|
 Maharashtra
Tourism
Maharashtra is one of the largest as well as one of the
most popular states of India (in terms of tourism). It
is home to a large number of attractions, drawn by which
people come here on sightseeing tours. The state, with
its lush green locales, picturesque hill stations, exotic
beaches and rich wildlife, is surely a nature lover's paradise.
Add to this, the numerous historical monuments, rock cut
caves and religious shrines Maharashtra offers and you
have a variety of reasons to plan a holiday trip to the
magnificent land. In this article, we have provided you
with a list of the attractions that you must visit on a
tour of Maharashtra.
Beaches
Maharashtra, one of the biggest states in India, has a
long coastline to boast of. This extensive coastline has
resulted in the state being blessed with a number of beaches,
which are known throughout the world for their white sands,
serene locales and stunning environs.
...................... >> more
information
Caves
The amazing caves situated at Maharashtra showcase the
age-old culture and rich legacy of the state. Some of these
caves, like Elephanta Caves, Karkla Caves and Bhaja Caves,
boast of stunning rock cut architecture. On the other hand,
those at Ajanta and Ellora have been adorned with beautiful
paintings.
...................... >> more
information
Religious
Places
Maharashtra has always been one of the favorite destinations
of the tourists visiting India. One of the reasons for
this huge popularity is that the state is home to a large
number of religious places, comprising of temple, mosques,
Jyotirlingas, etc.
...................... >> more
information
Hill
Stations
Are you tired of toiling away to work every day? Do you
need a break from the monotony that has become so widespread
in the life of city dwellers? Welcome to the hill stations
of Maharashtra! The state is home to the Sahyadri hill
ranges and this has resulted in it being gifted with a
number of hill resorts.
...................... >> more
information
Monuments
Maharashtra, one of the leading industrial states in India,
is known throughout the world for being home to a large
number of historical monuments. These monuments today stand
as testimony to the rich past which the state boasts of.
Most of the famous monuments in Maharashtra are situated
in the capital city.
...................... >> more
information
Wildlife
The nature lovers, who come to India to explore its rich
wildlife, must make a sojourn at Maharashtra also. The
state is virtually a delight for those who love to visit
wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and be a witness
to nature's beauty. The various protected areas here are
home to a wide variety of wildlife.
...................... >> more
information
Forts
For those who are interested in exploring the rich past
of Maharashtra, there are no better places to visit than
its magnificent forts. Each and every fort in this Indian
state has some or the other tales buried within its boundaries,
tales of courage, tales of valor, tales of chivalry, and
so on.
...................... >> more
information
Maharashtra
Airports
Maharashtra is well connected with all the parts of India
through various means of transportation, namely air, rail
and road. Being home to a number of coastal cities, the
state can also be approached from the sea. However, it
is by air that a major percentage of visitors enter Maharashtra.
Even amongst the air travelers, the maximum amount of rush
is seen entering the state through the two airports in
Mumbai. In this article, we have provided information on
all the major airports of Maharashtra.
Chhatrapati
Shivaji International
Airport (Mumbai)
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, with the traffic
of up to 45 landings and takeoffs per hour, is the busiest
airport not only in the Maharashtra, but also the whole
of India. Situated at Sahar, this airport has two main
terminals - Terminal 2A and Terminal 2C. Facilities like
ATM, Wheelchair, Inter-terminal Coach Service, Medical
Room, Lost & Found Counter, Shops, Restaurant and Snack
Bar are available at the airport.
Santa
Cruz Domestic Airport (Mumbai)
Santa Cruz is the domestic airport of Mumbai, situated
in the Santa Cruz locality. It also comprises of two terminals
- Terminal 1A and Terminal 1B. There are shuttle services
provided for those who want to go from the domestic airport
to the international airport. All the domestic airlines
of India operate from the Santa Cruz Airport only.
