City tourism[edit]

Further information: List of State Protected Monuments in Maharashtra

Mumbai[edit]
The eastern equivalent of New York City and Los Angeles, the financial capital and entertainment
(Bollywood) capital of the country.[4] Places of interest include: Haji Ali Dargah situated about 500
yards from the shoreline in the middle of the Arabian Sea. Along with being a religious place, it is
a great attraction for tourists, more than ten thousand people of all religions visit the place every
day. 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, Downtown Mumbai - reminiscent of the 19th century British
architecture. Girgaon chowpati beach, Madh island beach and other beaches towards the south
of Mumbai. Elephanta Caves, carved out of a giant stone on an island are a short ferry away into
the Arabian sea. Due to its cosmopolitan nature, Mumbai has proven a popular tourism
destination.one day dream came will become true in the Mumbai city.

Pune[edit]
The cultural capital of the state of Maharashtra, is said to be the educational center of India.
Pune has forts dating back to the seventeenth century such as Sinhagad, Purandar, Shaniwar
Wada (a weekend residence of the Peshwas) and Lal Mahal (the red palace), residence of
Chhatrapati Shivaji maharaj. Pune also has educational institutes of repute such as Fergusson
College, a 200-year-old college built by the British.

Ambajogai[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Marathwada
This city lies in the central part of Maharashtra and cultural attraction of tourists for cultural
heritage places. The Shivleni Caves and Ambajogai Temple, The town named Ambajogai by
goddess Ambabai - Yogeshwari a heritage temple. There is an ancient underground cave called
Shivleni Caves (Hattikhana) or Jogai Mandap declared as a heritage point (Archaeological sites
in Maharashtra), where Lord Shankar, Nandi and Elephants were carved in stone. The town has
other heritage temples like [Sakleshwar] 12 khambhi, Kholeshwar, Mukundraj cave and
Dasopant Swami Samadhi, Kashivishwanath, Amruteshwar, etc. In the 13th century "Swami
Mukundraj" wrote first Marathi poetry 'Viveksindhu' [Meaning: The Ocean Of Wisdom'] in
Ambajogai. This work is widely acclaimed for its literary quality as well as the philosophical
content. It remains not only the first but among the best literary works ever produced in Marathi.
Ambajogai has good connectivity by road and railways. Ambajogai is widely considered the
educational and cultural capital of Marathwada.

Aurangabad[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Marathwada
This city lies in the central part of Maharashtra and attracts tourists for its natural beauty.
The Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, that lie on the outskirts of Aurangabad are internationally
renowned for man made caves and intricate carvings in them. Ellora is notable for having a
unique monolithic vertically excavated building known as Kailasa temple, Ellora and Ajanta
Caves is notably for Lord Buddha in stone. Ancient Buddhist life has been depicted in delicate
stonework. While Ajanta is completely buddhist caves, Ellora caves belongs to Buddhism,
Hinduism and Jainism. Summers are not advisable for touring as temperatures can reach up to
and above 44 degrees C during the day. There are other famous places of interest like Bibi Ka

Maqbara (The Taj Mahal of Deccan), Daulatabad Fort, Panchakki, Sunheri Mahal etc.
Aurangabad has good connectivity by air, road and railways.

Nagpur[edit]
The winter capital of the state is a wonderful city. With a tradition of producing the best Oranges,
this city is known as the City of Oranges. Nagpur is also known as second most greenest city in
India due to number of trees in the city. The tourism in Nagpur is due to large number of National
Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries surrounding Nagpur. All of these sanctuaries have Tiger as their major
attractions. Two notable National Parks around Nagpur are Pench National Park around 60 km
north of Nagpur, and Tadoba National Park around 180 km south of Nagpur. In a recent
years, Tadoba National Park gained much importance among wildlife enthusiasts nationally and
internationally due to the high probability of sighting Tigers. The other wildlife sanctuaries
include Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary around 110 km east of Nagpur,Melghat Tiger Reserve around
260 km west of Nagpur, Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary 60 km southeast of Nagpur, Bor
Wildlife Sanctuary 60 km southwest of Nagpur, Kanha National Park 260 km northeast of
Nagpur, Satpura National Park 270 km northwest of Nagpur.
Beside these Nagpur has much historical significance. Deekshabhoomi - the place where Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar and lakhs of so-called lower caste who deemed as untouchables by Hindu
caste system, embraced Buddhism. Another important place to visit is Tekadi Ganesh mandir on
Sitabuildi fort complex. The city has other places of tourist importance such as Maharajbagh zoo,
Futala lake chowpati, Raman science center and some premier research institutions such as
NEERI, CICR, NBSSLUP. Nagpur is well connected with all major cities of India by roadways and
railways, and also have international airport.

Nanded[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Marathwada
Nanded is a place of religious importance for adherents of the Sikh faith; its best known landmark
is the Hazur Sahib Nanded Gurdwara, a former Sikh palace. Nanded is also the holy place for
Hindus as it has Renukadevi shaktipeetha temple at Mahur. Nanded has many Sufi shrines as
well.

