Maharashtra
Located in the northern center of peninsular India, Maharashtra
is surrounded by the Arabian sea in the west, Gujarat
and Madhya Pradesh on the north, Madhya Pradesh in the
east and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on the south. Mumbai
is the capital of Maharashtra, which derives its name
from the Goddess Mumba Devi.
Mughal rulers from Delhi tried their best to keep this
region under their control. From the middle of the 17th
century, a new group of warrior people came to dominate
the scene in Maharashtra and elsewhere in India called
Marathas. The origin of Marathas is still debatable, but
what is known is that they stole the limelight from the
great Mughals and at one point of time even captured Delhi.
It was only after defeating the Marathas that the English
could establish their rule in India. Shivaji was the first
great ruler of Marathas and it was he who paved the way
for future Maratha influence on India.
Mumbai
Mughal rulers from Delhi tried their best to keep this
region under their control. From the middle of the 17th
century, a new group of warrior people came to dominate
the scene in Maharashtra and elsewhere in India called
Marathas. The origin of Marathas is still debatable, but
what is known is that they stole the limelight from the
great Mughals and at one point of time even captured Delhi.
It was only after defeating the Marathas that the English
could establish their rule in India. Shivaji was
the first great ruler of Marathas and it was he who paved
the way for future Maratha influence on India.
Mumbai (till recently known as 'Bombay') derives its name
from the local deity Mumba Devi, whose temple is still
there. The Portuguese predecessors of the British preferred
to think of the name as Bom Baim, the Good Bay. Bombay
was once a cluster of seven islands called Heptanasia
by Plotemy in AD 150. Mumbai is home to people of all
Indian creeds and cultures.
Altitude: Sea
level, Climate: (deg C)-Summer- Max 33.3, Min 22.7;
Winter- Max 29.5, Min- 19.4,Rainfall: 212 cms (June
to September), Seasons: Throughout the year
Places Of Interest:
Afghan Church, Chowpatty Beach, Gateway Of India, Haji
Ali Tomb, Flora Fountain, Kamala Nehru Park, Crawford
Market, Mahalakshmi, Marine Drive, Hanging Garden, Race
Course, Rajabai Towers & Bombay University, Victoria
Terminus , Nehru Planetarium, Taraporewala Acquarium ,
Jijamata Udyan, Nehru Science Centre, Prince Of Wales
Museum.
Excursions:
Aarey Milk Colony- 35 kms, Bassein Fort- 77 kms, Elephanta
Caves- 9 kms, Gorai Beach- 59 kms, Juhu Beach- 21 kms,
Kanheri Caves- 42 kms, Karla Caves-100 kms, Karnala Bird
Sanctuary- 61 kms, Madh, Marve & Manori Beaches, Powai
Lake -26.6 kms, Vihar Lake- 28.6 kms, Tansa Lake- 10.3
kms, Tulsi Lake- 32 kms, Vaitarna Dam- 122 kms, Vajreshwari-
88 kms, Sanjay Gandhi National Park- 35 kms.
Reach -
By Air: Bombay is well linked to major cities of
India.
By Rail: Well connected by to all major
cities and towns of India.
By Road: Pune-163
kms, Nasik-185 kms, Mahabaleshwar- 239 kms, Shirdi- 307
kms, Aurangabad- 392 kms, Vadodara- 432 kms, Ahmedabad-
545 kms, Panaji- 597 kms, Hyderabad- 711 kms, Bangalore-
998 kms.
Pune
Located in Sahyadri hills near the west coast of India,
Pune is a fascinating city with a healthy climate all
year around.The city was one of the pivotal basesof the
17th century great Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji,
who was born at the Shivneri Fort here.Pune became the
seat of the enterprising Peshwas, under whom Maratha power
rose into a major political force. The Peshwas were renowned
patrons of the arts and in their time, enriched the city
with temples, gardens and educational institutions.
It was here that Lokmanya
Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduced the principle of Swadeshi
during the Freedom Movement.Today Pune is one of the leading
metros in India, with the Film and Television Institute
of India and National Defence Academy based here.
Altitude: 598
meters, Climate: (deg C)-Summer- Max 40, Min 26;
Winter- Max 29, Min 19, Rainfall: 70 cms (June
to September),Best season: Throughout the year.
Places Of Interest:
Shaniwar Wada, Saras Baug, Parvati Hill, Raja Kelkar Museum,
Shinde's Chhatri, Bund Garden, Kasturba Smarak (Inside
Agha Khan Palace) etc.