Lohegaon
Airport (Pune)
The airport of Pune is situated in the Lohegaon area, lying
at a distance of 10 km to the northeast of the city. Domestic
flights, connecting the city with the rest of India, operate
from here. Apart from that, you can also take international
flights from here, to Singapore and Dubai. A new airport
is proposed to be built between the area of Chakan and
Rajgurunagar, along the Pune-Nashik National Highway.
Chikkalthana
Airport (Aurangabad)
Aurangabad city has an airport of its own, situated at
a distance of about 10 km from the heart of the city. It
is a domestic airport and has direct flights to key cities
in India, like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, etc. The airport holds
a lot of traffic of people coming to visit the caves of
Ajanta and Ellora.
Dr.
Ambedkar International
Airport (Nagpur)
One of the major airports of Maharashtra is situated in
Nagpur, around 8 km from the city center. Till October
2005, the airport was catering only to the domestic travelers.
But since then, it has also started operating a few international
flights, the first being the Air Arabia of Sharjah. Presently,
the airport operates international flights to Sharjah and
Bangkok.
Kolhapur
Airport
Kolhapur Airport is around 9 km away from the heart of
the city. Spread over an area of approximately 180 acres,
the airport has been catering to only domestic carriers
till date. You will get regular flights to all the major
parts of India, from this airport.
Sholapur
Airport
Another major domestic airport of Maharashtra is situated
at Sholapur. The airport has not started international
flights yet and still operates domestic carriers only.
However, you can get direct as well as regular flights
to all the key cities in India from here.
Best
Time to Visit Maharashtra
Best
Time
to
Visit
:
October
to
February
Maharashtra
is counted amongst those
states in India that are
visited by tourists in large
numbers. Be it the beaches
of the state or its revered
temple and shrines or its
magnificent historical monuments,
travelers love coming here
and spending their holidays.
It is quite obvious that
they would like to come at
a time when the weather conditions
are at their best. From this
point of view, the best time
to visit Maharashtra comes
out to be the period between
October and February.
By
this time, the summer season
is far behind and even monsoons
have already poured themselves
like cats and dogs. So, you
will neither have to worry
about the scorching heat
of the sun nor about the
sticky humidity that is the
usual after-effect of rains.
By October, the climate is
very pleasant, making it
the ideal time to visit the
state. By the end of November,
winters set in and last somewhere
around mid-February.
Even
after that, the pleasant
spell of the weather continues
till early March, thus making
the period of October to
February, the peak season
for Maharashtra travel. Unlike
the northern parts of India,
even during winters, the
weather in Maharashtra is
chilly, but not extremely
cold. So, it is advisable
for you to carry light woolens
with you. What are you waiting
for guys? Just pack your
bags with some woolens and
get ready to bid adieu to
your city for a few days!
Maharashtra
Cuisine
The people of Maharashtra equate anna (food) with Lord
Brahma. They believe that feeding a hungry person is like
feeding Lord Brahma. No wonder their traditional food tastes
so delicious that it seems to satisfy your appetite as
well as soul. The warm hospitality extended by the people
of the state adds to the taste of the food. The cuisine
of Maharashtra is largely based on the crops that are grown
in and around its various regions. Grated coconut is a
very common ingredient, used in most of dishes made by
Maharashtrians.
However,
their main medium of cooking
is peanut oil. Infact, they
make extensive use of peanuts
and cashew nuts in their
vegetables. Kokum, a deep
purple berry that gives a
sweet-cum-sour taste, is
also a very popular ingredient
used in Maharashtra cuisine.
One of the most popular dishes
of the state is bharlivangi
(small brinjals stuffed with
coconut). As for sweet dishes,
people of Maharashtra love
puran poli. It is basically
a kind of bread (roti), with
rich stuffing of a sweet
mixture of jaggery and gram
flour.
Even
Shreekhand, sweetened curd
with the flavor of cardamom
and saffron, is liked by
almost all Maharashtrians.
