Top 10 Holiday Destinations Maharashtra has tremendous tourism potential, and the country’s fourth-most-visited state. The state’s main attraction is hill stations, Konkan Coast Beaches, Aurangabad caves and the list of great forts along with adventure, wildlife and religious tourism.
Standing on the western side of the peninsular Maharashtra is ranked second among the countries of India when it comes to counting the population of Indian states. Maharashtra tourism plays a major role in contributing towards the state’s economy. With the Arab Sea bordering this Indian state, with a stunning backdrop, all the cities lying here in its western region are adorned. The state is bordered on the south by Karnataka as well as Goa, on the east by Chhattisgarh and Telangana, while the Indian union territory, called Dadra and Nagar Haveli, is situated in the northwest area. Some of Maharashtra’s best spots to visit include Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Mumbai, Panchgani, Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Rajmachi, Lonavala, Shirdi, Nashik, Matheran, etc These are some of the places that make tourism in Maharashtra, popular worldwide. Maharashtra is also well known for its Mumbai city and the Bollywood industry. Maharashtra ‘s cuisine and culture also win hearts from millions of tourists who come to Maharashtra.
Mumbai
In all ways, Mumbai is a mega-city powered by influence, riches, glamour and glory that attracts people to make their dreams and aspirations come true. But it is also a city with deep historical links, beautiful British architecture, museums, beaches, places of worship and, above all, a real star galaxy where Bollywood reigns supreme.
Every train which comes to Mumbai is said to It brings hundreds of people from all over India who are not only attracted to ‘experience’ the fascinating attractions of the region, but want to make it their home as well. Nevertheless, a city of diverse cultures and a melting pot of trade , manufacturing, entertainment, business and politics, Mumbai ‘s attempts with wealth and fame have been recent. For instance, it was not a cosmopolitan finance hub. Its history has seen a number of changes in influence, and the seven islands have frequently changed hands.
The seven islands that came to make up Mumbai were historically the location of colonial fishing groups. The islands have been under the rule of successive indigenous empires for decades, before being ceded to the Portuguese And later, to the British East India Company. Bombay was reshaped during the mid-18th century by the Hornby Vellard Mission, which undertook reclamation of the area from the sea between the seven islands. The reclamation scheme, completed in 1845, along with the building of major roads and railways, turned Bombay into a major seaport on the Arabian Sea.
Economic and educational growth was characteristic of Bombay in the 19th century. It became a stable foundation for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. The city was incorporated into the state of Bombay after India’s independence in 1947. In 1960, a new state of Maharashtra was established following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement with Bombay as the capital. In 1996 the town was renamed to Mumbai. And in this short developmental time , the city has become India’s commercial and entertainment hub.
Mumbai houses significant financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the Indian National Stock Exchange, the SEBI and the headquarters of various Indian and multinational corporations corporations. It is also home to some of India’s leading science and nuclear institutes, such as BARC, NPCL, IREL, TIFR, AERB, AECI and the Atomic Energy Department. And there is of course the massive Hindi film and television industry that gives it its starry appeal.
Pune
Pune, a beautiful Maharashtra city, is a perfect blend of the past and the present. Because of this, tourism in Pune flourishes at an growing pace. Pune is filled with magnificent parks, temples, mountains, palaces and street food full of mouthwatering. Pune is not only a popular tourist hub but also the country ‘s significant educational hub. The city also hosts several prestigious medical and management schools. All the facets of culture , education, and adventure add to tourism in Pune. This city is undoubtedly the country’s cultural hub which creates an amalgam of different cultures, people from different places and binds them into a beautiful community. This city in Maharashtra, west Indian state is also known as the Oxford of the East.
Aurangabad
Aurangabad is a popular destination to visit during your tour through Maharashtra. This tourism capital of Maharashtra was once known as the capital of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and that’s how the city got its name ‘Aurangabad.’ It was established in 1610 by Malik Ambar, who was the prime minister of Ahmednagar‘s Nizam Shahi rulers. The Kailash Temple, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Ajanta Caves, Panchakki and Shuli Bhanjan are some of the main tourist attractions this place offers. The iconic names or attractions that play as a big crowd puller are the caves of Ajanta and Ellora that are listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Aurangabad is one of Maharashtra ‘s best travel destinations and it has many top tourist destinations Tourist sights and must-see. Ajanta has about 30 Buddhist caves dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE. Ajanta is the prime tourist hotspot, filled with excellent sculpture and paintings along with narrative murals on Buddhist themes. In comparison, the Ellora caves are as old as 1,500 years.
