Maharashtra Has a Mesmerizing Aura that is Hard to Ignore(2020)! Know about the Popular Tourist Places in Maharashtra, Which You will Definitely Visit after Reading.

The mention of Maharashtra brings fond memories of the achievements of the great Maratha warrior Chatrapati Shivaji. The state has been in the limelight since the uprising of the Maratha warrior till the present day, owing to its credential for its capital- Mumbai, as the economic hub of India.

The state is located in the Deccan plateau which occupies a part of peninsular India in Western India. It is almost triangular in shape where the coastline on the west forms the base while the apex is formed in the Eastern part of the state. Mumbai- the capital city of Maharashtra is an island on the Arabian Sea and is connected to the mainland through roads and railways.

The state treasures ancient cultural heritage and natural beauty throughout its length and breadth. The varied physical features of Maharashtra encompass beaches, coastal plains, forests and hills adding bounty to the state. It is also a land witnessing different historical events, leading to the emergence of temples at these particular places, signifying the culture and heritage of the era.

The Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea bordering the western part of the state adds galore to the natural beauty. The rivers Bhima, Godavari and Krishna originate in the Western Ghats and flow east towards the Deccan plateau forming green and lustrous river valleys. The plateau is covered by volcanic lava designated as traps, which appears in form of uniform lines at the hilltops due to continuous erosion for which the hills here have a tabletop.

These hilltops are splendidly covered with lush green vegetation and thick clouds during monsoon thus offering a comfortable temperature and beautiful panorama. The Deccan Traps form highlands around Nagpur, while the Wardha –Waringanga valley situated in the Godavari basin is home to numerous lakes. The state of Maharashtra banks a horde of natural and historical treasure for travel addicts.

The best time to visit the different places in the state is between October to November, since the temperature remains warm and dry. However, travellers enjoying a low temperature can visit from December to February when the weather is cool and dry. Backpackers enjoying the rainy season can opt between the months of June to September which promises a lot of rain, but with a rise in the mercury levels.

Travelling is a kind of indulgence to get rid of the monotonous activities in our daily life and add a spark along with a ‘feel-good’ factor. People travel to deprive their minds of professional and personal tensions. Thus the travel package should be well planned and free from undesired hindrances.

Although there are hordes of tourist attractions throughout the nook and corner of Maharashtra, 10 important places have been handpicked for you. These places have been selected based on their uniqueness and the variety that they have to offer.

Aurangabad was the capital built by Aurangzeb and is a treasure hub of different monuments depicting the Mughal architecture. The Bibi Ka Maqbara or Tomb of the Lady is a replica of the Taj Mahal located in Aurangabad. It was built by the son of Aurangzeb, prince Azam Shah on the burial place of his mother Dilras Banu Begum. He built the monument intending it to outshine the architectural glamour of the Taj Mahal. But, it did not meet up to the standards of the former due to lack of finance and skilled artisans. Even so, it is a piece of architecture worth visiting, with its splendid motifs, complex designs surrounded by a garden with Mughal flair.

The two gates –Delhi Darwaza and Bhadkal Darwaza are two other monuments of historical significance. The Delhi Darwaza with a huge size was built by Aurangzeb and is very attractive compared to other such structures. The Bhadkal Darwaza is the biggest gate in the state with architecture in the pattern of a ribbed vault which does not bear any similarity with any other monuments of that era.

A person with historical interest would be delighted to visit the Aurangabad caves consisting of 12 caves which are Buddhist viharas, belonging to 300 AD. The caves remain submerged within the green hills and are famous for their architecture. Among all the caves, 3 and 7 are must-visit attractions. Another monument is the Panchakki, which exhibits scientific innovations during the period of medieval architecture in India. It was used to produce energy by converting the speed of water flowing from a mountain and can be accounted for as a primitive dam.

The Shivaji museum is a perfect attraction for kids to learn about the accomplishments of the valiant leader. The museum houses different pictures and weapons used by the leader during the war with the Mughals.