Excursions:
Alandi- 22 kms, Dehu- 29 kms, Karla- 55 kms, Purandhar-
40 kms, Sinhagad- 25 kms, Panchgani- 98 kms, Mahabaleshwar-120
kms, Shivneri Fort- 94 kms, Bhima Shankar- 95 kms, Ashtavinayak
Temples at Theur- 20 kms, Ranjangaon- 50 km, Morgaon-
65 km, Madh- 75 kms, Ojhar- 75 kms, Pali- 80 kms, Lenyadri-
90 kms & Siddhatek- 95 kms, Lonavala- 64 kms, Bhatghar
Dam- 52 kms.
Reach -
By Air: Well connected with Bombay.
By Rail: Pune is well linked by rail with all major towns.
By Road: Bombay-170 kms, Shirdi- 195 kms, Nasik-
202 kms, Aurangabad- 226 kms.
Aurangabad
- Ajanta & Ellora
Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah
II, founded the city of Aurangabad in 1610 A.D, on the
site of a village, Khirki. When Fateh Khan, Malik Ambar's
son succeeded the throne in 1626, he named the city 'Fatehpur'.
In 1653, when Aurangzeb became the Viceroy of the Deccan,
he made it his capital, and renamed it Aurangabad. Maurya
rule heralded the advent of Buddhism in the state of Maharashtra.
The earliest caves at Ajanta and Pithalkora were excavated
in the 2nd century BC, during the Satvahana era. Paithan,
then known as Pratishthana, was an important trade centre
at the time. Aurangabad,
400 kms from Bombay, is linked by air too. Spectacular
rock cut caves and cave paintings exist at two nearby
places, Ajanta and Ellora.
Altitude: 513
meters, Climate: (deg C)-Summer- Max 39, Min 21.5;
Winter- Max 31.3, Min 10,Rainfall: 557 mms, Seasons: Throughout the year
Places Of Interest:
Aurangabad Caves, State Archaeological Museum, Nehru Udyan,
History Museum of Marathwada University, Bibi ka Maqbara,
Panchakki, Siddharth Udyan.
Excursions:
Daulatabad Fort-13 kms, Khuldabad- 26 kms, Grishneshwar
Temple- 30 kms, Paithan- 56 kms, Shirdi-136 kms, Pithalkhora
Caves- 78 kms, Aundha Nagnath-203 kms, Ajanta-106 kms,
Ellora- 30 kms.
Reach -
By Air: Well linked with major cities of India.
By Rail: Well connected by to all major cities
and towns of India.
By Road: Ajanta- 106 kms,
Bombay- 392 kms, Ellora- 30 kms, Nanded- 272 kms, Nasik-
221 kms, Pune- 229 kms, Shirdi- 136 kms.
Ajanta
It was only in the 19th century, that the Ajanta group
of caves, lying deep within the Sahyadri hills, cut into
the curved mountain side, above the Waghora river, were
discovered. A group of British officers on a tiger hunt,
stumbled on these ancient works of art. They depict the
story of Buddhism, spanning the period from 200 BC to
650 AD.
The 29 caves were built as secluded retreats of the Buddhist
monks, who taught and performed rituals in the Chaityas
and Viharas, the ancient seats of learning, and nerve
- centres of the Buddhist cultural movement.
Using simple tools like
hammer and chisel, the monks carved out the impressive
figures adorning the walls of these structures.
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport Aurangabad is -106
kms.
By Rail: The nearest railhead is Jalgaon-
60 kms and Aurangabad– 106kms.
By Road: Aurangabad-
106kms, Ellora- 70kms. Jalgaon- 60kms.
Ellora
The Ellora caves, 34 in number, are carved into the sides
of a basaltic hill, 30 kms from Aurangabad. The finest
specimens of cave - temple architecture, they house elaborate
facades and exquisitely adorned interiors. These structures
representing the three faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and
Jainism, were carved during the 350 AD to 700 AD period.
The 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the
centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north
are Jain.
Reach -
By Air: The nearest airport Aurangabad is -30 kms.
from Ellora
By Rail: The nearest railhead is
Aurangabad- 30 kms. from Ellora
By Road: Aurangabad-
30kms, Ajanta-76kms.
Mahableshwar
Not far from Pune and Mumbai is Mahableshwar, the most
popular hill station in Maharashtra, located at an altitude
of 1372 meters. A number of vantage points, excellent
views, pretty waterfalls and a lake with boating and fishing
facilities are some of its major attractions.
Places Of Interest:
Walks and excursions to viewing points such as Elphistone
Point, Babington Point, Bombay Point, Kate’s Point and
waterfalls like Chinaman’s Falls and Dhobi Falls are pleasant,
Venna Lake and Panchganga Temple.
Excursions:
Pratapgarh Fort, and Panchgani.
Reach -
By Air: Nearest airport is Pune- 120kms.
By
Rail: Nearest railhead is Pune- 247kms.
By
Road: Bombay- 290kms, Pune-247kms.