Maharashtra is a state with the vital nature's allurement in it. The stillness of its beaches with the wilderness of its hill makes the best combination of natures gifts in the state. Its myriad culture and destinations of spiritual solace and enchanting traditions invites one to explore the unidentified horizons of the nature.
Places to visit in Maharashtra
Mumbai
The Dream City, The city of glamor and home to Bollywood film industry has much more to offer than its films and fashion. Marine drive is the best place where one can drive with the magnificent scenery of vast sea on your side. Chowpatty Beach and Juhu Beach offers a reason to spend some time and play with the pristine water and mild waves of the sea. Nariman point, Fort area and Churchgate are the places that one love to visit for its shopping options. Murud Jinjira, Ganapatipule beach, Bassein Beach, Velneshwar beach are the beaches worth the visit in maharashtra.
AurangabadIn Aurangabad Bibi-ka-Maqbara, an imitation of the Taj Mahal, built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb as a tomb for his wife is a place to visit. The Himroo factory produces beautiful cotton and silk fabrics. Panchakki is a water-mill within which there is a tomb of a Muslim Saint. Ghrishneshwar Temple is one of the five Jyotirlinga sites in Maharashtra where Lord Shiva is worshipped. The splendid cave paintings of Ajanta and the rock-cut caves of Ellora are World Cultural Heritage sites.
MatheranTake the toy-train ride up to this hill station in which every form of motorized transport is banned. 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.
MahabaleshwarThis hill station was the summer capital of Bombay Presidency during the British rule. It is famous for its scenic beauty, splendid views, Venna Lake, and strawberries.
PanchganiPanchgani has some lovely architecture and houses a boarding school which is almost a century old.
Elephanta IslandThe Elephanta island is known for its great cave shrine, excavated in the 6th century. 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.
BasseinThe Vajreshwari temple, Akloli hot springs, Sadguru Nityanand Maharaj Samadhi Mandir at Ganeshpuri, Bhimeshwar temple and other ashrams are at a short distance away from Bassein.
GanapatipuleGanapatipule, one of the ashta (eight) Ganapatis of India, houses the popular Svayambu Ganapati Temple.Pawas a nearby village has the ashram of Swami Swaroopanand
RatnagiriThe Tilak Smarak, believed to have been the home of the great freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, is the landmark here. Ratnagiri also has the Bhatye Beach, the Coconut Research Centre, Ratnadurg Fort, Bhagwati Bunder (sea-port) and the seafood processing centre at Mirya.
Igatpuri ResortThis is a completely different kind of spa, where you can learn Vipassana, the 2500-year-old art of meditation.
Lonavala and KhandalaThe 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.
Sinhagad FortSinhagad, is one of the important Maratha forts having a colourful history linked with it.
Sirdi Sai BabaShirdi a small town located in the Ahmadnagar city of Maharashtra is the most revered place where devotees from all over the world visit to pay the homage to sage Sai Baba.