These are two hill stations near Mumbai with striking landscapes and vibrant waterfalls submerged within thick layers of cloud and is a must-visit location for nature lovers. The best time to visit the place is during the monsoons when the landscape is covered with greenery. The calm and tranquil Lonavla lake is an attractive site for lazing around. Plunge into the lake to swim or indulge yourself in angling.

Rajmachi point is another attraction which is the house to two forts: Shrivardhan fort and Manaranjan fort. The Bushy Dam is another grand spot to visit for its location amidst the backdrop of natural splendour. Another point of interest is the Tiger’s Leap in Lonavla as the hill resembles a leaping tiger when observed from this particular point. Plan a day trek around these sites.

The drive to Mahabaleshwar, the largest hill station in Maharashtra, from Pune is enthralling with captivating vistas throughout the journey. The ancient Mahabaleshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, standing stoically on the hilltop right from the Ramayana and Mahabharata era is a star attraction for the religiously inclined people. The Elephant’s head point situated on a hilltop amidst lush green surrounding and is an additional treat for eyes presented by nature. The rock-forming the hill resembles the trunk of an elephant rendering the name of the site.

Other places not to be overlooked, while in Mahabaleshwar is the Venna lake based on its beauty and Pratapgarh fort due to its historical importance.

Matheran is a small hill station within a stone’s throw from Mumbai. It is an ideal place to escape from the hectic city life and relax. A great place for hikers, trekkers and climbers, and with the added asset of the place is that no vehicles are allowed within the town. You have to walk and can enjoy the serene environment. Some points from which splendid glimpse of the hill station can be enjoyed are Louisa Point, Panorama Point, Echo Point, King George Point and the famous Charlotte lake. You can stroll around and acquire the unique experience of exploring a quiet place. If you love wild animals then a visit to Panther's caves and Paymaster Part should be added to your travel list.

Panchgani is the longest mountain plateau in Asia and is perched between five hills. You can enjoy a fabulous view of the Krishna river from the Sydney and Parsi points. Around 10 km from Panchgani is Rajapuri which is the home to different caves. If you are fond of strawberries, a visit to the Maple gardens cultivating strawberries in Panchgani should be high on your list - here you can taste the fresh, luscious fruit if it is in season, or satisfy your palate with jams, syrups and other strawberry products.

Nashik is the pilgrim centre of Maharashtra with several landmarks associated with events described in the Ramayana. Such as the Kalaram temple is unique due to the idols of Lord Rama, Laksmana and Sita sculpted in black granite along with the Sita Gumpha nearby, located in Panchavati. Legends indicate Lord Rama’s stay at Panchvati ( 5 banyan trees) during his exile and abduction of Sita by Ravana from the Sita Gumpha.

Visitors can drop by Ramkund on the bank of the Godavari river which as the name suggests is famous because Rama bathed here during his stay in Panchvati. Nashik hoists the Kumbh Mela at this place which is of paramount religious significance for the Hindus. The Muktidham Temple is another place of religious appeal in Nashik, housing the replicas of the 12 Jyotirlingas within the temple premises.

Pilgrims will also be attracted to the carving of the 18 chapters of Bhagvad Gita on the temple walls. The Trimbakeshwar Shiva temple consisting of one of the 12 Jyotirlingas is a sacred place for devotees, near Nashik and is situated at the source of river Godavari. The small town of Trimbakeshwar is perched at the foothills of the Gangadwar and Brahmagiri mountains and offers splendid natural beauty attracting nature lovers worldwide.

The Anjaneri fort is yet another place of religious interest, known as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman near Nashik. Trekkers and campers should not miss it as nature provides a fantastic track. You can visit the exotic Pandavleni caves constituting of 24 caves which were built by the Jain kings and are about 2000 years old, while in Nashik. Cave number 3 and 10 are noteworthy old Viharas with splendid sculptures and not to be missed during the visit. Moving aside from spiritual interest, the Someshwar waterfall is undoubtedly a breathtaking location for nature lovers, especially in the monsoon. The Godavari rivers drop from a height of 10 metres amidst the greenery and provide a spectacular view.

