Spreading from the shores of the Arabian Sea to the heart of the Deccan Plateau, Maharashtra contains everything from balmy beaches to timeworn forts, kaleidoscopic temples to serene hill stations, and some of India’s most significant cultural treasures alongside its biggest metropolis, Mumbai. Add to that an emergent wine industry and unique regional cuisines, and it's no wonder Maharashtra welcomes more foreign tourists than any other state in India.
Mumbai
- Once a tiny fishing villiage, Mumbai -- formerly Bombay -- has grown into the financial, commercial and entertainment center of India. Brave the busy streets to visit the Gateway of India, an arched stone gate at Mumbai Harbor that acts as a gathering place for tourists and locals alike. At the harbor you can catch a ferry to the ancient, rock-cut Elephanta Caves, a Unesco World Heritage Site on nearby Elephanta Island. Back on the mainland, be sure not to miss Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, a Victorian Gothic railway station built by the British Raj, and the Haji Ali Dargah, a white mosque built in the middle of a bay that seems to float above the surf.
Around Aurangabad
- The manmade cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora lie near the city of Aurangabad in northern Maharashtra. Carved into a cliff about two thousand years ago, the 29 caves of Ajanta are painted with intricate murals depicting the life of the Buddha. The nearby Ellora caves, a cluster of 34 monasteries and temples hewn from solid rock, are adorned with Hindu, Jain and Buddhist bas-reliefs and sculptures. On the way to or from Ajanta and Ellora, climb up to Daulatabad, a stone fortress complex that sprawls from the top of a mountain down to ground level -- if you don’t mind climbing 600 steps in the Deccan heat.
- Nasik
- Nasik is an important pilgrimage city for Hindus, as well as a center of India’s burgeoning wine industry. Take a walk past the temples of the Godavari River as it flows through the city’s old quarter, stopping to see the holy bathing steps of Ramkund and the 200-year-old Kala Rama Temple. Top off your day with a trip outside the city for a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Sula Vineyards or York Winery.
Arabian Sea Beaches
- Nearly 450 miles long, the Maharashtra coastline has no shortage of spots for swimming and relaxation. The stretch between Mumbai and Goa is known as the Konkan Coast and is home to countless sandy beaches, bright green paddy fields and vast stands of coconut palms. Divegar Beach, Korlai Beach and Devbaug Beach are considered among the best that Maharashtra has to offer, but if you prefer history and fine dining to sunbathing, stop at Murud to admire its island fortress and sample the unique Konkani cuisine.
