Tourism in Maharashtra
Encyclopedia
Maharashtra
is one of the most industrialized states of India
. Besides Mumbai
, Pune
, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur
complete the urban sprawl of the state. Marathi
is the mother tongue of the people of the state, who are known as Marathis or Maharashtrians. English
and Hindi
are also widely spoken and understood. International tourists with even a smattering of English should not have a problem in communicating with the locals.
Maharashtra is the most visited state by foreign tourists in India and 4th most visited state by domestic tourists in country in 2010.
Recently Aurangabad has been declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra.
Mumbai
The eastern equivalent of New York City
and Los Angeles
and the financial capital and entertainment(Bollywood
) capital of the country, is constantly abuzz with activities. It has a very active nightlife for those inclined towards urban modes of entertainment. Some places of interest to include on the must-watch list are: Gateway of India
, The Bandra-Worli Sea Link
, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a humongous architectural stone structure built by the British more than 200 years ago, Girgaon chowpati (beach), Downtown Mumbai - reminiscent of the 19th century British architecture. Some pristine beaches can be found towards the south of Mumbai, for eg. Madh island beach. Elephanta Caves
, carved out of a giant stone on an island are a short ferry away into the Arabian sea. Ferries can be rented from The Gateway of India. There is no dearth of luxury hotels that dot the city near all important tourist places. The city has one of the most active public transport system rivaling the best in the world in terms of density and reach.And
Pune
Undoubtedly the cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra
, is said to be the educational center of India. Forts from the 17th century, built by the revered (King) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can still be toured from the inside giving tourists a look and feel of life at that time. Shaniwarwada, a weekend residence of the Peshwas, Lal Mahal (the red palace), residence of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Fergussion College, a 200-year old college built by the British. Lakshmi Road, the avenue for buying all things Maharashtrian. These are just some of the places that register high on the tourist's agenda.
and Ellora. Both are internationally renowned for their intricate carvings of Lord Buddha in stone. Ancient Buddhist life has been depicted in delicate stonework. Guided tours are readily available. Summers are not advisable for touring as temperatures can reach up to and above 44 degrees C during the day.
Nagpur
The winter capital of the state senate is a wonderful city. With a tradition of producing the best Oranges
, this city would be a great place to visit during the winter. Summer along with Aurangabad, would not be a good time to visit with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 40s. Nagpur being in the heart of the country has a Zero Mile monument which is a milestone from which the distances of major cities were calculated. The city also has a beautiful stupa at Deekshabhoomi
-the place where under the leadership of Dalit leader Dr B R Ambedkar thousands of dalits embraced Buddhism. Another important place to visit is Tekadi Ganesh mandir on Sitabuildi fort complex. The Orange city has other places of tourist importance such as Maharajbagh zoo, Futala lake chowpati, Raman science center, RSS headquarters and some premier research institutions such as NEERI, CICR, NBSSLUP.
Satara
This city lies on western Maharashtra. City is well known for tourist places like Mahabaleshwar
, Wai
, Panchgani
and rivers such as Koyna
and Krishna
. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are one of the famous tourist places of India. River Krishna rises at Mahabaleswar near the Jor village in the extreme north of Wai(Also known as "Dakshin Kashi") district. From here on it flows into Karnataka and joins the Bay of Bengal after traveling distance of 1400 km.
- a hugely revered God-like priest, Tuljabhavani temple at Tuljapur, Gajanan Maharaj
temple at Shegaon
, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai, Hajiali, a popular mosque in the seas near the Mahalakshmi temple, Mount Mary church in the suburb of Bandra, Sarasbaugh Ganpati Mandir, a temple in a pond near Parvati in Pune
, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati.Osho Asharam in the area of pune also one of the popular place which attracts number of devotiees.Toakhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar, famous Gurdwar near Nanded, is also one of the tourist place in Maharashtra.
. It is the greenest part of the state. Dilapidated forts sitting atop the hills in the Western Ghats along the state coastline offer great climbs for the trek-oriented traveler along with a sense of history. Konkan Railways offer extensive train transport through this hilly terrain up to Goa and beyond.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
is one of the most industrialized states of India
Tourism in India
Tourism in India is the largest service industry, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses more than 5.5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 740 million domestic tourism visits...
