Maharashtra - History
Maharashtra’s history is not a modern one, little information is
available about the region’s early history which dates back to the 3rd
century B.C. In earlier days, Maharashtra was known as Dandakaranya and
later it became a part of the Mauryan empire, under the rule of Buddhist
emperor Ashoka. With the downfall of the Mauryan empire, Satavahanas came
into power in Maharasthra and ruled from 230 B.C to 225 AD. During the
Satavahanas rule, Maharashtra witnessed the biggest cultural development.
In the early 3rd century, the Satavahana empire gradually disintegrated and
power came under Vakatakas, who ruled over Vidarbha, the eastern region of
Maharashtra from 250 AD to 525 AD. In the 6th century, Maharashtra came
under the kingdom of Chalukayas of Badami, later in the 753 AD the region
was ruled by Rashtrakutas.
By 973 AD, the Chalukayas of Badami seized the power and ruled over the
region until 1189. Later Maharashtra came under the regime of Yadavas of
Deogiri, who ruled till 1294. After the Yadavas, the control of the empire
went into the hand of the Muslim rulers of the Delhi Sultanate, Alauddin
Khilji and later Mohammed Bin Tughluq.
In 1347, the Tughlaqs collapsed and the Bahmani empire of Bijapur took over
the regime, ruling the region for the next 150 years. Till 16th century,
central Maharashtra was governed by several autonomous Islamic kingdoms,
while the coastal region was annexed by the Portuguese. After the two
hundred year of Muslim rule, Shivaji (1627-80) united the Marathis and
formed the Maratha kingdom. But the Mughals captured Daulatabad in 1633 and
the very next year, Aurangzeb defeated Shivaji in battle and kept him
imprisoned in Agra. After the death of Shivaji, Aurangzeb re-established
Mughal influence in Maratha kingdom centering at Pune.
In 1707, after defeating the Mughals, the Marathas became the dominant
rulers of India. In 1712, Bajirao I, became the king and established the
Peshwa dynasty with Pune as their capital. In the third battle of Panipat in
1761, the Maratha Empire was totally defeated at the hands of Afghan ruler
Ahmad Shah Abdali. After the loss, Maratha Confederacy was reduced to a
small regional kingdom.
Next the British East India Company arrived in India and started
interfering in Indian politics. Due to stiff resistance from the Marathas,
the British fought three battles with Marathas between 1777 and 1818. In
1819, the Maratha empire came to end and British formed the Bombay
Presidency. In post-independent India, the princely states were incorporated
into the Indian Union and the Deccan States, were combined with Bombay
State, which was created from the Bombay Presidency in the year 1950. On the
1st of May 1960, on the basis of Marathi language, the new state of
Maharashtra was formed.
Maharashtra
- Tourist Destinations
Maharashtra,
one of the largest industrialized states of India, attracts thousands of
tourists from across the globe every year. Situated in the western and
central parts of the country, Maharashtra extends over the Sahayadri
mountain ranges and a vast coastline of 720 kms of the Arabian Sea. A land
of rich art & culture and traditions, Maharashtra is known for its
outstanding architecture, serene beaches, imposing forts and monuments,
museums and picturesque temples. With its wildlife sanctuaries and parks,
Maharashtra attracts large number of nature lovers as well as wildlife
enthusiasts.
Mumbai, the state
capital city is the foremost tourist destination, other popular destinations
are
Pune,
Nagpur and
Aurangabad.
Maharashtra - Temples
Maharashtra, renowned as a major centre of Indian Temple architecture, has
a wealth of venerable pilgrimage centres. The region soaked in the tales of
valour of Marathas, is home to several exquisite temples. Some of the
popular temples are Elephanta Cave Temple Kailashnatha Temple, Ajanta Caves
Temple, Ellora Caves Temple, Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbadevi Temple, Balaji
Temple, Bhimshankar Temple, Grishneshwar Temple, Tryambakeshwar Temple,
Mahalakshmi Temple and Bhivani Temple.
Maharashtra - Forts & Monuments
Maharashtra, the state with a history dating back to the 3rd century B.C,
has witnessed the rule of various dynasties, who built several forts as a
part of their defence mechanism. Over the years many forts have diminished
or destroyed, but you will still find over 350 forts in Maharashtra. Apart
from the massive forts, you can see large number of magnificent monuments in
Maharashtra. Popular forts and monuments of Maharashtra are Bassein Fort,
Daulatabad Fort, Gavali Fort, Ghobunder Fort, Murud Janjira Fort, Murud
Harnai Fort, Panhala Fort, Raigad Fort, Mumbai Fort, Vijaydurg &
Sindhudurg Fort, Sinhagad Fort, Gateway of India, Victoria Terminus,
Aghakhan Palace, Khuldabad and Flora Fountain.
