Located in the West region, Maharashtra is the third largest state of India by size and the second largest by population. It stretches from the west coast to the interior regions and its climate too varies with its geography. Maharashtra contains India's most industrialized region, the Mumbai-Pune belt. Agriculturally too, the state is one of India's more advanced and well-irrigated.
Ajanta & Ellora Caves
One of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian heritage are the Ajanta & Ellora group of caves. Maharashtra state treasures this mesmerizing caves which were accidentally discovered in the 19th century by the British. Ellora houses 34 caves while Ajanta houses 29 caves. Each cave depicting a tale from the Jatakas or depicting stories of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
How to get there?
Jalgaon is the best place to drop in for Ajanta if you like Rail journey.
Ajanta Caves remain closed on Monday and Ellora Caves remain closed on Tuesday. BOTH CAVES REMAIN OPEN ON ALL NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta island is known for its great cave shrine, excavated in the 6th century. The island lies 10 km northeast to Apollo Bunder or Gateway of India. The island which was known as Gharapuri earlier is the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. This is land was renamed, Elephanta by the Portuguese who landed here, after the majestic carved elephant on this island.
How to get there?
The Elephanta Caves, dating back to 600 AD, can be reached by a ferry rideof about 1 hour from the Gateway of India.
Best time to visit: November to March is the ideal time to visit the island.
Open from 09 hours to 17 hours (except Mondays). Entry fee for those above 12 years - Rs. 5.00. Free entry on Fridays.
Murud Janjira
Sea Forts like the Siddi fort of Murud Janjira and Jaigad near Ganpatipule, the famous pilgrimage place belong to the Maratha period.Many other prominent forts of the Maratha period still exist- Panhala, Purandhar where Baji Prabhu laid down his life holding back the forces of Siddi Johar at a narrow pass, since christened Pavankhind, and Lohagad
How to get there?
Panvel is the nearest railhead. Mumbai is 165 kms away from Murud by road, approximately a four hour drive.
Site seeing: Janjira Fort, The Casa Fort, The Janjira Caves, The Temple of Lord Dattaraya, Alibagh Beach, Kashid Beach and Nandgaon Beach
Lonavala and Khandala
On the way to Pune from Mumbai come the two pleasant hill stations of Maharashtra, Lonavala and Khandala. Set at a height of 625 m they are located on the western slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range. The two hill stations are 5 kms apart. Fascinating panoramic beauty adorns these places. Khandala being the smaller of the two is relatively calmer. The lush greenery of the mountains especially during the monsoons and the misty paths attract tourist like honey bees here. The silver waterfalls amidst the lush greenery are extremely magical. Lonavala's bazaar is filled with surprises. The beauty of this place is a refreshing experience
How to get there?
Due to its location the Mumbai Pune highway, every car going towards South India via Pune pass through Lonavala and Khandala. The Mumbai Bangalore national highway all pass through Lonavala and Khandala. State buses, private buses, taxis, and package tour agencies offer regular services to Lonavala and Khandala. It is also well connected by rail. Connecting trains are available from Mumbai and Pune. The train journey to Lonavala and Khandala is awesome. The train passes through about 20 tunnels.
Site seeing: Gambhirnath Caves, Nagphani, Vaghdari, Khandala Dari, Gambhirnath Caves
Bassein Fort
Located just 55 kms. (a 90 min. journey) away from Bombay, is Bassein, one of the most important sea forts of Maharashtra. The last bastion of the first sea-faring foreign power in India, the Portuguese. Built by Bahadur Shah -Sultan of Gujarat from 1526-1537, it was initially one of a chain of forts intended to guard the coasts against the Portuguese and pirates. The Portuguese however captured it and remodelled the fort, building a citadel inside.
How to get there?
To get here, try the railways. the nearest Railway Station is Vasai Road (7 km). There are ST buses from Vasai Railway Station to Bassein Fort. 19 km away is Arnala Fort, (9 km from Virar ) a beautiful sea fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji. There are buses connecting Vasai city and Arnala Village and then ferry services to the Fort.