However, on a more generic
basis, we can say that the
traditional food of Maharashtra
is known for its subtle variety
and strong flavor. Maharashtrians
pay as much attention to
the presentation of the food
as its preparation. In the
traditional families of the
state, the family members
as well as guests sit on
the floor rugs or red wooden
seats for eating the food.
The cutlery for eating as
well as serving the meal
is either that of silver
or metal.
A
short decorative table, known
as 'chowrang', is kept in
format of every person and
it is on this table that
thalis (plates) as well as
the katoris (bowls) are kept.
In the earlier times, the
area around chowrang or the
thali used to be decorated
with rangoli designs. Since
the meals comprise of a number
of courses, each person is
given a bowl of water, scented
with saffron. He dips his
fingers in the bowl after
every course, to ensure that
its flavor doesn't get mixed
with the next.
Even
the courses, comprising of
curries, vegetables, rice
or rotis, savories and sweets,
are not served haphazardly.
There is a particular order
that has to be followed in
serving these dishes. A person
who doesn't know the order
of serving various courses
is considered a bad host
by the people of Maharashtra.
Last but not the least; ambience
is also paid much attention.
Some people even burn incense
in their house to make the
guest feel welcome.
How
to Reach Maharashtra
Maharashtra
is located in the western
part of India and is today,
counted amongst the industrially
advanced states of the country.
Being home to important cities
like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur,
etc, the state has gained
international recognition.
Combine this with the fact
that Maharashtra has a number
of magnificent tourist attractions
to boast of and we get the
reason why the state is so
popular amongst tourists.
Obviously,
the tourists would like to
get information on how to
reach Maharashtra i.e., the
various means of traveling
to the state. The location
of Maharashtra is such that
it is accessible by all the
four modes of transportation
- air, rail, road and sea.
Thus, getting to the state
is by no means, a difficult
task. To make visitors understand
the methods of reaching the
state, we have provided complete
information on the same,
in the lines given below.
By
Air
There is basically one major international airport in Maharashtra
i.e. the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport of Mumbai.
Apart from that, the city also has a domestic airport -
Santa Cruz Domestic Airport. The airports at Nagpur and
Pune also operate a few international flights, apart from
the usual domestic ones. The cities of Kolhapur and Aurangabad
also have a domestic airport of their own.
By
Rail
The largest as well as the most important railway station
of Maharashtra is situated in Mumbai and is known as Chhatrapati
Shivaji Terminus. From there, you can get trains to almost
every part of India. Apart from that, there are railway
stations in Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad,
AMravati, etc. In short, Maharashtra is well connected
with the other states via railways.
By
Road
There are a number of National Highways and State Highways
crisscrossing Maharashtra, which make it easier for any
visitor to visit the state by road. Infact, through these
highways, you can easily approach the state from any and
every part of the country. Apart from that, you can easily
get buses and taxis from the numerous cities in Maharashtra
to travel within as well as outside the state.
By
Sea
Since a number of cities in Maharashtra are situated on
sea banks, you can also go there via ship from the neighboring
countries. Apart from the international naval port at Mumbai,
there are a number of other minor ports in the state. Thus,
reaching Maharashtra by presents no problems for the tourists
Maharashtra
Languages
Official
Language : Marathi
Maharashtra
is counted amongst the coastal
cities of India and has been
gifted with natural beauty
in abundance. Combine this
with the architectural splendor
of the state and voila, you
have the perfect answer to
why the state is so popular
amongst Indian as well as
foreign tourists. If you
are going to a new place,
especially if it's in a foreign
country, it is better to
be prepared with all the
information regarding it,
right from the weather to
location to languages spoken
there.
It
will help you avoid a number
of problems. As far as Maharashtra
is concerned, the official
language is Marathi. Infact,
this language is spoken by
the majority of population
living in the state. In the
bigger cities of Maharashtra
(like Mumbai, Pune, etc),
where the populace has acquired
cosmopolitan nature, Hindi
and English are counted amongst
the major languages. Along
with this, people are also
found speaking Gujarati and
Urdu. You can also find a
number of dialects spoken
in the state, which differ
as you move from one region
to another.
