Capital of
Maharashtra : Mumbai
Travel
Attractions : Gateway Of
India , Ajanta And Ellora Caves ,
Marine Drive.
Languages
Spoken : Marathi
Best Time
To Visit : September To
April (Coastal Regions) And
September To Mid-June (Hill
Stations) |
Tourism in
Maharashtra
Rugged and vast, of enormous energy and
vitality, Maharashtra, the third largest
state in India, was created in 1960, from
the Marathi-speaking regions of what was
previously Bombay State. The state of
Maharashtra is bounded by the Arabian Sea in
the west, Gujarat in the northwest, Madhya
Pradesh in the north, Andhra Pradesh in the
southeast, and Karnataka and Goa in the
south.
Maharashtra with its diverse geographical
features provides a range of tourist centres.
The state has a 720-km coastline dotted by
rugs standing as mute witnesses down the
ages to the march of warrior kings, foreign
trading vessels and invaders from across the
seas.
Running parallel to the coast are the
Western Ghats, which harbour some of the
more scenic and inviting hill stations -
particularly Matheran and Mahabaleshwar. The
Ghats divide the Deccan from the Konkan
coast, with its unspoilt beaches, today
being developed as modern resorts, like
Ganapatipule and Sindhudurg.
The beauty of Maharashtra is in its forts,
caves and temples, so much so that it is
called 'Dagd-Ancha Desh', meaning the Land
of Rocks. It has a lot to offer to a
visitor, its features are such that any
tourist will definitely find something of
his interest from among its beaches, forts,
caves, temples, cities, wildlife
sanctuaries, bird sanctuaries etc.
The intricately carved caves of Ajanta,
Ellora and Elephanta highlight the Indian
heritage and the spellbinding Indian
Culture. Religious places like Pandharpur,
Nashik, Shirdi, Trimbakeshwar, Tuljapur,
Ganapatipule, Bhimashankar etc are a
refreshing experience and make a fascinating
whole.
Capital of
Maharashtra: Mumbai, the capital,
can well claim to be (after Kolkata) the
second cultural centre of India. Also known
as the First city of India, it is one of the
world's truly great cosmopolitan
metropolises. Being the economic powerhouse
of India Mumbai is the most affluent and
industrialised city in the country today.
Its tradition of glamour and showbiz makes
it the city of dreams. Lively and pulsating,
Mumbai is India's answer to Hollywood,
producing more films each year than any
other county in the world. It is also the
centre of a healthy theatre culture.
Originally, the city was a place of seven
islands, which Colaba, Fort, Byculla, Parel,
worli, Matungs and Mahim. At present the
Greater Mumbai extends into a single Mumbai
extends into a single large land mass.
Mumbai's major sightseeing interests include
Gateway of India, Bombay High Court,
Victoria Terminus, and countless others.
Basically Mumabai belongs to the
international culture. A lot of western
influence over many Decades has managed to
smooth out the cultural differences of the
local people and pop music and disco-culture
prevail above all. Open spaces in this
crowded city include Chowpatty, Marine Drive
and Juhu beach.
History of Maharashtra: Maharashtra is the
land of legendary warriors, full of history
and adventure. Maharashtra enters recorded
history in the 2nd BC, with the construction
of its first Buddhist caves. Maharashtra
also played a key role during the freedom
struggle with strong connections to Gandhi
and the Indian National Congress.
A large area of the Maharashtra state rests
on high plateau, historically the main
centre of the Maratha Empire, which
successfully defied the might of the Mughals
under the fearless rule of Chhatrapati
Shivaji, who is still an immortal legend
here, his memories alive in the many forts
scattered across the countryside. Many of
the inland and coastal forts of Maharashtra
are a legacy of Shivaji's rule.
Povadas are Marathi ballads that describe
the events in the life of Shivaji. They are
very popular in Maharashtra and
Maharashtrians highly respect this great
hero and remember him through these ballads.
Culture of
Maharashtra: Maharashtra is a
huge storehouse of timeless art and culture,
which has been reflected through its, forts,
caves, palaces known for its rich history,
its saints, philosophers, music, handicrafts
and its festivals with all their colourful
rituals and traditions, all of which
amalgamate together to give a true
reflection of Maharashtrian Culture.
Occupation in
Maharashtra: Majority of
Maharashtrian people are engaged in
agriculture; main crops being sugar cane,
cotton, peanuts, tobacco and pulses. The
strong agriculture sector in the state has
always made significant contribution to the
economic development of the region.
Sugarcane farming and 100's of strong
complex of sugar cooperatives are turning
into important growth centers in rural
areas.
Manufacturing industries are centred in
Mumbai and to a lesser extent cities such as
Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Sholapur and
Kolhapur, now account for a quarter of the
nation's output. Textiles have long been
important, but this is now also the premier
region for electronics.
Handicrafts of
Maharashtra: Maharashtra is the
proud home to various different artistic
techniques that have flourished under many
rulers including the Marathas, the Mughals
and the British. The state has a long and
varied tradition of art and crafts from the
paintings at Ajanta dating back to many
hundreds of years to today's Warli
paintings. Maharashtra is known for its
Worli folk paintings. The Paithani and
Narayan Peth saris are the most celebrated
textiles of the state. Kolhapur is famous
for its jewellery and Chappals and the craft
of Lacquerware in Sawantwadi continues to
cast its spell on visitors.
CLIMATE OF
MAHARASHTRA: November to February
is most comfortable time to visit
Maharashtra although evenings can be cold.
Summers are warm with the state receiving
monsoon rainfall between mid-June and
mid-September.
Temperatures:
Summer (average) 22°C-39°C; Winter
12°C-34°C.
Best Time To Visit
Maharashtra: September to April
(coastal regions) and September to mid-June
(hill stations).
Festivals of
Maharashtra: Maharashtrians have
many festivals to celebrate, with each
having a special reason to celebrate. Ganesh
Chaturthi is the most important of all
Maharashtrian festivals and is celebrated
with great aplomb amongst Marathi
communities worldwide. The Government of
Maharashtra (MTDC) organizes cultural
festivals that are held as a tribute to the
artists of yore, to celebrate the greatness
of a site or simply a religious occasion.
Gokhulashtami, Holi, Diwali, Raksha Bandhan,
Gudhi Paadva, Guru Pournima, Maharashtra Day
are the other festivals celebrated in the
state.
Population in
Maharashtra: 92 million
Tourist Offices in
Maharashtra:
Government of India Tourist Office , 123
M.Karve Road, Churchgate, Mumbai- 400 020.
Government of India Tourist Office Counter ,
Domestic Airport, (Timing 7.00 am till the
last flight).
Government of India Tourist Office Counter ,
International Airport, (round the clock).
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
, CDO Hutments, Madam Cama Road, Nariman
Point
India Tourism Development Corporation ,
Nirmal Building, 11th Floor, Nariman Point
Government of India Tourist Office , Krishna
Vilas Station Road (West), Aurangabad,
Maharashtra
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India
Travel Guide / States / Maharashtra Travel Guide