Lonavala
Those living in Mumbai or Pune do consider it a blessing that they have almost a hop, skip and jump away from the twin hill stations of Lonavla and Khandala. Both of these areas, perched high on the hill ranges separating the two metro cities, are known for their salubrious climate and for the spectacular green cover they thrive during the moonsoon.
Lonavla is about 64 km away Coming from Pune and 96 km from Mumbai. Well known for its ‘chikki’ and fudge, it is also an important rail head on the railway line from Pune-Mumbai, and also easily linked by road with an expressway running through it. Like other Maharashtra hill stations, here too you can find ‘posts’ offering spectacular views of the valley and the hills with tiny villages tucked in the folds. One of the best spots, some 6.5 kilometres from Lonavla, is Rajmachi Point which commands a view of the famous fort of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Rajmachi, and the surrounding valley.
Ryewood Park is the perfect spot to do picnics in Lonavla. This is a huge garden that occupies much land and is full of tall trees. There is an old temple inside the park devoted to Shiva. Another tourist hotspot is the Valvan Dam that features a garden at its foot. To produce electricity, the dam supplies water to the Khopoli power station at the Sahyadris foothills. You can also visit the Duke ‘s Nose, about 12 km from Lonavla. This is popular with hikers and the cliff owes its name to the Duke of Wellington, whose wide nose it resembles.
Tiger’s Leap, also known as Tiger’s Point, is a cliff-top with a dramatic drop of more than 650 metres, offering a large view. Up to INS Shivaji buses are available and the remaining distance of around 1.6 kilometres must be covered on foot. Just around the Leap of Tiger is a small waterfall which is only active during the monsoon. It helps to relax better in the water than Bhushi Dam as the force of the fall is higher.
Nashik
Nashik city, located at the foothills of the Western Ghats and on the banks of the Godavari River, is a well-known Maharashtra travel destination. Nashik is a very old city in India, so much so that the two very ancient collections of literary works, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, refer to him. When the everlasting drink “amrita” was taken away, it is believed It spread out from the “asuras” after the “samudra manthan” into four regions. Subsequently these four regions became the four shrines where Kumbh Mela is held. Nashik is one such shrine and consequently tourism has a strong religious presence in Nashik.
Apart from the Kumbh Mela, the Nashik tour also includes places of interest not only to the religious folk but also to people who indulge in history. Famous places of tourism in Nashik include Panchavati, where Rama stayed in exile with his wife Sita and Lakshmana brother; the temples of Ramkund, Muktidham, Kalaram, Sundarnarayan, Trimbakeshwar and Someshwar.
The city is renowned for its annual harvest of grapes, oranges, and onions, due to the mainly tropical climate in Nashik.
Kolhapur
If you’re looking for one day picnic spots near Kolhapur, you’ll be happy to know that places are waiting to enchant you, from hill stations to temples and forts. The tourist spots around the busy Kolhapur offer the perfect weekend getaway in the lap of nature.
Whereas hill stations such as Amba Ghat and Ajara are near Kolhapur You can also visit Ratnagiri or Tarkarli for a laidback holiday and visit lush greenery and spectacular coastal regions around Kolhapur. Hill stations near Kolhapur have emerged as popular tourist destinations for people living in Kolhapur and surrounding areas due to their scarcity and rich heritage.
Located on the banks of the Panchganga River, the town offers places to explore nearby in the form of forts, museums, temples, beaches and an exotic sanctuary of wildlife. Whether it’s a nature lover or a shopaholic, every picnic spot close to Kolhapur is for everyone.
Alibaug
A coastal town and municipal council in Raigad district of Maharashtra is at a distance of 75 km from Lonavala, 102 km from Mumbai, 143 km from Pune, 170 km from Mahabaleshwar, and 272 km from Ganpatipule, Alibaug or Alibag. It is the Raigad district headquarters and is a popular beach destination that can be visited as part of Mahabaleshwar packages, as well as packages for Lonavala tour Alibaug is one of the main tourist spots in Maharashtra, close to Mumbai.
On three sides, Alibaug is surrounded by sea, it is very widely known as the Maharashtra ‘Goa.’ The town was built by Kanhoji Angre who was the naval chief during Shivaji Maharaj ‘s reign during the 17th century. Alibaug was previously known as Kolaba, ascribed to the Kolaba Fort founded by Shivaji in 1680 CE. Legend has it that there were many plantations owned by a wealthy Muslim called Ali hence the town derived its name Alibag.