Parbhani[edit]
Main article: Tourism in Marathwada
Parbhani is well known for Sufi shrine of great sant Hazarat Shah Turabul Haq. Annual 2 week
fair between 2 February to 15 February attracts around half million tourists and followers.
Because of its popularity within Maharashtra, it is often called as Ajmer Sharif of Maharashtra.

Satara[edit]
This city lies on western part of Maharashtra. It is 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. Krishna originates at Mahabaleswar
near the Jor village in the extreme north of Wai district. The Kaas plateau is also one of the most
popular tourist attractions in Satara. This plateau falls under the Sahyadri Sub Cluster of Western
Ghats which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Adventure tourism[edit]
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

Paragliding

Gliding

Rock climbing

Scuba diving

Snorkeling

Kayaking

Canoeing

Trekking

Wildlife Safari

Nature tourism[edit]
Maharashtra has tremendous potential for Nature Tourism. Many private and public organizations
have begun unique and innovative forms of nature tourism.

Hill stations[edit]

Lonavla, Maharashtra

Amboli

Chikhaldara

Igatpuri

Jawhar

Karjat

Khandala

Lavasa

Lonavala

Mahabaleshwar

Matheran

Panchgani

Panhala

Toranmal

Religious Tourism[edit]
Further information: Religious Tourism in Marathwada

Hazur Sahib Nanded is the one of holiest place in Sikhism.

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 Baba - a hugely revered God-like priest
and his birthplace at Pathri, Tuljabhavani temple at Tuljapur, Gajanan Maharaj temple
at Shegaon, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai, Haji Ali Dargah, a popular mosque built in
the sea off the coast of Worli, Mount Mary church in the suburb of Bandra, Sarasbaugh Ganpati
Mandir, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati. Some of the temples in Pune are Parvati
temples, Chaturshringi Temple, Pataleshwar and many temples of Lord Ganesh in the cross
roads of the peths. Osho Ashram in the area of Pune also one of the popular place which attracts
number of devotees. Hazur Sahib Nanded, famous Gurdwara near Nanded, is also one of the
tourist place in Maharashtra. Vithoba temple, Pandharpur is the main centre of worship for
the Hindudeity Vithoba, believed to be a local form of god Krishna or Vishnu and his
consort Rakhumai. It is the most visited temple in Maharashtra. The Warkaris start marching from
their homes to the temple of Pandharpur in groups called Dindi to reach on Aashadhi
ekadashi and Kartiki ekadashi. A dip in the holy river Chandrabhaga on whose
banks Pandharpur resides, is believed to have power to wash all sins. All the devotees are
allowed to touch the feet of the idol of Vithoba.

Gallery[edit]

Kailash Temple in Ellora Caves

Elephanta Caves

Ajanta Caves

The circular Nandi mandapa at the Pataleshwar cave temple, built during theRashtrakuta Empire.

Bibi Ka Maqbara

Hazur Sahib Nanded, 2nd holiest site inSikhism

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Taj Mahal Palace & Tower

Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade

BMC

Rajabai Clock Tower at the University of Mumbai

Shaniwarwada

Gateway of India

Flora Fountain

Deekshabhoomi

Mausoleum of Chand Bibi defender ofAhmednagar against the Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar.

Chaturshringi Temple built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale is in the midst of nature's scenic
beauty.

Famous Tulja Bhavani Temple of Tuljapurtown of Osmanabad District.

Migratory birds at Jayakwadi Dam, main source of water for Marathwada.

Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Aurangabad district.

A view of Parli Vaijnath Temple, Beed District.

Kailasha temple at Ellora Caves.

The Haji Ali Mosque was built in 1431, when Mumbai was under Islamic rule. [5]

Fergusson College is one of the oldest colleges in India.

Daulatabad (Deogiri) Fort

Mula and Mutha rivers

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

Siddhartha Garden

Top 10 Places To Visit In

Maharashtra
The Land of the Marathas,Maharashtra is the 2nd most populated and the 3rd largest
state in India. The state is bordered by the Arabian Sea and the primary language
spoken here is Marathi. Being in the western region of India, Maharashtra has been
blessed with an abundant supply of natural resources and the significance of the region
has been mentioned in the ancient texts. The state of Maharashtra has a unique
location of being situated between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. This makes
the state a biodiverse region rich in flora and fauna. The Krishna, Godavari, Bhima etc.
are the rivers that run through Maharashtra. The state is also the richest state in India
and contributes 13.3% of the countrys GDP and 15% of the countrys Industrial output.
It is thus a major state in India which has tons of places and attractions a tourist must
explore.