. Besides Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
complete the urban sprawl of the state. Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
is the mother tongue of the people of the state, who are known as Marathis or Maharashtrians. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
are also widely spoken and understood. International tourists with even a smattering of English should not have a problem in communicating with the locals.
Maharashtra is the most visited state by foreign tourists in India and 4th most visited state by domestic tourists in country in 2010.
Recently Aurangabad has been declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra.
MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
The eastern equivalent of New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and the financial capital and entertainment(Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
) capital of the country, is constantly abuzz with activities. It has a very active nightlife for those inclined towards urban modes of entertainment. Some places of interest to include on the must-watch list are: Gateway of India
Gateway of India
Its design is a combination of both Hindu and Muslim architectural styles, the arch is in Muslim style while the decorations are in Hindu style. The Gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete. The stone was locally obtained, and the perforated screens were brought from Gwalior.The...
, The Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link , also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, that links Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli...
, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a humongous architectural stone structure built by the British more than 200 years ago, Girgaon chowpati (beach), Downtown Mumbai - reminiscent of the 19th century British architecture. Some pristine beaches can be found towards the south of Mumbai, for eg. Madh island beach. Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta Caves are a network of sculpted caves located on Elephanta Island, or Gharapuri in Mumbai Harbour, to the east of the city of Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
, carved out of a giant stone on an island are a short ferry away into the Arabian sea. Ferries can be rented from The Gateway of India. There is no dearth of luxury hotels that dot the city near all important tourist places. The city has one of the most active public transport system rivaling the best in the world in terms of density and reach.And
PunePunePune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
Undoubtedly the cultural capital of the state of MaharashtraMaharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, is said to be the educational center of India. Forts from the 17th century, built by the revered (King) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can still be toured from the inside giving tourists a look and feel of life at that time. Shaniwarwada, a weekend residence of the Peshwas, Lal Mahal (the red palace), residence of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Fergussion College, a 200-year old college built by the British. Lakshmi Road, the avenue for buying all things Maharashtrian. These are just some of the places that register high on the tourist's agenda.
Aurangabad
This city lies in the central parts of Maharashtra and is one of the most popular cities that figure on the international tourist map. On the outskirts lie the caves of AjantaAjanta
The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India are 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art as well as frescos which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya...
and Ellora. Both are internationally renowned for their intricate carvings of Lord Buddha in stone. Ancient Buddhist life has been depicted in delicate stonework. Guided tours are readily available. Summers are not advisable for touring as temperatures can reach up to and above 44 degrees C during the day.
NagpurNagpurNāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
The winter capital of the state senate is a wonderful city. With a tradition of producing the best OrangesOrange (fruit)
An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, this city would be a great place to visit during the winter. Summer along with Aurangabad, would not be a good time to visit with temperatures hovering in the low-to-mid 40s. Nagpur being in the heart of the country has a Zero Mile monument which is a milestone from which the distances of major cities were calculated. The city also has a beautiful stupa at Deekshabhoomi
Deekshabhoomi
Deekshabhoomi is a sacred monument of Buddhism at the place where Babasaheb Ambedkar converted to Buddhism along with his about 380,000 followers on October 14, 1956. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism is still a guidance for the masses in India....
-the place where under the leadership of Dalit leader Dr B R Ambedkar thousands of dalits embraced Buddhism. Another important place to visit is Tekadi Ganesh mandir on Sitabuildi fort complex. The Orange city has other places of tourist importance such as Maharajbagh zoo, Futala lake chowpati, Raman science center, RSS headquarters and some premier research institutions such as NEERI, CICR, NBSSLUP.
Nashik
This city is a holy pilgrim city. It is the place where Lord Rama spent 14 years of his exile. It is also a city of temples. It is known for its picturesque surrounding and a pleasant climate. It can be visited any time except in rainy season. Trimbakeshwar near Nashik is a jyotirling. Godavari river originates from here. In recent times, this city has developed a lot and is rapidly developing into a metro.The "Wine Capital of India", or the "Grape City", as it is popularly known in recent times, is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of the Godavari River. The city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar. It is a rapidly developing city with a population close to 1.4 million SataraSataraSatara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
This city lies on western Maharashtra. City is well known for tourist places like MahabaleshwarMahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a city and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Western Ghats range. With one of the few evergreen forests of the world, it served as the summer capital of Bombay province during the British Raj.-Geography...
