It is the best place in Maharashtra for sightseeing and tourism and was also declared as one by Maharashtra tourism minister.The city was named after the ruler Aurangzeb.
It has world heritage sites like Ajanta- Ellora Caves. Other tourist attraction spots in the city are Daulatabad Fort, Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad caves, Grushneshwar temple, Jama Masjid, Pitalkhora caves, Jayakwadi Dam, Sunheri Mahel,Panchakki, and the 52 gates. Even the city has a number of temples, mosques, museums, and even some gardens to explore. The best time to visit Aurangabad is in winter.
Aurangabad can be reached via bus, rail or airways. All are feasible options for tourists.
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| Mumbai |
2. Mumbai
It is one of the wealthiest city in the country. The city is a collection of 7 islands and was named after a goddess called MUMBADEVI. The city was empire for many rulers like marathas, rashtrkutas,maurya and chalukyas. It's a great port place where a huge chunk of the exports in our country takes place.
Mumbai is the entertainment capital and India's financial powerhouse and the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the 9th most populous city in the world. It is also home to some very important landmarks like the Gateway of India, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus), Elephanta Caves, Kanheri Caves, Haji Ali Darga, Film City, Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Babulnath Temple, Siddivinayaka Temple, Juhu Beach, Marve Beach, Marine Drive, Chowpatty and Mount Mary Church. These are some of the popular places to visit in Mumbai city.
If you're a tourist and interested in shopping then this is the best place for it .The best time to visit Mumbai is between September and March as the rains have finished playing havoc with the city's drainage system and the humidity level are at their lowest at that time.
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| Lonavala |
3. Lonavala
It lies in the Sahyadri ranges .It was an territory for the Mughals but after that it was taken by the Marathas.
Lonavala is a hill station in Pune district and is just 67km from Pune and 95 km from Mumbai. Lonavala is one of the most beautiful place in Maharashtra as far as landscape is concerned . Apart from lonavala there's khandala, it's twin, and both have equally attractive sites like waterfalls, lakes, caves and forts.
Some of the best places to visit in Lonavala are Lohagad Fort, Rajmachi Point, Karla Caves, Valvan Dam, Lonavala Lake, Tikona Fort, Visapur Fort, Bedsa Caves,Tiger's Leap, Bhaja Caves, Rajmachi Fort, Bhushi Dam, Korigad Fort, Kune Waterfalls and Tung Fort. The best time to visit lonavala is during monsoons. Lonavala can be reached via train and by roadways.
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| Mahabaleshwar |
4. Mahabaleshwar
During the British Raj it was the capital of Bombay Presidency. King Singhan of devgiri built a temple along side the banks of river Krishna which made it more popular at that time.
Mahabaleshwar is also a attractive Destination in satara district of Maharashtra and is about 243 km from Mumbai and 125 km from Pune. It contains ghats and has a great view from that height of the sloppy peaks. Mahabaleshwar has sites like Arthur's Seat, Lingmala Waterfall and Pratapgad Fort, tapola. Mahabaleshwar is famous for cultivation of strawberries and mulberries. There are many rivers up there due to which the climate is excellent there. Mahabaleshwar can be reached via trains and buses.
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| Pune |
5. Pune
Pune was called the queen of Deccan and was ruled by the Rashtrakutas. During the time of Shivaji Maharaj the city was the centre of power. As the time passed it became a political centre for the Peshwas.
Pune is one of the most famous city in India and is 161 km from Mumbai. Many industrial sectors are there in that city which also makes the city the 2nd largest city of Maharashtra. Pune is known for it's historical Martha's sites. Shanivar Wada, Sinhagad Fort, Osho Ashram, Dagdusheth Ganapathi, Pataleshwar Cave Temple, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Shinde Chhatri, Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, National War Museum, Aga Khan Palace, Rajgad Fort Darshan Museum Bund Garden, Saras Baug and Parvati Hill are the some of the prominent attractions in Pune. The city is also known for it's exciting events. It is popular among youngsters for its top ranked educational institutions aling with great nightlife and places to hang out in.
Maharashtra, among other states of India, has a variety of things to explore which make it a popular destinations for tourists in India and across the world. All we need is a proper vision which would enable us to promote our rich heritage and make it hospitable for visitors from around the world.
- Kartik Jain
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