Top 10 Places To Visit In Maharashtra

Top 10 Places To Visit In Maharashtra

About:-

The Land of the Marathas, Maharashtra is the 2nd most populated and the 3rd largest state in India. The state is bordered by the Arabian Sea and the primary language spoken here is Marathi. Being in the western region of India, Maharashtra has been blessed with an abundant supply of natural resources and the significance of the region has been mentioned in the ancient texts. The state of Maharashtra has a unique location of being situated between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. This makes the state a biodiverse region rich in flora and fauna. The Krishna, Godavari, Bhima etc. are the rivers that run through Maharashtra. The state is also the richest state in India and contributes 13.3% of the country’s GDP and 15% of the country’s Industrial output. It is thus a major state in India which has tons of places and attractions a tourist must explore.

Mumbai

Formerly known as ‘Bombay’, Mumbai is the largest city and the capital of Maharashtra. It is also the most populated city in India and the 5th most populous city in the world. The city that we see today is a collection of 7 islands which were joined into a single metropolitan through land reclamation techniques in the 18th century under the rule of the British East India Company. The city is often nicknamed the Manhattan of India and is home to the famous Indian film industry or ‘Bollywood’.

Mahabaleshwar 

Mahabaleshwar is a hill station in Maharashtra and is located at the Western Ghats. The average elevation of the place is approximately 1,353 meters above sea level and is the source of the Krishna River. The water originates from a spout which is shaped like the mouth of a cow and is situated at an ancient temple of Lord Shiva. The city is a famous summer retreat for the people in Mumbai and is famous for its lakes and trekking hotspots.

Matheran 

Another great hill station located at the Western Ghats in the state of Maharashtra, Matheran is located at an elevation of approximately 800 meters above sea level. The city is famous for its cool and less humid climate and is a popular summer retreat for the population of Maharashtra. The British influence on the architecture is pretty evident and is well preserved by the officials. The train ride to Matheran is of special mention as it is a slow ride that will give you ample time to experience the intoxicating surroundings.

Nashik 

Nashik is located in the North-Western region of Maharashtra and is located on the banks of the river Godavari which also originates here. The place is mentioned several times in Hindu Mythology and has been famous for being one of the cities that host the Kumbha Mela of India once every 12 years. The town has a huge number of tourist attractions including museums, gardens and a huge array of ancient Temples which are sacred and have been regarded highly important in the Hindu mythology. The city boasts of its authentic Marathi cuisines which must be tried.

Aurangabad 

Aurangabad is named after the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and is one of the most prominent tourist places in Maharashtra. The city is famous for its historical monuments and the ancient caves of Ajanta and Ellora which are a national heritage site. The culture of this town is heavily influenced by the Mughal and the Muslim culture of Hyderabad and Marathi and Urdu are the main languages spoken here. The city has various lakes and the special cuisines in this region of Maharashtra are mouth watering.

Kolhapur 

The city of Kolhapur is located at the banks of the Panchganga River and one of the Princely states of the Marathas. The city is considered to be the heart of the Maratha Empire and is famous for its various historical monuments and cultural heritage of the Marathi people. The climate is pleasant all year round with heavy rainfalls during the monsoons. The best time to visit the city is during any of the major Hindu festivals like Holi, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Vijaya Dashami and Navaratri. The special ‘kolhapuri slippers’ and the kolhapuri cuisines are worth trying out.

Pune 

The land of Peshwas, Pune has held an important position; both culturally and historically since the times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In the present times, it is an important educational, cultural and economic hub in Maharashtra. The many places of historical importance in the city, date back to the Maratha empire and some famous examples among them are-Shaniwarwada, Shivneri Fort, Aga Khan Palace and Sinhagad Fort. There are many places of religious importance too like Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati temple, Chaturshringi Temple etc.

Ratnagiri 

Ratnagiri is a sea port located near the Arabian Sea in the State of Maharashtra. The town has been mentioned prominently in the Hindu mythology and is famous for its Temples. The place contains several different breathtaking natural phenomena like the Rajapur Ganga which is a collection of 14 pools of water which appear almost once in every 3 years. The old palaces and forts are also great places to explore on your trip here.

Solapur 

Solapur is located on the Karnataka state border and the main languages spoken here are Marathi and Kannada. The city is located at the Deccan plateau and enjoys a moderate and dry climate most of the year. The ancient temples and lakes are also a great place to visit in Solapur. The Siddeshwar Temple is an ancient temple built in the 16th century and is visited by an average of 35 lakh pilgrims in a year.