The Ajanta and Ellora caves are indeed a major attraction for people with an interest in history. The caves comprise of temples and monasteries sprawling over more than 2 square kilometres and are located near Aurangabad; they have been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ajanta caves are a storehouse of Indian sculptures and paintings of ancient India depicting the Jataka tales and tales of Lord Buddha. The Ellora caves are among the largest monasteries cut out from rocks in the world. Cave 16 in Ellora is called the Kailasha temple and the largest temple in the world sculpted out of monolithic rocks. These caves portray Hindu, Buddhist and Jain mythologies.

Shirdi is a small temple town in the state famous for its Sai Baba temple situated in the Ahmednagar district. Sai Baba was a saint who lived in Shirdi and named the mosque he used to live as Dwarakamayi. The place is flocked by both Muslim and Hindu devotees alike. The Shree Samadhi Mandir is the place built on his remains. You can visit the Sai heritage village depicting the life of Sai Baba as sculptures. The place is also equipped with an amusement park for spending your leisure time. The Lendi Bagh near the Samadhi temple is also worth visiting, which used to be a wasteland that was converted to a garden by the saint. The lamp called Nanda Deep, lighted by the saint burns till the present day which is a wonder.

Pench national park is a teak forest on the bank of Pench River and located 70 km away from Nagpur. The marvellous landscape and striking natural beauty make it a hot tourist destination for adventurous tourists and nature lovers. The forest is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. You can stay in Pench Jungle camp and the best time to visit is between February and April.

Sign up for the jungle safari to watch different animals like languors, bears, civet cats, gaurs, barking deers, macaques, blue bulls, and if luck permits, tigers and panthers in their natural environment. The forest was the source of inspiration for Rudyard Kipling to his classic novel The Jungle Book, which is yet another reason to visit.

Beach lovers, scuba diving and snorkelling enthusiasts can visit Malvan, situated in Sindhudurg district in the Konkan region. The small place has quite a number of beautiful and less explored beaches and is famous for the Sindhudurg fort, built by Chatrapati Shivaji. The Wayari beach in Mavlan is attractive with coconut trees bordering the beach adding a lush green landscape beside the blue sea. The Sindhudurg fort can be viewed from this beach and accessed by a short boat ride from here.

The rock gardens in Mavlan are also worthy of a visit, where the sight of the waves crashing on the rocks is mindblowing. The crabs scurrying around near the rocks are a thrill to watch. Tsunami island is found at the delta of the Tarkali river where tourists can enjoy sports like parasailing, banana rides and others. The island gets submerged during the high tide making it a point of attraction.

Devbag is a small village near Malvan which also has a fabulous beach. The visual of the river mouth meeting the sea is enchanting. Food lovers can relish on a variety of marine cuisine. You can indulge in adventures like snorkelling, jet ski, scuba diving and various other water sports.

There are two other clean and peaceful beaches near Malvan - the Chivla beach and Nivati beach. The coastline of Chivla resembles the letter ‘C’ while Nivati beach is famous for its golden sand. However, the beaches are not safe during the monsoon as the tide can get very high. The Nivati beach is surrounded in parts by natural rock structures and dolphins are the star attraction here. You can take a boat ride to watch the dolphins.

The Nivati backwaters and the Nivati fort can be visited for their breathtaking view. Bhogave beach is 20 km away from Mavlan, which is another less explored beach. The sand here is silver in colour and the place is full of dolphins. The golden rock is an added natural attraction which can be reached by boat. The location is covered with golden coloured rocks within the sea which is awesome. You can also visit the nearby spots like the Crocodile point, Seagull point and Dolphin point.

The main mantra to decrease your travel budget is to plan in advance and reserve your tickets immediately. In case you are vacationing with family or friends, it is better to opt for home-stays rather than hotels as home-stays are comparatively cheaper and more convenient. You can even cook your meal as required and cut-off the restaurant bills. You can plan your vacation avoiding peak time which will automatically reduce your budget and help you to enjoy the places in tranquil. So plan early, select your destinations in Maharashtra from the aforementioned list, and get ready to pack your bags!