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Maharashtra

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Asia : South Asia : India : Western India : Maharashtra
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Located in the West region, Maharashtra [1] is the third largest state of India by size and the second largest by population. It stretches from the west coast to the interior regions and its climate too varies with its geography. Maharashtra contains India's most industrialized region, the Mumbai-Pune belt. Agriculturally too, the state is one of India's more advanced and well-irrigated. The northern and eastern parts of the state, however lag behind the western region.

[edit] Regions

For administrative purposes, the state is sub-divided into six divisions and further into 35 districts. Officially, all divisions save one are named after the district where the headquarters of the division is located. But the divisions are also popularly known by other names and that is how they are listed here. The official names of the divisions are given alongside in brackets.

[edit] Cities

  • Mumbai — the capital of Maharashtra, also the commercial capital of India
  • Ahmednagar — 500+ years history, with traces of Nizamshahi, Shahjahan and Peshwas
  • Amravati — Educational hub in east Maharashtra, the home of Goddess Ambadevi
  • Aurangabad — the city of 52 doors, famous for its Mughal monuments
  • Kolhapur — the home of Goddess Ambabai
  • Nanded — holy city of Sikh Religion
  • Nagpur — the city of Oranges, at the geographical center of India
  • Nashik — the city of pilgrimage - The Grape city
  • Pune — cultural capital of Maharashtra
  • Ichalkaranji — textile capital of Maharastra

[edit] Other destinations

  • Ajanta — Buddhist caves, a complex of caves representing some of the best of early Buddhist art, World heritage site
  • Ashtavinayak — 8 Auspicious Temples of Lord Ganesha (Ganapati)
  • Ellora — world famous for its caves of three religions, total 30 caves are divided into Buddhist, Hindu and Jain caves, World heritage site, Ellora ia also adob of Grishneshwar, the 12th Jyotirlanga in India
  • Lonar — This place has Earth's only meteor crater in basaltic rock
  • Mulshi — major dam
  • Bhimashankar — one of the 12 Jyotirlinga in India

[edit] Talk

The principal language spoken is Marathi. Hindi and English are widely spoken and understood. Mumbai is fairly cosmoplitan, with many languages, including English being spoken. Konkani is a minority language closely related to Marathi, spoken by the eponymous Konkani community. Though Konkanis are common in the Konkan region, they are a minority everywhere.

[edit] Get in

All the cities of Maharastra all well connected by rail, air and road.

[edit] By plane

Maharashtra has five airports - Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Aurangabad among which Mumbai is the most busiest airport in India.

[edit] By train

Maharastra is also well connected with other parts of India by the Indian Railways. Mumbai is the headquarters of the Central and Western railways while Nagpur, which is close to the geographical centre of India has rail connectivity with all the metro cities of India.

[edit] By car

Many national highways through Maharashtra.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Beach resorts

Coastal Maharashtra (Konkan) has some of very beautiful beaches. With a 720 km coast line, there are beautiful beach destinations almost every 50-100 km, starting from Dahanu in the Northern part of the State to Sindhudurg, at the Southern tip.

Some popular beaches are:

  • Dahanu-Bordi
  • Gorai-Madh
  • Juhu
  • Girgaon Beach (Chowpaty)
  • Alibag
  • Nagaon
  • Kashid
  • Murud-Janjira
  • Harihareshwar
  • Ganpatipule
  • Tarkarli
  • Vengurla
  • Terekhol
  • Devgad beach
  • Taramumbari
  • kunkeshwar beach

While the beaches in Bordi, Gorai, Juhu, Alibag, Kashid and Murud-Janjira are well-developed, with multiple accommodation choices, the rest remain still off the tourist circuit. The primary reason is lack of good accommodation choices. At most of the other beaches, the only decent stay options are properties owne and managed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), a govt. organisation. These MTDC resorts have amazing location with great views, but being govt. run, these are not among the best in service, activities and food.

[edit] Hill Stations

Popular hill stations in Maharashtra are -

[edit] Other sites

  • National Parks
  • Meteor Crater
  • Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai
  • Astavinayak yatra
  • Shirdi

[edit][add listing] Do

  • River rafting, Mountain Biking and Kayaking at Kolad [2]

[edit] Trek the Sahyadri

The Sahyadri range of mountains is an impressive hill range int he western parts of maharastra running north to south. There are many peaks in these ranges with medium height, highest being 'kalsubai' peak. Many of the hills have been converted into Forts by Chatrpati Shivaji and later maratha rulers, some forts are even older. Many of the forts are in ruins, but still there is a lot to see and experience. Trekking the forts and hills in the sahyadri's has a charm of its own. Especially in the monsoons, its a place to die for, with lush greenery and pure waterfalls abundant in the hills. The treks range from very simple to absolutely tough. These western ghats are accessible from major cities like mumbai, pune and nashik.

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Vada Pav
  • Misal
  • Pohe
  • Puranpoli
  • shrikhand
  • mutter karanji
  • vada bhaat
  • thalipeet
  • bhopal-gharge
  • sol-kadhi
  • puranachi-amti

Lots of items actually..further delicacies can be obtained in any typical maharastrian home.

[edit] Adventure/off the beaten track

  • Ride the Mumbai Locals in peak hours! Or at least visit CST railway station in peak hours.

[edit][add listing] Drink

  • Coconut water is very famous
  • The most pure form of water on earth
  • Kokam Sharbat (Sharbet)

[edit] Stay safe

Be wary of strikes, or bandhs, called by political parties. Check the newspaper, and if you notice that all commerce seems to have come to a halt and businesses all seem to be shuttered, stay at home.

[edit] Get out

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