Tourism

Maharashtra is the second most visited state by foreign tourists in India. Recently Aurangabad has been declared as Tourism Capital of Maharashtra.

Famous Tourism Destination in Maharashtra
Mumbai: Some places of interest to include on the must-watch list in mumbai are: Gateway of India, The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a humongous architectural stone structure built by the British more than 200 years ago, Girgaon chowpati (beach), Downtown Mumbai – reminiscent of the 19th century British architecture. Some pristine beaches can be found towards the south of Mumbai, for eg. Madh island beach. Elephanta Caves, carved out of a giant stone on an island are a short ferry away into the Arabian sea. Ferries can be rented from The Gateway of India. There is no dearth of luxury hotels that dot the city near all important tourist places. The city has one of the most active public transport system rivaling the best in the world in terms of density and reach.

Pune: Pune is cultural capital of Maharashtra. Forts from the 17th century, built by the revered (King) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj can still be toured from the inside giving tourists a look and feel of life at that time. Shaniwarwada, a weekend residence of the Peshwas, Lal Mahal (the red palace), residence of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Fergussion College, a 200-year old college built by the British. Lakshmi Road, the avenue for buying all things Maharashtrian. These are just some of the places that register high on the tourist’s agenda.

Pune: This city lies in the central parts of Maharashtra and is one of the most popular cities that figure on the international tourist map. On the outskirts lie the caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Both are internationally renowned for their intricate carvings of Lord Buddha in stone. Ancient Buddhist life has been depicted in delicate stonework. Guided tours are readily available. Summers are not advisable for touring as temperatures can reach up to and above 44 degrees C during the day.

Nagpur: The winter capital of the state senate is a wonderful city. With a tradition of producing the best Oranges, this city would be a great place to visit during the winter. The city has a beautiful stupa at Deekshabhoomi-the place where under the leadership of Dalit leader Dr B R Ambedkar thousands of dalits embraced Buddhism. Another important place to visit is Tekadi Ganesh mandir on Sitabuildi fort complex. The Orange city has other places of tourist importance such as Maharajbagh zoo, Futala lake chowpati, Raman science center, RSS headquarters and some premier research institutions such as NEERI, CICR, NBSSLUP.

Nashik: The city is one of the famous piligrim place in india. It is the place where Lord Rama spent 14 years of his exile. It is also a city of temples. It is known for its picturesque surrounding and a pleasant climate. It can be visited any time except in rainy season. Trimbakeshwar near Nashik is a jyotirling. Godavari river originates from here. In recent times, this city has developed a lot and is rapidly developing into a metro. The “Wine Capital of India”, or the “Grape City”, as it is popularly known in recent times, is located in the Western Ghats, on the western edge of the Deccan peninsula on the banks of the Godavari River. The city is known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate. The Godavari River flows through Nashik from its source, which lies to the southwest of the city, in Trimbakeshwar. It is a rapidly developing city with a population close to 1.4 million

Religious Venues in the State
Maharashtra boasts of a large number of popular and revered religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state visitors. Shirdi, near Nashik is the location of the temple of Sai Baba – a hugely revered God-like priest, Tuljabhavani temple at Tuljapur, Gajanan Maharaj temple at Shegaon, Mahalakshmi temple in south Mumbai, Hajiali, a popular mosque in the seas near the Mahalakshmi temple, Mount Mary church in the suburb of Bandra, Sarasbaugh Ganpati Mandir, a temple in a pond near Parvati in Pune, Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati.

Nature tourism
Maharashtra has tremendous potential for Nature Tourism. Many private and public organisations have begun unique and innovative nature tourism. Some of them are Ecomantra, Nature Trails, Wild Escapes, Orchid Group etc.