For
instance, in the northwest
parts of Maharashtra, Ahirani
dialect is spoken. As you
move the south Konkan, you
will hear many people speaking
in Malvani - a dialect of
Konkani. Then, in the Desh
region of the Deccan Plateau,
you will come across people
speaking in Deshi. Even the
Varhadi dialect can be heard
from the people of Vidarbha
region. However, whatever
be region that you visit
or the language that you
hear, the hospitality offered
by the people of Maharashtra
will remain the same, now
and always!
Local
Transport in Maharashtra
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 is a railway junction, 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.
 Location
of Maharashtra
Location
: Western Part
of India
Maharashtra
is situated in the
western part of India
and covers the entire
Deccan region. With
an area of approximately
308,000 sq km (119,000
sq miles), it claims
the distinction of
being counted amongst
the largest states
of India. The state
stands bounded by
Chhattisgarh in the
east, Madhya Pradesh
in the north, Karnataka
in the south, Goa
in the southwest,
Andhra Pradesh in
the southeast and
Gujarat in the northwest.
Situated in between
Maharashtra and Gujarat
is the Union territory
of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli.
The
mighty Arabian Sea
makes up the west
coast of Maharashtra.
Running parallel
to this coast are
the Sahyadri Hills,
also known as the
Western Ghats, which
rise upto the height
of 1,200 meters (4,000
feet). To the east
of the ghats lies
the Deccan Plateau.
On the other hand,
the Konkan coastal
plains are situated
to their west and
boast of a width
of 50-80 kilometers.
Western Ghats are
one of the three
watersheds of India
and it is from here
that most of the
rivers in South India
have found their
origin.
Even
Godavari River and
Krishna River flow
from there and go
till the Bay of Bengal.
A number of small
rivers also originate
from the ghats, and
go towards west,
ultimately emptying
into the Arabian
Sea. In the eastern
side of the state,
one can find the
Vainganga, rushing
towards the Bay of
Bengal. The plateau
of Maharashtra is
made up of black
basalt soil, which
is quite rich in
humus and is the
best suited for cotton
cultivation. Wait
no more! Just come
to Maharashtra and
explore the state
on your own.
|
|
|
Maharashtra
Weather
Main
Seasons : Summers, Winters
and Monsoons
Maharashtra
is situated in the western
part of India and this location
has accorded the state with
a tropical monsoon type of
climate. Thus, the main season
experienced by it comprise
of hot, rainy and cold i.e.
summer season, monsoon season
and winter season. The tropical
conditions that are prevalent
all over Maharashtra have
a similar effect on its hill
stations also. Though they
are colder than the other
cities in the state, the
winters there are not extremely
cold (like the hill stations
in northern part of India).
In the following lines, we
have provided complete information
on the weather of Maharashtra.
Summers
Summer season in Maharashtra sets somewhere around the
month of March and till May, the temperatures are at their
highest. However, the occasional thunderstorms are what
bring relief from the scorching sun. During this time,
the average temperature remains in the range of 22 deg
C to 40 deg C.
Monsoon
The areas in and around Maharashtra usually experience
the onset of monsoon before the northern cities. By the
first week of June, monsoon arrives in the city and starts
retreating somewhere in the month of September. However,
the maximum rainfall is received by the state in July,
followed by August.
Winters
In the month of October, the weather in Maharashtra is
quite pleasant. It is around November that the chill starts
setting in. Till February, the state experiences winter
season, characterized by clear skies, gentle breezes and
pleasant weather. The usual temperature around this time
is somewhere between 12 deg C to 25 deg C.
Rainfall
Maharashtra experiences a decent spell of rainfall every
year. The maximum rain is received by Konkan, Sahyadrian
and eastern Vidarbha region, while the central region receives
less rainfall. For example - the annual average rainfall
in Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts is
around 200cm. On the other hand, cities like Nasik, Pune,
Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and
parts of Kolhapur receive less than 50 cm rainfall every
year.
