Maharashtra - The Land of Marathas

Vast, distinctive, and diverse, this ‘great land’ takes you by surprise at every turn…and has you coming back for more. This is Maharashtra – the captivating giant of the Konkan. Fringed by the beautiful Arabian Sea on its west, and sharing borders with Gujarat to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Telangana to the southeast, Karnataka to the south, and Goa to the southwest, Maharashtra is a traveller’s delight – a melting pot of histories, cultures, and landscapes.

Lying on the resplendent Konkan Coast, Maharashtra’s pristine beaches run into miles of golden sands – a 700 km coastline – transforming its very landscape and coming alive with the energy of little fishing villages, orchards, temples, vibrant promenades, secluded alcoves, and brisk trading ports; inviting and enticing you to experience the ocean, enjoy fresh air, and eat fabulous coastal cuisine. Running parallel to the Konkan Coast are the magnificent Western Ghats (or Sahayadri) mountains. A trekker’s paradise, the Sahyadris are a treasure trove of hills, lakes, waterfalls, and forests. Maharashtra’s many hill stations have the great advantage of being located within a few hours’ driving distance from the state’s major cities.

And casually scattered across this stunning landscape are the gems of Maharashtra’s rich multi-cultural heritage – majestic, imposing forts; ancient Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut caves and temples lined with exquisite sculptures and frescoes; scores of sculpted temples, grand colonial-era architecture, unsullied wildlife sanctuaries, and five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This is also the land that gave India one of its most iconic and beloved patriots – the valiant Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji, who challenged the might of the Mughals in the 17th century. Today, Shivaji’s many forts, built on steep precipitous hills of the Deccan Plateau, stand testament to his legendary heroism.

Ahmednagar

Ahmednagar is a transit point in Maharashtra that has significance in Mughal (15-17th Century), Maratha (18th Century) and Colonial history (20th Century). Ahmednagar today is a transit town visited for its proximity to the renowned Shani Temple (Temple of Planet Saturn) at Shinganapur (40 kms). Ahmednagar is also a transit point between Parli Vaijnath and Bhimashankar temples in a Maharashtra Jyotirlinga Temples itinerary.

Aurangabad

Around 400 km eastward of Mumbai – in the Marathwada region – lies Aurangabad (also called Fatehnagar), which, like most Mughal-trodden places on the Indian map, showcases two sides. Named for the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, whose Deccan capital it once was, Aurangabad still holds the air of a bygone era that only enhances the charm of its tourist-centred economy. The many beautiful monuments here stand as the proud keepers of the prodigious history that sustains the city.

The major tourist sites here are the Bibi-ka-Maqbara, an elegant edifice which is the burial mausoleum of Emperor Aurangzeb’s wife, Dilras Banu Begum. Since it was designed like the Taj Mahal in Agra, the mausoleum is also popularly called the ‘Taj of the Deccan’. The 17th-century water wheel Panchakki is known for its underground water channel. The powerful 12th century Daulatabad Fort (aka Devgiri Fort) was a coveted citadel of its times due to its extraordinary military strength. The Grishneshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga (linga of light) shrines in India and is an extremely important pilgrimage site in the Shaivite (of Shiva) tradition of Hinduism; the Temple is believed to be the last or 12th Jyotirlinga.

But Aurangabad’s undisputed claim to fame is that it is the gateway to India’s timeless art at the renowned Ajanta and Ellora Caves – both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Aurangabad is famous for its beautiful Paithani sarees that are hand-woven in the Paithan and Yeola towns of Maharashtra. Created from very fine silk and using gold thread, the traditional Paithani (or pattan) saree is especially noted for its intricate weave, exquisite motifs, and elegant colours, and is one of the iconic crafts of Maharashtra.

Mumbai

In 1662, the seven Portuguese-owned islands of Bombay were given as dowry to King Charles II of England when he married Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza. In 1668, the islands were acquired by the English East India Company. By the 1840s, the seven islands were joined together by causeways, to eventually become one of India’s most important ports and trading centres. Pulsating with energy, Maharashtra’s capital Mumbai is an incredible city – as much for its comfortable cosmopolitanism and wonderful multi-cultural society as for its amazing contradictions.

Mumbai is India’s commercial, financial, and institutional hub, also its fashion capital. It is home to the world’s most prolific film industry, stylish sea-front homes, Asia’s largest slums, and the largest tropical forest in an urban zone. Then there are phenomenal Victorian neo-Gothic buildings; beautiful culture-and-heritage zones; fascinating old markets and bazaars; busy docks; turn-of-the-century railway stations, museums, theatres, and libraries; cathedrals, mosques, and temples; terrific luxury hotels and superb restaurants.

Cricket is Mumbai’s beloved sport and enjoys cult-status – maidan (large ground) cricket, played on every available empty space, is supremely popular. Residents and commuters are constantly on the move in this vibrant city of nose-to-nose traffic, fast BEST buses, and indispensable local trains. During Mumbai’s spectacular 10-day festival Ganesh Chaturthi, the city’s streets turn into worship halls with hundreds of massive idols of the beloved elephant-headed god – to be finally immersed in the sea on the last day of the festival.

Mumbai has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Elephanta Caves. Mumbai remains after Delhi, the most popular arrival point for International travellers into India and is a popular destination for a transit stay enroute.

Nagpur

In the country’s famous Deccan Plateau, at the exact centre of the Indian Peninsula, lies Nagpur. Famed as the ‘City of Oranges’ and the capital of the erstwhile Central Provinces, Nagpur blends the ambience of small town and metropolis beautifully. Founded by the Gond king Bakht Buland Shah in 1702, the city has several beautiful buildings and quite a bit of green.

The Poddareshwar Ram Mandir on Central Avenue is a must-visit. Built in 1923, this beautiful temple complex of marble and sandstone has extremely engaging murals, carvings, and architecture. Deekshabhoomi is a 120-ft towering dome built to mark the conversion of Dr B R Ambedkar (the renowned Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer who campaigned against social discrimination) and thousands of his followers to Buddhism in 1956. The dargah (Sufi shrine) of Baba Tajuddin is also worth visiting.

While in Nagpur, don’t miss the chance to pick up the city’s wonderful oranges.

Shirdi

One of India’s most revered pilgrimage destinations, Shirdi is famous for the saint Sai Baba. Sai Baba came to Shirdi in 1858, and is believed to have attained samadhi (salvation) in 1918, after spending 60 years here. The aura of Baba is omnipresent and powerful even today. Truly, Shirdi IS Sai Baba, for without him this would have been just another obscure little village. Today Shirdi is a town of narrow lanes, small stalls selling flowers, sweets, trinkets, and other items that devotees offer to Sai Baba.

The Samadhi Mandir (the Sai Baba Temple) is the heart of Shirdi. Inside the shrine is a lifesized white Italian marble statue of the beloved saint. The shrine is also known by the rather unusual name of Butty Wada, after the man who built it. Every Thursday, the special day of Baba, a procession – the Palki Procession – is taken through the streets of Shirdi; it starts at 9 pm from the Temple.

If you are interested, there are other sights in the area connected to the life of Baba – Dwarkamal (village mosque), Chavadi, Gurusthan (small shrine), Lendi Baug (small garden), the Cottage of Abdul Baba, and the house of Laxmibai Shinde.

Do note that Shirdi is a vegetarian town and alcohol is forbidden.