1. Mumbai

Image credit Swaminathan, CC BY 2.0

Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is the largest city and the capital of Maharashtra.
It is also the most populated city in India and the 5th most populous city in the world.
The city that we see today is a collection of 7 islands which were joined into a single
metropolitan through land reclamation techniques in the 18th century under the rule of
the British East India Company. The city is often nicknamed the Manhattan of India and
is home to the famous Indian film industry or Bollywood. You might need more than a
week to explore all the attractions in this city alone, with a huge number of historical
monuments, beaches etc.

2. Aurangabad

Image credit Umbreen Hafeez, CC BY-SA 2.0

Aurangabad is named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and is one of the most
prominent tourist places in Maharashtra. The city is famous for its historical
monuments and the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora which are a national heritage
site. The culture of this town is heavily influenced by the Mughal and the Muslim culture
of Hyderabad and Marathi and Urdu are the main languages spoken here. The city has
various lakes and the special cuisines in this region of Maharashtra are mouth watering.

3. Kolhapur

Image credit Ankur P, CC BY-SA 2.0

The city of Kolhapur is located at the banks of the Panchganga River and one of the
Princely states of the Marathas. The city is considered to be the heart of the Maratha
Empire and is famous for its various historical monuments and cultural heritage of the
Marathi people. The climate is pleasant all year round with heavy rainfalls during the
monsoons. The best time to visit the city is during any of the major Hindu festivals like
Holi, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vijaya Dashami and Navaratri. The special kolhapuri
slippers and the kolhapuri cuisines are worth trying out.

4. Mahabaleshwar

Image credit alaji.B, CC BY-SA 2.0

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in Maharashtra and is located at the Western Ghats.
The average elevation of the place is approximately 1,353 meters above sea level and is
the source of the Krishna River. The water originates from a spout which is shaped like
the mouth of a cow and is situated at an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. The city is a
famous summer retreat for the people in Mumbai and is famous for its lakes and
trekking hotspots.

5. Solapur

Image credit vivek Joshi, CC BY 2.0

Solapur is located on the Karnataka state border and the main languages spoken here
are Marathi and Kannada. The city is located at the Deccan plateau and enjoys a
moderate and dry climate most of the year. The ancient temples and lakes are also a
great place to visit in Solapur. The Siddeshwar Temple is an ancient temple built in the
16th century and is visited by an average of 35 lakh pilgrims in a year.

6. Matheran

Image credit Harsha S, CC BY-ND 2.0

Another great hill station located at the Western Ghats in the state of
Maharashtra,Matheran is located at an elevation of approximately 800 meters above
sea level. The city is famous for its cool and less humid climate and is a popular summer
retreat for the population of Maharashtra. The British influence on the architecture is
pretty evident and is well preserved by the officials. The train ride to Matheran is of
special mention as it is a slow ride that will give you ample time to experience the
intoxicating surroundings.

7. Alibag

Image credit Vikas Rana, CC BY 2.0

Alibag was developed under the Naval Chief of the Maratha Ruler Shivaji. It is a coastal
town and is famous for its white sandy beaches which are often unpopulated and cleaner
than Mumbai beaches. The attractions can be covered in a day or two and there are
plenty of cheap and hospitable lodging facilities. The various temples are also worth
visiting as they display a brilliant Hindu Maratha architecture.

8. Khandala

Image credit Sarath Kuchi, CC BY-SA 2.0

Located on the Western Ghats, Khandala is located between the Deccan Plateau and the
Konkan region of Maharashtra. The city is easily accessible and is a popular hiking
getaway near Mumbai. The various trekking locations and viewpoints allow some
magnificent views of the entire valley and the Western Ghats. The ancient rock cut caves
of Karla and Bhaja are also a must visit along with the Bhushi Lake. The rock formations
and cliffs in Khandala have been famous since ages and it is a popular weekend retreat
for the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

9. Nashik

Image credit Jean-Pierre Dalbra, CC BY 2.0

Nashik is located in the North-Western region of Maharashtra and is located on the
banks of the river Godavari which also originates here. The place is mentioned several
times in Hindu Mythology and has been famous for being one of the cities that host the
Kumbha Mela of India once every 12 years. The town has a huge number of tourist
attractions including museums, gardens and a huge array of ancient Temples which are
sacred and have been regarded highly important in the Hindu mythology. The city boasts
of its authentic Marathi cuisines which must be tried.

10. Ratnagiri

Image credit Kristina D.C. Hoeppner, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ratnagiri is a sea port located near the Arabian Sea in the State of Maharashtra. The
town has been mentioned prominently in the Hindu mythology and is famous for its
Temples. The place contains several different breathtaking natural phenomena like the
Rajapur Ganga which is a collection of 14 pools of water which appear almost once in
every 3 years. The old palaces and forts are also great places to explore on your trip
here.
Maharashtra contains a rich cultural heritage and historical importance. It is also one of
the prime states in India and a hub to various cultural and modern
arts. Pune, Nagpur,Lonavala, Panchgani, Shirdi, Igatpuri, Karjat, Devgiri and Lavasa are
also popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra. The hospitable people and the
immense number of places to visit it is essentially a tourist capital of India.