Maharashtra - Arts & Culture
Maharashtra, a region with a diverse and rich geography, varied colourful
people and customs, boasts of a rich culture and age-old tradition of art
and crafts. Since time immemorial, Maharashtra has been the home of varied
artistic techniques which have flourished under the rule of many rulers,
including the great Mughals and the Marathas. From the centuries old
wonderful paintings at Ajanta and Ellora caves, to today’s Warli
paintings, Maharashtra has long connection with art and crafts. Popular art
and crafts forms of Maharashtra are Mashru and Himru Fabrics, Bidri Ware,
Paithani Sarees, Sawantwadi Crafts, Kolhapuri Chappals and Narayan Peth
Sarees.
Maharashtra - Cuisine
For Maharashtrians food means God, so they believe in offering their food
first to the God as a thanksgiving ritual. In Maharashtra you can savour a
wide range of delicious cuisine, which give distinctive flavours.
Maharashtra cuisine can be broadly divided into two types such as Konkani
and Varadi. Although these cuisines are quite different from each other, but
both extensively use seafood and coconut. Almost all the vegetarian and
non-vegetarian dishes in Maharashtra is served with cooked rice and soft
breads. Vada or Amboli, is a special rice-puri served as a part of the main
meal in Maharashtra. Some other specialties of Maharashtra include Chaat,
Pani Puri, Bhelpuri, Paw Bhaji Dosai, Kebabs, Baida Roti, Tandoori Chicken
and Fish Koliwada.
Maharashtra - Adventure
With cool blue Arabian Sea, serene beaches, shimmering lakes and rivers,
the mighty western ghats, thick forests and rich wildlife, Maharashtra
offers suitable conditions for undertaking a variety of adventure sports. An
exciting adventure sport, Para Gliding takes you above the ancient forts,
caves, hills and several other unexplored region of Maharashtra. Trekking is
another popular sport of Maharashtra which provides you a good chance to
conquer the mighty peaks of Maharashtra and experience the nature at its
best. Other famous adventure sports are rock climbing, mountaineering,
windsurfing, speed boating, kayaking, water scooters, sailing and wildlife
safari.
Maharashtra - Fairs and Festivals
Maharashtra, a land of many religions and culture, abounds in various fairs
and festivals. In fact, in the towns and villages of Maharashtra, life
revolves around colourful fairs and festivals. Most of the Maharashtra
festivals are associated with different religions, but a few festivals are
secular in nature and people of all religions celebrate them with similar
enthusiasm. Some of the popular festivals are Makar Sankranti, Holi, Gudhi
Padwa (Maharashtra New Year), Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Buddha Purnima,
Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Ganesh Chaturthi, Nag Panchami, Dussehra, Diwali,
Kala Khoda Fair and Festival, Banganga Festival, Elephanta Festival and
Ellora Festival.
Maharashtra - Hills
Blessed with natural beauty, Maharashtra also shows evidence of a divine
hand in its mountains and hills. The Western Ghat range running parallel to
its coast from north to south, at an average height of 1,200 metres. With
its foothills sometimes approaching the sea-coast and sometimes moving 50 to
60 kms away, Maharashtra Hills seem to be playing the hide and seek game
with the beautiful Arabian Sea. Within these mountains, lies the hill
stations of Maharashtra. Popular hill stations of Maharashtra include
Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Panchgani, Amboli, Bhandardara, Chikhaldara Hills,
Jawahar, Lonavala and Karla, Malshej Ghat Matheran, Panhala and Toranmal.
Maharashtra - Lakes and Rivers
The Western Ghats which houses the hill stations of Maharashtra, also form
the source of several major rivers of the state. Godavari one the five major
rivers of India, flows through the state of Maharashtra. Maharashtra rivers,
along with their tributaries, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, irrigate most
of the part of the state. Apart from Goadavari, other main rivers are
Krishna River, Tapti River and Narmada River. In addition to rivers,
Maharashtra is also home to a number of lakes such as Talao Pali Lake
(Masunda Talao), Upvan Lake, Rankala Lake, Ramkund Lake, Ambazari Lake,
Pashan Lake, Koyna Reservoir, Powai Lake, Venna Lake, Vihar Lake, Tansa Lake
and Lonar Lake.
Maharashtra - Caves
Built artistically several centuries ago, some dating to the 2nd B.C, the
Caves of Maharashtra offer an exceptional appeal and aura. Situated amidst
the formidable Sahayadri ranges, the caves housed the monks of different
religions in olden days. Known for their excellent paintings and sculpture,
the Maharashtra Caves will leave you spellbound. While you visit Maharashtra
don’t forget to pay a visit to these caves. Most popular caves are
Karla Caves, Kanheri Caves, Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves,
Junnar Caves, Bhaja Caves and Aurangabad Caves.