, Wai
Wai
Wai or WAI may refer to:*Wai, Maharashtra, a town in India*Wai, an alternative name for the Nuristani people, speakers of the Waigali language*NO WAI, a phrase that is part of the O RLY? Internet meme.*Wai, a form of Thai greeting...
, Panchgani
Panchgani
Pānchgani is a town and municipal council in Sātārā district in Mahārāshtra, India .-History:Scenic Panchgani was discovered by the British during the British Raj as a summer resort, and a superintendent named John Chesson was placed in charge of the hill station in the 1860s...
and rivers such as Koyna
Koyna
Koyna may refer to:*Koyna River, river that originates in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra*Koynanagar, town at the site of the Koyna Dam*Koyna Dam, A dam on Koyna River* Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Hydroelectric project associated with Koyna River...
and Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani are one of the famous tourist places of India. River Krishna rises at Mahabaleswar near the Jor village in the extreme north of Wai(Also known as "Dakshin Kashi") district. From here on it flows into Karnataka and joins the Bay of Bengal after traveling distance of 1400 km.
Adventure tourism
Maharashtra offers the adventure lovers, over 45 adventures to choose from across its length and breadth. It has over 550 forts to visit including over 20 Sea Forts, 720 km of coastline, the incredible vistas of its western ghats that has superb wildlife and camping possibilities. From water to land to aero, there is a host of adventures to choose from- ParaglidingParaglidingParagliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
- GlidingGlidingGliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
- Rock climbingRock climbingRock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
- Scuba divingScuba divingScuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
- SnorkelingSnorkelingSnorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
- KayakingKayakingKayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
- CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
- Trekking
- Wildlife SafariWildlife SafariWildlife Safari is a safari park in Winston, Oregon, United States. It is home to more than 500 animals that wander freely over the park, which guests can drive through. The park also includes a walk through Safari Village that is home to some of the park's smaller animals...
Nature tourism
Maharashtra has tremendous potential for Nature Tourism. Many private and public organisations have begun unique and innovative nature tourism. Some of them are Ecomantra, Nature Trails, Wild Escapes, Orchid Group etc.Religious venues
Maharashtra boasts of a large number of popular and revered religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state visitors. Shirdi, near Nashik is the location of the temple of Sai BabaShirdi Sai Baba movement
The Shirdi Sai Baba movement is the religious movement of the followers and devotees of the 19th- and early 20th-century Indian saint Sai Baba of Shirdi .-History:...
- a hugely revered God-like priest, Tuljabhavani temple at Tuljapur, Gajanan Maharaj
Gajanan Maharaj
Gajanan Maharaj from Shegaon , Maharashtra, India is a Saint from India. "Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan" is the largest temple trust in the Vidarbha region....
temple at Shegaon
Shegaon
Shegaon is a city and a municipal council in Buldana district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Shegaon is located around 550 km east of the city of Mumbai and 300 km west from the city of Nagpur...
, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai, Hajiali, a popular mosque in the seas near the Mahalakshmi temple, Mount Mary church in the suburb of Bandra, Sarasbaugh Ganpati Mandir, a temple in a pond near Parvati in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati.Osho Asharam in the area of pune also one of the popular place which attracts number of devotiees.Toakhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar, famous Gurdwar near Nanded, is also one of the tourist place in Maharashtra.
The countryside
The countryside is equally engrossing. There is a lot to see and explore in the countryside. The famed Konkan region that lies between the west coast and along the foot of the Western ghats stretches from Maharastra down to Kerala. This part of the state is lush with greenery and tropical geographyTropical geography
Tropical geography refers to the study of places and people in the tropics. When it first emerged as a discipline, tropical geography was closely associated with imperialism and colonial expansion of the European empires as contributing scholars tended to portray the tropical places as "primitive"...
. It is the greenest part of the state. Dilapidated forts sitting atop the hills in the Western Ghats along the state coastline offer great climbs for the trek-oriented traveler along with a sense of history. Konkan Railways offer extensive train transport through this hilly terrain up to Goa and beyond.