Raigad
Raigad also known as Durgadeshwar is the lord of all the 360 odd forts in the state of Maharashtra. Now you may wonder why is Raigad the king of all forts - but there is a very good reason behind Raigad being crowned thus. It is because Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who roused the patriotic fervour by his guru mantra, Hindavi Swaraj, which later, became his war cry, chose this fort as his capital. The fort was originally named Raigiri. It was renamed Raigad by Shivaji who was coronated on June 6, 1674
How to get there?
By road, Raigad is 23 km off the Mahad Junction on the left, and the road up is quite steep. The route is Mumbai - Panvel - Palaspe - Nagothane - Kolad - Indapur - Mangaon - (Raigad) - Mahad
Matheran
This place was discovered in 1850 and due to its greenery & shade it was immediately taken as the nearest hill station from Mumbai. Matheran is sightly above the plains so it is cool and provides respite from the heat of Mumbai. The place provides very nice views of the near by places, particularly on a clear day one can even see Mumbai from the Hart point. Though the local population of Matheran is very less but the visitors pour at this place frequently. Matheran has maintained the tranquility and peace by banning any kind of motor vehicle. The best season to visit this place is between November to June but the place is worth visiting any time of the year. During the monsoon the trails become very dirty and the place virtually shuts down.
Sites to see: Alexander Point, Charlotte Lake
How to reach there?
You can catch a Karjat bound local train from CST(a.k.a. VT Mumbai, India) on the Central Railway to Neral Station. From Neral Station , there is a toy train which runs to Matheran about 4 times in a day. This toy train is not operational when railway route is under maintenance or when there is a perceived hazard e.g. the monsoons. The only way to know about it is at the Neral Station. The train is normally full, so turn up in good time to ensure you get a ticket.
Situated at an altitude of 1334 mts it lies just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. It gets name from the 5 hills around it. The way to Panchgani from Mahabaleshwar which is 18 kms is absolutely spectacular. The Krishna river that meanders through the farms, ravines and hamlets on one side and the coastal plains on the other side has a mesmeric charm. Panchgani has been a retreat for a long time. It displays architecture of Old British building. Parsi houses and the boarding school which would be almost a century old.
Places of Interest:
Numerous old British buildings and Parsi houses with most of them being famous educational institutes are present. There are as many as twenty boarding schools in Panchgani. P
anchagani with its immaculate natural beauty and rejuvenating oxygen levels prides itself of a TB Sanatorium. Patients are known to get healthier faster at Panchgani owing to its clean and unpolluted surroundings.
Best Times to Visit: September to May.
How to reach there?
Pune is a popular railway station for tourists to Panchgani at a distance of 98 km from Panchgani. Though the railway station nearest to happens to be at Wathar. Panchgani is well linked with Mumbai and Pune through road.
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad, is one of the important Maratha forts having a colourful history linked with it. A history that echoes with the bravery of the Maratha conquest of Kondana fort by Tanaji Malasure. Today. 24 kms. south-west of Pune, battle-scarred, it rises intimidating, amidst the Bhuleshwar range.
Location: 24 Kms. from Pune
How to reach there?
Regular PMT buses from Sarasbag
In the 17th Century, the Marathas rose under the leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji against the Mughals who were ruling a large part of India. After the third Anglo-Maratha war, the empire ended and most of Maharashtra became part of Bombay state under a British Raj.
Maharashtra is the richest state in India, contributing to 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in year 2005-06.
Several wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and Project Tiger reserves have been created in Maharashtra, with the aim of conserving the rich bio-diversity of the region. As of May 2004, India has 92 national parks, of which 5 are located in Maharashtra. A large percentage of Maharashtra's forests and wildlife lie in the Vidarbha region.
Maharashtra is the richest state in India, contributing to 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in year 2005-06.