What
to Wear in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
experiences a tropical monsoon
climate, in which there are
three seasons - summers,
winters and monsoons. If
you want to known what clothes
to wear in the state, the
first thing that you will
have to keep in mind is the
weather. Thereafter, you
will have to check out the
particular city in Maharashtra
that you will be visiting.
Only after defining both
the aspects will you able
to decide how to dress up
in Maharashtra.
In
case you are going to Maharashtra
in summers, remember that
the mercury touches 40 deg
C quite easily. Therefore,
you are required to carry
light cotton clothing with
you. Synthetic and clingy
fabrics are a strict no-no.
By any chance if you happen
to visit the state in monsoons,
remember that most of the
cities here experience high
levels of humidity during
this time. Thus, it is advisable
to avoid figure hugging clothes
and better to stick to loose
cottons.
Winters
in Maharashtra are chilly,
but not freezing cold. However,
you must carry light woolen
clothing with you, including
sweaters, shawls, socks,
etc. Now, let's come to the
place you are visiting. In
bigger cities, like Mumbai
and Pune, women can easily
wear figure hugging and short,
revealing clothes, especially
while visiting pubs and discothèques.
However, in small cities
like Amravati, they should
stick to a bit loose and
completely covering clothes.
This
is because too tight or too
revealing clothes might hurt
the sensibilities of the
people who live there. Care
should be taken while dressing
up for places like temples,
gurdwaras, etc. If you can
wear Indian suits to such
places, nothing like it!
Otherwise, stick to jeans
and t-shirts. You can also
wear ankle length skirts,
but no shorts please (even
guys). Just keep these small
points in mind and we can
assure you that your trip
will be as smooth as possible.
Shopping
in Maharashtra
Apart from visiting the numerous tourist attractions, shopping
is the only other significant factor that adds to the excitement
of a person while visiting a new place. Almost all of us
buy something, whether for ourselves or to take back home
as souvenirs or gifts, whenever we go to a new destination.
The tourists coming to Maharashtra are no exception to
this fact. However, the best part is that the state offers
such a wide variety of shopping places as well as shopping
items that you will get tired, but the list will not end.
There
are so many cities in Maharashtra
and almost every city offers
a shopping item, which is
unique from the others and
speaks volumes about its
culture. In Kolhapur, you
will find the popular Kolhapuri
Chappals (leather slippers).
Then, there are the beautiful
Kolhapuri sarees and typical
Kolhapuri jewelry, comprising
of ornaments like mohanmal,
bormal, chaplahar, kolhapuri
saaj, pohehar and putlihar,
thushi, etc. Aurangabad is
known for himroo shawls,
mashroo and kimkhab weaves,
and the stunning paithani
silk sarees.
As
you move to Nashik, you will
find wide varieties of brass
statues and beaded necklaces,
not to forget excellent jewelry.
The cities of Nagpur, Pune
and Mumbai are known for
providing an assortment of
shopping items to the shoppers,
right from clothes and jewelry
to accessories, footwear
and even bags. In Nagpur,
Sitabuldi, WHC Road, Dharampeth
Road, Residency Road (Sadar)
and Chhindwara Road are the
places where you will find
the maximum shops as well
as the maximum variety in
shopping items.
Right
from flea market stuff to
branded and designer wear,
Pune and Mumbai shopping
markets offer all. In Pune,
Deccan Gymkhana, Laxmi Road,
M.G. Road, Fashion Street,
Koregaon Park and Fergusson
College Road are the best
shopping markets. When in
Mumbai, Crawford Market,
Fashion Street, Zaveri Bazar,
Chor Bazaar, Hutatama Chowk,
Juhu Road, Linking Road,
Cuffe Parade, Breach Candy
and Kemps Corner are the
places to shop at. So, just
go and shop to your heart's
content!
|
Maharashtra
Tour 