Alibag 

Alibag was developed under the Naval Chief of the Maratha Ruler Shivaji. It is a coastal town and is famous for its white sandy beaches which are often unpopulated and cleaner than Mumbai beaches. The attractions can be covered in a day or two and there are plenty of cheap and hospitable lodging facilities. The various temples are also worth visiting as they display a brilliant Hindu Maratha architecture.

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Shirdi (Sai Baba Temple)

Shirdi (Sai Baba Temple)

About Shirdi:-

Shirdi About this sound pronunciation is a town and falls under the jurisdiction of municipal council popularly known as Shirdi Nagar Panchayat, located in Rahata Taluka (Sub-division) in Ahmednagar District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. 

It is accessible via the Ahmednagar - Manmad State Highway No.10, approximately 83 km from Ahmednagar and 15 km from Kopargaon. It is located 185 km east of the Western Seashore line (the Ahmednagar - Manmad road), which is a very busy route. 

Shirdi is best known as the late 19th century home of the popular guru Shirdi Sai Baba. It is one of the richest temple organisations.

Shirdi being a pilgrimage centre, also has a large floating population. On any given day some 25,000 devotees come for darshan. On holidays the number reaches about half a million people. Due to the easy availability of jobs, a large migrant population, mainly of unskilled labourers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana etc. also reside here.

Major Attractions:-

Samadhi Mandir:-

Samadhi Mandir is where Sai Baba was laid to rest. Built of white marbles, the Samadhi Mandir attracts worshippers in great numbers. The site of the Mandir originally belonged to a multi millionaire named Shreemant Gopalrao who was an ardent worshipper of Baba. The site that houses the tomb of Baba was initially intended to be a wada, meaning ‘a huge private house’ for Baba along with a temple. Baba’s health deteriorated and before his last breath, he asked to be taken to wada. His mortal remains were buried in the site intended to have the image of Lord Murlidhar. A showroom here houses the articles used by Sai Baba.

Shri Saibaba Sansthan Temple:-
Covering an area of 200 square meters, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Temple stands at the center of Shirdi. The temple attracts pilgrims from various parts of the world. Accommodation is provided here for pilgrims. Once you arrive at Shirdi, you need to contact the Niwassthan office for registering your name for accommodation. Arrangements to keep your valuables safe in lockers are also available here. In short, you can have a comfortable and peaceful darshan of Sai Baba.

Dwarkamai Masjid:-

Dwarkamai Masjid was Sai Baba’s abode for over 60 years. It was here that he blessed his devotees and it was here he lit a sacred fire, which still burns. The stone grinder which Baba used and the wooden bowl in which he collected the offerings made by public are preserved here. The oil painting of the saint is spectacular.

Chavadi:-

Chavadi was closely associated with Baba as he used to sleep here every alternate day during the last ten years of his life. He was moved to this place by his devotees on a rainy day when the Masjid in which he was staying started to leak. Since then, Baba used to return to Chavadi every alternate night to sleep here. After Baba attained Samadhi, the Sansthan acquired the place. Books were stored here and pilgrims were accommodated here for sometime. Now, Chavadi is protected as a shrine of Baba.

Dixit Wada Museum:-

Dixit Wada Museum is situated inside the Sansthan Trust complex. Here you will find pictures of Sai Baba with his devotees. These black and white pictures take you back to the olden days when Baba had been physically present comforting those that needed help. The museum also houses the articles he used including cooking utensils, long robes and bathing stone.

Transportation:-

Rail:- 

Shirdi now has a new railway station called "Sainagar Shirdi", which became operational in March 2009.  As of 2011, there are trains from Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Mysore and other cities/states that have Shirdi railway station as their terminal stop. Trains also run from Manmad railway station which is 87 km and Ahmednagar railway station which is 83 km from the heart of Shirdi, alternatively from Kopargaon station which is 15 km from Shirdi, or Nashik city, which is 119 km from Shirdi or Nagarsol. Daund railway station is 170 km from Shirdi.

Road:- 

Buses and taxis ply from these railway stations and locations to and from Shirdi. Shirdi can be reached by bus from any of the following cities in Maharashtra State (India): Ahmednagar, Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, Akluj, Dhule, Nagpur and Aurangabad.Also from Hyderabad, Telangana from where maximum pilgrims reach every day and year to seek blessings from Sai Baba. Currently, four-laning of State highway Nagar-Manmad highway is in progress on BOT basis. Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation has been assigned to execute the works of internal roads in Shirdi.

Air:-

Shirdi Airport is being constructed at Kakdi (Kopargaon taluka), 14 km south-west of Shirdi. Originally operations were expected to start by December 2011, but the construction according to the original plans was completed in February 2016, and the first trial flight landed on 2 March 2016. There are plans to lengthen the runway from 2,200 metres to 3,200 metres. The target completion date is 2017 or 2018.

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