Several wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and Project Tiger reserves have been created in Maharashtra, with the aim of conserving the rich bio-diversity of the region. As of May 2004, India has 92 national parks, of which 5 are located in Maharashtra. A large percentage of Maharashtra's forests and wildlife lie in the Vidarbha region.
Ajanta & Ellora Caves
One of the most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian heritage are the Ajanta & Ellora group of caves. Maharashtra state treasures this mesmerizing caves which were accidentally discovered in the 19th century by the British. Ellora houses 34 caves while Ajanta houses 29 caves. Each cave depicting a tale from the Jatakas or depicting stories of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
How to get there?
Jalgaon is the best place to drop in for Ajanta if you like Rail journey.
Ajanta Caves remain closed on Monday and Ellora Caves remain closed on Tuesday. BOTH CAVES REMAIN OPEN ON ALL NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Elephanta Caves
The Elephanta island is known for its great cave shrine, excavated in the 6th century. The island lies 10 km northeast to Apollo Bunder or Gateway of India. The island which was known as Gharapuri earlier is the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. This is land was renamed, Elephanta by the Portuguese who landed here, after the majestic carved elephant on this island.
How to get there?
The Elephanta Caves, dating back to 600 AD, can be reached by a ferry rideof about 1 hour from the Gateway of India.
Best time to visit: November to March is the ideal time to visit the island.
Open from 09 hours to 17 hours (except Mondays). Entry fee for those above 12 years - Rs. 5.00. Free entry on Fridays.
Murud Janjira
Sea Forts like the Siddi fort of Murud Janjira and Jaigad near Ganpatipule, the famous pilgrimage place belong to the Maratha period.Many other prominent forts of the Maratha period still exist- Panhala, Purandhar where Baji Prabhu laid down his life holding back the forces of Siddi Johar at a narrow pass, since christened Pavankhind, and Lohagad
How to get there?
Panvel is the nearest railhead. Mumbai is 165 kms away from Murud by road, approximately a four hour drive.
Site seeing: Janjira Fort, The Casa Fort, The Janjira Caves, The Temple of Lord Dattaraya, Alibagh Beach, Kashid Beach and Nandgaon Beach
Lonavala and Khandala
On the way to Pune from Mumbai come the two pleasant hill stations of Maharashtra, Lonavala and Khandala. Set at a height of 625 m they are located on the western slopes of the Sahyadri mountain range. The two hill stations are 5 kms apart. Fascinating panoramic beauty adorns these places. Khandala being the smaller of the two is relatively calmer. The lush greenery of the mountains especially during the monsoons and the misty paths attract tourist like honey bees here. The silver waterfalls amidst the lush greenery are extremely magical. Lonavala's bazaar is filled with surprises. The beauty of this place is a refreshing experience
How to get there?
Due to its location the Mumbai Pune highway, every car going towards South India via Pune pass through Lonavala and Khandala. The Mumbai Bangalore national highway all pass through Lonavala and Khandala. State buses, private buses, taxis, and package tour agencies offer regular services to Lonavala and Khandala. It is also well connected by rail. Connecting trains are available from Mumbai and Pune. The train journey to Lonavala and Khandala is awesome. The train passes through about 20 tunnels.
Site seeing: Gambhirnath Caves, Nagphani, Vaghdari, Khandala Dari, Gambhirnath Caves
Bassein Fort
Located just 55 kms. (a 90 min. journey) away from Bombay, is Bassein, one of the most important sea forts of Maharashtra. The last bastion of the first sea-faring foreign power in India, the Portuguese. Built by Bahadur Shah -Sultan of Gujarat from 1526-1537, it was initially one of a chain of forts intended to guard the coasts against the Portuguese and pirates. The Portuguese however captured it and remodelled the fort, building a citadel inside.
How to get there?
