Maharashtra, the second most crowded state in India, is considered as the other worldly state with its owing of assorted mountains, charming cascades, scenic shores, awe-inspiring panoramas and a cornucopia of museums, monuments and forts that are erected as giving an acknowledgment to the well-known, rich history of India.
According to the legends, the state of Maharashtra derived its name with the amalgamation of the Sanskrit word ‘Maha’ meaning Great – and the phrase ‘Rashtra’ found its origin from the Rashtrakuta Dynasty. The word ‘Rashtra’ means nation, in Sanskrit lingo.
The state is positioned close to the Arabian Sea on the map of India; the state of Maharashtra is situated on the western side of India. The state is also well known for its serene and blissful ambience. This vast state is ranked as third in the geographical map of India.
Maharashtra is enclosed by the Arabian Sea in its west, Gujarat and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli in its northwest direction, Madhya Pradesh in its northeast, Chattisgarh in its east, Karnataka in its south, Andhra Pradesh in its southeast and Goa in its southwest direction. Maharashtra takes its pride to state itself as the richest state in the entire country, owing appreciation to the breathtaking industrial activities that are held in the region.
The tourism of the state provides an opportunity to discover the terra firma of sheer vastness with its eye-catching diversification. The state is a land of multi-colored cultures, myriad forts, manifold temples, misty majestic mountains which are expanded in a large area and scintillating seas making it a perfect holiday destination for the vacationers. The state is also known for its monsoonal type of climate, making its best time to visit in the months of September to April. The cities are very well connected with excellent air, road and rail ways to travel within and around the state. Maharashtra travel and tourism is a popular among the Indian and foreign tourists alike and for that the Maharashtra tour packages are a perfect way of exploring the splendor of the destination in Western India.
General facts about Maharashtra Location: Western India Area: 307,713 sq km Language: English, Hindi and Marathi Climate: Tropical and moderate Major Attractions: Lonavala, Khandala, Matheran, Panchgani Ideal Time to Visit: September to April
Tourist sightseeing in Maharashtra The Indian state of Maharashtra is blessed with plethora of tourist attractions as this industrialized state is flanked by vast beaches, mystical cascades, lofty mountains, time-honored monuments, luscious cuisines, wildlife, caves and religious places. The state comprises as many as 350 forts. Some of them define the glorious streak of the Maratha rulers in Maharashtra like Chhatrapati Shivaji. The forts include Vijaydurg and Sindhudurg, the Shivneri Fort, the Pratapgad Fort, the Ajinkyatara Fort, the Murud-Janjira Fort, the Harishchandragad Fort and the Lohagad and Visapur Forts etc. The hill stations of Lonavala, Khandala, Matheran, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Sawantwadi, Jawahar and Toranmal are features in the tourist map of Maharashtra. These hill cities are observed as frequented with the tourists and localities all across the year. Maharashtra has been spotted with loads of museums for the history lovers. There are around thirteen museums sprawled across the state, some of them are – the Tribal Museum at Pune, the Prince of Wales Museum and Jehangir Art Gallery at Mumbai, the Coin Museum in Nashik, the National Maritime Museum, the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum and the Mani Bhavan Mahatma Gandhi Museum etc. The state has an array of plush beaches like Ganapatipule Beach, Tarkarli Beach, Chowpatty Beach, Juhu Beach, Madh Island Beach, Marine Drive Beach, Versova Beach, Murud Janjira Beach, Bassein Beach, Mandwa Kihim Beach…to name a few.
Climate of Maharashtra The state of Maharashtra being located on the western coast possesses a monsoon type of climate having all hot, rainy and cold weather seasons. The state bears a tropical type of climatic conditions. The arrival of the monsoons in the early June renders a sigh of relief from the scorching summers which enter here in the month of March. Monsoons are here till September and thereafter the winters step in the state rendering it with the pleasant climate and cool breezes, which remains till the month of February.
How to reach Maharashtra Maharashtra by Air: The state holds main airport of Chattarpati Shivaji International Airport with others like Santa Cruz Domestic Airport, which are in its capital city Mumbai. The other airports are at the cities like Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad, Kolhapur and few more places, connecting the city with the rest of the world. Maharashtra by Rail:The state has its largest as well as the most important railway station at Mumbai known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, connecting the city with almost all the country. Also, there are other railway stations at Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Amravati, etc. Maharashtra by Road:The state is well connected with the other cities and states through its roadways as it holds a number of National Highways and State Highways crisscrossing Maharashtra. Maharashtra by Sea:Since most of the Maharashtra lies on the sea banks, one can also visit the state via ship from the neighboring countries