Maharashtra - The Tourist Guide

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Maharashtra is the second most populated state in India. Maharashtra is the main contributor to the country's GDP.

About Maharashtra

Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, and Marathi is the most widely spoken language here. Maharashtra was the base of the Maratha Kingdom that fought against the British government and Mughal emperors.

Where Is Maharashtra

Maharashtra is located in the western part of India. Maharashtra is surrounded by Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the southwest, Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, Chhattisgarh to the east, Madhya Pradesh to the northeast, and Gujarat to the northwest. The Western Ghats pass through Maharashtra parallel to the 840-km-long coastline.

Major Cities

Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur are the major cities in Maharashtra. Mumbai, the capital and the largest city in Maharashtra, is also the financial capital of India. Pune is the education hub of western India, ...
... and Nagpur is a famous industrial city. Other important cities are Khandala, Amravati and Aurangabad.

Places to Visit

There are many places of historical importance in Maharashtra. The Ajanta Caves, carved between the 2nd and 6th century depicts the depth in Buddhist architecture. The Ellora caves, carved out of stone, is a collection of 34 temples that have inscriptions about Hindu, Buddhist and Jain way of life several millenniums ago. The Elephanta caves built during the regime of Gupta Dynasty, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, Panchgani, Jawahar and MalshejGhat are prominent hill stations in Maharashtra. These hill stations are situated on the Sahyadri Range in Western Ghats. Brahmagiri in Nashik is the spot where the holy river Narmada commences.

The coastline of Maharashtra is dotted with many beach resorts and weekend getaways for the people in Maharashtra. Juhu Beach and Marine Drive in Mumbai are famous beaches in the state. Dahanu Bordi, Bassein, Ganapatipule, Marve Manori Gorai, Tarkali and Velneshwar are other famous beaches in Maharashtra. Dapoli, also known as "Mini Mahabaleshwar", is a beautiful weekend getaway from Mumbai. Alibag is another coastal town that houses beautiful beaches, forts and temples.

Maharashtra is also rich in flora and fauna collection. The ecosystem here is preserved with the help of the numerous National Parks in the state. Pench National Park, Navegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary are famous destinations for ecotourists.

How to Reach

Air: ChhatrapatiShivaji International Airport in Mumbai is the busiest airport in South Asia. There are regular flights to all the major international destinations from there. There are two other international airports in Pune and Nagpur. There are 10 domestic airports that connect Maharashtra effectively with the rest of the country.

Rail: Maharashtra has the most extensive railway network for any Indian state. Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati railway stations are some of the important stations in Maharashtra. There are regular trains plying to all major Indian cities from Maharashtra.
Road: A total of 16 national highways and over 200 state highways that link all the prominent cities in Maharashtra with the cities in other states. A multitude of expressways are being laid in Maharashtra to ease traffic on the highways.

Sea: Mumbai Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust are the most important seaports in the country and they are efficiently linked to most other international ports across the world. There are over 40 minor ports in Maharashtra.