Maharashtra

Gateway of India : The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of the King George V and Queen Mary to Mumbai in 1911AD.It was designed by George Wittet and built in the Indo-saracenic style.It is a monument ,located on the waterfront in South Mumbai. The Gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres high. The Gateway is built from yellow basalt and reinforced concrete and foundations were completed in 1920. The central dome is 15 metres in diameter and 26 metres above ground at its highest point. The cost of the construction is about Rupees 21, 0000 which was given by the government.

AjantaAlora caves: About 107 kms. from the city of Aurangabad, in the form of a gigantic horse shoe. These caves comprise Chaitya Halls, or shrines, dedicated to Lord Buddha and Viharas, or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation and the study of Buddhist teachings.ElloraCaves, Nestled in the crook of the Charanadari hill in Deccan is a series of ancient temples and monasteries hewn out of the moutainside. Situated on the ancient north- south trade route or the dakshinapatha, the tiny mountain village of Verul - mutated today to Ellora -was a well- known stopover for traders, priests and pilgrims who plied the route to the western ports.

Bibi ka Maqbara : Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, in Agra, in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz. His son Aurangzeb, who overthrew him, built the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as a mausoleum to his wife Rabia-ud-Durrani. This is the monument for which Aurangabad is best known, probably because it was obviously intended to rival the Taj Mahal, which it imitates

Juhu Beach : Juhu is one of the most popular and fizzing beaches of India.It is surrounded by Arabian Sea in the west, Santacruz and Vile Parle in the east. Juhu is around 30 kilometers north of the city centre. It is one of the more affluent areas of Mumbai. The available games at juhu beach are horse and donkey riding, dancing monkeys, acrobats, cricket matches, toy sellers etc. available.





Shirdi: Shirdi is a very small village, covering area of 1.3 km, in the Ahmednagar district of the Indian state of Maharashtra, it has become famous as the abode of the saint Shri Sai Baba. From this place, Sai Baba of Shirdi (27th September, 1838 - 15th October, 1918), preached his message of oneness of human beings and oneness of God to bith Hindus and Muslims. All the places in Shirdi are associated with the life and deeds of Shri Sai Baba. Major places include Dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Khandoba Mandir, Lendi Baug, and Samadhi Mandir. Each one of these places has its own legend, and significance.

Lal Mahal: Lal Mahal was constructed by Sahaji Bhonsale, Shivaji's father in 1643 A.D. During Bijapur Sultanat, he sent his wife, Jijabai, and his son to the city and got the palace built as their residence. In 1998, Lal Mahal came under the management of Pune Municipal Corporation. Lal Mahal has an impressive collection of Shivaji,Guru Dadoji Konddev and Jijabai's pictorial representations, The other major attractions of the Lal Mahal of Pune include four Umbrellas on its terrace and a statue of Jijabai. There is also a beautiful garden inside the palace complex, known as Jijamata Garden. Now the garden has been converted into a children's garden and is very popular amongst kids as well as senior citizens.

Aurangabad : it is known for some of the finest colleges and university in Maharashtra. And it is the fastest growing industrial town in India. Although the city is more famous as the gateway to the heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora, it has its own share of tourist attractions. The city owes the name to Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, who made it a viceregal capital to rule over Deccan. The emperor built here Bibi-ka-Maqbara in imitation of the famous Taj Mahal, as a tribute to his mother. Pan Chaaki and the Darwazaas are examples.

Elephanta Caves: Only 10kms off the Mumbai Coast, a host of caves are located in an island amid the Arabian Sea. The caves, dating back to 450 to 750 AD display fine sculptures depicting the glory of Lord Shiva.

Amravati: Amaravati is a city in the right centre of the northern border of the Maharashtra State. Amravati means ‘abode of immortals’. Amravati was the capital of Berar which was part of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka's empire. Lying at the Tapi basin, the city's main productions are cotton, jowar and tur (lentil) and oranges. The city is a collection of historical temples of Goddess Amba, Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Venkateshwara.Amravati is also the headquarter of "Amravati Division" which is one of the six divisions of the state of Maharashtra.

Ramkund: Ramkund was developed by Chitrarao Khatarkar in 1696. This holy tank is 27 m by 12 m in area. It is believed that Rama and Sita used to bath in this tank. People bring ashes of their deceased relatives and immerse it in this holy tank. People of Hindu believe that the departed souls would attain moksha or liberation by doing so. Ashes of big personalities like Pandit Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Y B Chavan and others have been immersed at Ramkund.

Agakhan's Palace: This is a famous landmark in Pune city. Agakhan Palace is known for its architectural excellence spreading on 19-acre land. It is the place where Mahatma Gandhi, Karturba Gandhi and Mahadeobhai Desai were imprisoned during the "Quit India Movement" in 1942. Marble memorials were put later on in the memory of Kasturba and Mahadeobahi, both of them breathed their last in this place. The beauty of the palace captivates the eye of every onlooker; with its magnificent structure. Mahatma Gandhi's items like his bed, writing desk, Kasturba's saree and other clothes; his slippers are maintained properly at their place.

Prince of Wales Museum: The Prince of Wales Museum is another famous place of tourist interest in Mumbai. This museum was built in the 20th century to commemorate the visit of Prince of Wales. The structure was designed by George Wittet, who is also reputed as the designer of the prestigious Gateway of India. This museum houses for a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to Buddhist Tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India.

Film City :Mumbai Film City is also sometimes called Bollywood.The Film City is located away from the city life, on a secluded piece of land in the vicinity of Aarey Colony near National park. The Film City offers large studios for indoor shootings, recording room, a theater, and facilities like garden, lakes, ground for fighting scenes, helipads etc. for outdoor shooting. The plan for this Film City was prepared and executed under the able guidance of late V. Shantaram, the veteran actor, director and film producer. Film City is not open to the public, but with prior permission and through known people you can easily go on a trip here.

How to reach Maharashtra

By Air: The state has two airports - one international (Sahar International Airport) and another domestic (Santa Cruz Domestic Airport) - in its capital city Mumbai. All public and private airlines, like: Air India, Indian Airlines,Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Kingfisher Airlines, Spice Jet, Air Deccan, operate regularly to and from Mumbai .

By Rail: Mumbai is the state's most important Railway Station. A large number of important trains link the city to other cities of India. There are also major Railway Stations in or close by the tourist destinations.

By Road:The state enjoys exceptionally good road network. A number of National Highways and State Highways crisscross the state making it convenient to approach any city of Maharashtra from any part of the country.