To get here, try the railways. the nearest Railway Station is Vasai Road (7 km). There are ST buses from Vasai Railway Station to Bassein Fort. 19 km away is Arnala Fort, (9 km from Virar ) a beautiful sea fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji. There are buses connecting Vasai city and Arnala Village and then ferry services to the Fort.
Raigad
Raigad also known as Durgadeshwar is the lord of all the 360 odd forts in the state of Maharashtra. Now you may wonder why is Raigad the king of all forts - but there is a very good reason behind Raigad being crowned thus. It is because Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who roused the patriotic fervour by his guru mantra, Hindavi Swaraj, which later, became his war cry, chose this fort as his capital. The fort was originally named Raigiri. It was renamed Raigad by Shivaji who was coronated on June 6, 1674
How to get there?
By road, Raigad is 23 km off the Mahad Junction on the left, and the road up is quite steep. The route is Mumbai - Panvel - Palaspe - Nagothane - Kolad - Indapur - Mangaon - (Raigad) - Mahad
Matheran
This place was discovered in 1850 and due to its greenery & shade it was immediately taken as the nearest hill station from Mumbai. Matheran is sightly above the plains so it is cool and provides respite from the heat of Mumbai. The place provides very nice views of the near by places, particularly on a clear day one can even see Mumbai from the Hart point. Though the local population of Matheran is very less but the visitors pour at this place frequently. Matheran has maintained the tranquility and peace by banning any kind of motor vehicle. The best season to visit this place is between November to June but the place is worth visiting any time of the year. During the monsoon the trails become very dirty and the place virtually shuts down.
Sites to see: Alexander Point, Charlotte Lake
How to reach there?
You can catch a Karjat bound local train from CST(a.k.a. VT Mumbai, India) on the Central Railway to Neral Station. From Neral Station , there is a toy train which runs to Matheran about 4 times in a day. This toy train is not operational when railway route is under maintenance or when there is a perceived hazard e.g. the monsoons. The only way to know about it is at the Neral Station. The train is normally full, so turn up in good time to ensure you get a ticket.
The toy train times (as of Feb '08) are: Matheran -> Neral:
- depart 0700, arrive 0840
- depart 0945, arrive 1125
- depart 1340, arrive 1520
- depart 1625, arrive 1810
- depart 1445, arrive 1625
Neral -> Matheran:
- depart 0730, arrive 0930
- depart 0850, arrive 1110
- depart 1015, arrive 1210
- depart 1705, arrive 1900
- depart 1215, arrive 1405
Situated at an altitude of 1334 mts it lies just 38 m below Mahabaleshwar. It gets name from the 5 hills around it. The way to Panchgani from Mahabaleshwar which is 18 kms is absolutely spectacular. The Krishna river that meanders through the farms, ravines and hamlets on one side and the coastal plains on the other side has a mesmeric charm. Panchgani has been a retreat for a long time. It displays architecture of Old British building. Parsi houses and the boarding school which would be almost a century old.
Places of Interest:
Numerous old British buildings and Parsi houses with most of them being famous educational institutes are present. There are as many as twenty boarding schools in Panchgani. P
anchagani with its immaculate natural beauty and rejuvenating oxygen levels prides itself of a TB Sanatorium. Patients are known to get healthier faster at Panchgani owing to its clean and unpolluted surroundings.
Best Times to Visit: September to May.
How to reach there?
Pune is a popular railway station for tourists to Panchgani at a distance of 98 km from Panchgani. Though the railway station nearest to happens to be at Wathar. Panchgani is well linked with Mumbai and Pune through road.
Sinhagad Fort
Sinhagad, is one of the important Maratha forts having a colourful history linked with it. A history that echoes with the bravery of the Maratha conquest of Kondana fort by Tanaji Malasure. Today. 24 kms. south-west of Pune, battle-scarred, it rises intimidating, amidst the Bhuleshwar range.
Location: 24 Kms. from Pune
How to reach there?
Regular PMT buses from Sarasbag
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