Alibaug has experienced multiple historic battles including the one between Siddis and Kanhoji Angre at Varsoli. Another was joint attack by the English and Portuguese on Kolaba Fort, which they lost. Next was Chaul’s battle between the British and Sakhoji Angre, which Sakhoji won in Kolaba Fort and held them captive. Alibag and its neighbouring villages are Bene Israeli Jewish historic hinterlands. There is a synagogue in the town’s ‘Israel Ali’ area.
Situated in the Maharashtra region of Konkan, Alibaug is renowned for its beautiful beaches and ancient forts. The famous beaches in Alibaug are among the numerous tourist places in Alibaug, Alibaug Beach, Kihim Beach, Akshi Beach, Mandwa Beach, Kashid Beach, Varsoli Beach, Nagaon Beach, and Murud Beach. Visitors may also visit Fort Khanderi, Fort Kolaba, Fort Murud -Fort Janjira, Temple Vikram Vinayak or Birla Temple, Magnetic Observatory and Korlai Fort.
Shirdi
While every devotee of the saint is sure to visit the main Sai Baba temple, not many are aware of the numerous other places in Shirdi to visit. Shirdi is now turning into a tourist centre, a renowned pilgrimage centre, given the bunch of crowds that visit it regularly.
A great weekend getaway destination for Pune , Mumbai and Nagpur residents, today Shirdi is much more than temples. It has nice parks, cultural heritage sites, shopping malls and more. Shirdi tourist places ensure tourists will be captivated after they seek Lord Sai ‘s blessings.
All in all, these diverse tourist places offer enough for all types of travellers to comfortably spend two to three days at this Sai house. Any of these places will take you back in time and deliver A snapshot of his life and that of the villagers. It definitely proves to be an fascinating experience for those devotees who want to learn about their lives.
Panchgani
At a distance of 18 kilometres from Mahabaleshwar, 48 kilometres from Satara, 104 kilometres from Pune and 254 kilometres from Mumbai, Panchgani also called Paachgani is a popular hill station and municipal council in Maharashtra district Satara. It is one of the top hill resorts near Pune & near Mumbai among the best places to visit. Panchgani is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Maharashtra places in your Maharashtra tour packages.
Situated at an altitude of 1334 m, Panchgani is bordered in the east by Wai, Bavdhan and Nagewadi dam, in the west by Gureghar, in the south by Khingar and Rajpuri and in the north by Dhom dam. Panchgani is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges in the middle of five hills, and there are also five villages around the Panchgani that are Dandeghar, Khingar, Godwali, Amral & Taighat Panchgani is among the must include places in your Mahabaleshwar tour packages.
In the 1860s the British had founded the town as a summer resort. Mahabaleshwar was the British ‘s summer resort of choice but during the monsoons it was uninhabitable. Panchgani was established as a place of retirement for the British, as it remained nice all year round. The British superintendent John Chesson was responsible for the transformation of Panchgani into a summer resort. Even it is said that the Pandavas spent some time in Panchgani during Vanavasa and the cave where they stayed is the famous Devil’s Kitchen.
Panchgani has plenty of lovely tourist attractions. Some of the major sightseeing options in Panchgani are Table Ground, Parsi Point, Kamalgadh Fort, Devil’s Kitchen, Rajpuri Caves, Sydney Point, Mapro Gardens, Dhom Dam, etc . Panchgani is lined with old bungalows and Parsi houses of British architecture. It is also recognised as a preferred destination for wellness resorts for many residential educational institutions and.
Khandala
Khandala is Maharashtra’s most famous hill station which is a great holiday destination for people living close to Pune and Mumbai cities. It is well-known for its spectacular weather, scenic beauty and exceptional elegance. The lakes and cascades contribute to the location’s ambience.
The Duke’s Nose Peak is a popular tourist attraction here, a popular spot renowned for climbing rock. Other things to visit are many lakes, waterfalls and many amazing caves too. Then we’ve got the hill Karla which is also a popular tourist spot. There is a fort between Lonavala and Khandala called Rajmachi Fort whose beauty is breathtaking. Some of the ancient caves near the Kondhavi and Tungarli Lake can also be seen by tourists from here. The other places of tourism here include the Bhedsa caves, which are among this place ‘s ancient caves and are very well known for their excellent carvings.
