India is home to numerous states, each of which has something unique and appealing to offer to its visitors. One such land of beautiful beaches, mountains, and some lip-smacking food is the state of Maharashtra. Situated in the western part of India, the state has a number of cities and each is renowned for special things to see or do on a weekend getaway.
How Hiring a Guide Can Help
If you really want to explore Maharashtra at its best, there’s no better way than hiring a guide. You get instant access to places and sights that you otherwise miss during your trip, you get a deeper insight into each city’s unique culture, you can get your trip tailor-made as per preference, and you feel a sense of security being with someone who’s familiar with the area. Here we bring to you the top 10 cities in Maharashtra which you definitely mustn’t miss during your next visit to the state. There’s lots to enjoy and indulge in at each of these places so plan your trip accordingly.
Top 10 cities to visit on Maharashtra trip
1) Mumbai – The capital city of Maharashtra, the entertainment capital of India, and the country’s financial hub too, Mumbai is the livewire of the state which you’d love to explore. There’s the highly popular Gateway of India, Sri Siddhivinayak Temple, Elephanta Caves, Juhu Chowpatty, Marine Drive, and many more sites worth a visit.
Don’t forget to enjoy a day at sailing from the Gateway of India to sights in and around Mumbai. A film city is a place where all the daily soaps are shot and small budget movie shootings are done. You can take a tour of the film city and see how the shooting is done. You’ll also love the Red Carpet Wax Museum housing wax statues of internationally renowned celebrities; not to forget the most-coveted Bollywood tour to catch first-hand information on your favourite actors and their lifestyles.
Mumbai has the world’s largest slum called Dharavi. Speaking about it Dharavi has its own local economy and it’s like a mini-city in itself. There are a lot of small scale industries, the majority of Mumbai’s plastic is recycled here. How can you miss about the local street food when you are in Mumbai, the world-famous Vada Paav and Paav Bhaji are the best things to taste up. Bhel Puri and Paani Puri at Juhu Chowpatty are also worth to taste. The food is literally mouth-watering and you can’t miss it.
2) Ajanta & Ellora Caves – About 433 km from Mumbai are the famous caves from ancient Buddhist times located near Ajanta Village in Aurangabad. You can’t afford to miss these caves that are one of the oldest and listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. The name of Ajanta and Ellora Caves is usually taken together because both these sites are to be visited together during your Maharashtra tour. About 98 km from Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves were also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
The caves were carved out of the vertical face of the Charanandri Hills between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Lots of tourists from the world over visit this ancient site now under the Archaeological Survey of India to get a peek into this historic site.
3) Mahabaleshwar – Maharashtra’s most beautiful hill station – it’d be a mistake to not visit this nature’s beauty. Located in the Satara district, it is nestled in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1,353 m. You can enjoy a picturesque sight of the plains, the misty peaks and the lush green woods in Mahabaleshwar, which is why it’s often called the queen of hill stations.
4) Lonavala – Everyone knows that a tour to Maharashtra can never be called complete without a visit to the gorgeous town of Lonavala, another hill station but quite a famous one. It isn’t very far from the capital of Mumbai either, just about 95 km. Situated in Pune, Lonavala lies at an altitude of 622 m in the Sahyadri Ranges.
5) Tadoba Andhari National Park – This tiger reserve is the most popular in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. It’s also the state’s oldest and largest wildlife sanctuary where you can enjoy different kinds of jeep safaris, each giving you a better peek at tigers residing in their natural habitat.
6) Alibag – The coastal town located about 120 km south of Mumbai. Alibag houses a magnetic observatory which was set up in 1904. It was developed under the great Maratha Ruler Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, famous for white beaches which is less populated and looks peaceful for time to spend.
7) Kolhapur – Another must-visit place on your trip, this city derives its name from a mythological legend of Kolhasur, the demon who was killed by Goddess Mahalakshmi. This is why the town is famous for its Mahalakshmi Temple built in the honour of the Goddess. Besides, you’d also like Shri Chatrapati Shahu Museum, Panhala Fort, and Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary.
8) Nashik – Another religious site, it is also the third most populous city in Maharashtra besides being a renowned pilgrimage place to visit like Shirdi. Located along the banks of River Godavari, the city is famous for its history which dates back to the Ramayana period. The city derived its name from that period of the era where Lakshmana is believed to have chopped off the nasika (nose) of Shurpanakha (Ravana’s sister).
Nashik is also described as “The Wine Capital of India” as the Nashik region produces tonnes of grapes per year and there are several wineries in Nashik. Wine festivals are held in the name of India Grape Harvest and SulaFest.
9) Pune – The 8th largest metropolis in India and the second largest city of Maharashtra, Pune has earned recognition as an important economic and industrial hub in the state. There’s lots to see here like the Aga Khan Palace which offers a glimpse into the history of the city, Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, Parvati Hill, Shanivar Wada and Bund Garden.
10) Shirdi – At a distance of 258 km from Mumbai, Shirdi is a small town located in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Shirdi is one of the popular pilgrimage places you must include and visit. Shirdi is famous and known for the shrine of Sai Baba, which is the main attraction for the devotees, who visit this holy shrine.
Many people worship Sai Baba as he dedicated his life to the poor people. Shirdi is the place where he attained his Sanadhi or final abode. Shirdi temple is one of the richest temples in India with estimated donations of INR 4 billion per annum. There are many other temples and holy places near and around Shirdi like Maruti Temple, Khandoba Mandir, Shani Shingnapur and Nashik.
The temple is beautifully built and attracts a large number of devotees throughout the year. the Sri Sai Baba SansthanTrust has also provided rooms for accommodation with various hotels and lodges around to stay from budget to star category.
To enjoy in Shirdi there is a water park named Wet N Joy which is family-friendly water park offering a variety of slides, rides & pools, plus a restaurant.
Summing Up
Maharashtra has a diverse range of offerings – from beaches and hill stations to pilgrim sites and historic places; it’s difficult to resist any one of these during a tour to the state. Make sure you hire a guide to enjoy your trip even more.