Maharashtra - Beaches
With
its 720 km long coastline, extending from Dahanu and Bordi in the north up
to the tiny state of Goa, in the south, Maharashtra is home to some of the
finest beaches of the country. If you have a penchant for sand, sea and
surf, the beaches of Maharashtra provide you plethora of opportunities.
Apart for enjoying exciting water sports and sun bathing on golden sands,
you can explore the massive forts, temples, churches and remote areas of the
state. Some of the popular beaches in Maharashtra are Juhu Beach, Marine
Drive-Chowpatty Beach, Bassein Beach, Dahanu-Bordi Beach,
Daman-Silvasa-Vapi, Ganapatipule Beach, Harnai Beach, Madh Island Beach,
Mandwa-Kihim, Marve-Manori-Gorai, Murud-Janjira Beach,
Shriwardhan-Harihareshwar, Tarkali Beach, Velneshwar Beach, Vengurla Malvan
and Vijaydurg-Sindhudurg.
Maharashtra - Wildlife
Maharashtra, the land rich in natural beauty, is a paradise for nature
loving people. Boasting of a varied topography, Maharashtra is home to
several wildlife sanctuaries and parks, with a wide variety of vegetation.
In these wildlife sanctuaries and parks, you can see domestic as well as
rare migratory birds and wild animals like Tiger, Wild Deer, Sambar
Crocodile, Bisons, Neelgai etc. Most famous wildlife sanctuaries and parks
include the Borivili Wildlife Park, Mahim Nature Park, Bhimashankar Wildlife
Sanctuary, Melghat Tiger Reserve and Karnala Bird Sanctuary.
Maharashtra - Shopping
Although Maharashtra has several places for shopping, but Mumbai is the
ultimate shopper’s paradise. Mumbai offers exciting shopping
opportunities under the sun as well as under the moon. In Mumbai, Chor
Bazaar, Zaveri Bazaar, Breach Candy, Kemps Corner, Colaba Causeway, Fashion
Street are the famous shopping areas. In these bustling markets, you can
shop a wide range of products. Maharashtra has also a rich heritage of
handicrafts, while shopping you can buy handicraft items in the shopping
centres of the state. Apart from Mumbai, Aurangabad is also a good
destination for doing some shopping. Aurangabad region is renowned for
2000-year-old craft of weaving Paithani Sarees. Popular items which you can
check out in Maharashtra are Paithani and Himroo Sarees, Narayan Pethsaris
sarees, Lacquer ware, Bidri Ware, Warli Tribal Paintings and Kolhapuri
Chappals.
Climate
Maharashtra has a moderate climate, typically monsoonal in character, with
hot and humid rainy season and cold winter season. Maximum heat is
experienced during the months of March and May, when the temperature raises
to a high of 40°C. The south-west monsoon arrives in the state in June
and lashes some parts of the state with good rainfall, whereas a large part
of inner Maharashtra remains dry. By the end of September the south-west
monsoonal current weakens and the winter arrives by the end of October.
Winters are moderate and temperature drops to a minimum of 16°C.
Best Time to Visit
Best time to visit the coastal areas is September to April, while for the
hilly areas the best season is September to June.
Maharashtra- Transportation
Airlines : Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra has one
international (Sahara International Airport) and one domestic (Santa Cruz
Airport) airport. From Sahara International Airport, flights are available
for important cities of the world, while from the Santa Cruz Airport flights
ply to all the major cities of the country. A number of airlines such as Air
India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Spice Jet, Air Deccan,
operate regularly flights to and from Mumbai. Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad
also have their own airports.
Railways : Mumbai is the main railhead of Maharashtra. A
number of express and super fast trains connect the city with other cities
of the state and India. Other cities like Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad also
have their own railway stations.
Roadways : An exceptionally good network of National
Highways and State Highways criss-cross the state and link it with rest of
the country. Intra and Inter city bus services make it convenient to travel
to any part of Maharashtra and nearby states.
By Ship : Mumbai has an international naval port, so one
can reach Maharashtra by ship too. Damania Shipping Private Ltd. operates a
catamaran service between Mumbai, Ratnagiri and Goa. The catamaran service
remains suspended during the monsoon season.
Maharashtra, the land of the great Marathas, was known as Rashtra in the Rig
Veda, Rashtrik in Ashoka’s regime and Maharashtra afterwards.
Geographically, most of the part of Maharashtra stands on the high Deccan
plateau and historically the state was the main centre for the Maratha
empire, which defied the Mughals under the rule of great warrior Shivaji.
Spread over 307,713 sq. kms land, Maharashtra is the third largest state in
terms of area. With a population of 96,752,247, Maharashtra is the second
largest state in terms of population. Maharashtra shares boundaries with the
states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. While the
lovely, cool Arabian Sea, makes up the state’s 720 kms long coastal
line. 
