MAHARASHTRA

Maharashtra : is the 3^rd largest state in India and stands second in terms of population. Historically, Maharashtra dates back to the period of the Mahabharata as Vidarbha. The state also figures in history during the Mauryan Empire after which it was ruled by various Hindu dynastties, the last of which, the Yadavas, came under the succession of Muslim rulers in 1294. With the rise of Shivaji, Maharashtra became a powerful Maratha Kingdom untill the fall of the Peshwas by the hands of the Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Abdali. They recovered only to be defeated by the British power in 1818 to form the Bonbay Presidency. The present state was formed on May 1, 1960.

About 70 % of the people in Maharashtra depend on agriculture. But it is also one of the most industriallly and commercially developed areas of India. This not alone, you can find here hundreds of shrines of all faiths and artistic skills of people nowhere more evident than in the cave-temples. Apart from culture and history, Maharashtra offers a traveller idyllic bliss in a land blessed by nature. Quiet and beautiful hill stations, secluded palm-shaded golden beaches, dense monsoon forests with varied flora and fauna created as it were only for a relaxing holiday. Mumbai is the Hollywood of India as far as film production is concerened.

State Government : http://www.maharashtra.gov.in

Capital :	Mumbai
Area :	307,690 square Kilometers
Population :	96,878,627 (2001 census)
Literacy :	76.88% (2001)
Language :	Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi
Roads :	359,262 Kms
Railways :	5,614 Kms
Airport :	Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Akola, Ratnagiri, Pune.
Seaport :	Mumbai, Ratnagiri
Climate :	Summer (39° - 22° C), Winter (34° - 12° C), Monsoon : June to October
Best Season :	September to March
Places of Interest :	State Tourism : http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in
	Ahmadnagar : Fort, Tombs. Ajanta : Frescoes & Sculpture in Buddhist caves, Zenith of Indian Art. Alandi : Pilgrim centre. Alibag : Beach. Amravati : Temples, Cotton market. Aurangabad : Monuments, Buddhist Cave Temples, Silks, Watermill. [Daulatabad (13 Kms) : Fort. Ellora (29 Kms) : Cave-shrines, Magnificient Sculpture. Khuldabad (25 Kms) : Tombs.] Bhandardara : Hill station, Temple, Fort, Lake, Waterfalls, Bird Sanctuary.. Chikhaldara : Hill station, Fort. Kolhapur : Palaces, Temples, Leather Footwear, Cultural & Wrestling centre. [Panhala (18 Kms) : Temples, Fort, Hill Station.] Lonavala : Hill station, Yoga Institute, nearby Forts. [Bedsa (10 Kms) : Buddhist caves and ruins. Karla (10 Kms) : Cave shrines, Viharas, Carvings, Forts. Khandala (5 Kms) : Hill station, Waterfalls.] Mahabaleshwar : Hill resort, Temples, Lake, Waterfalls. [Pratapgarh (20 Kms) : Fort. Wai (25 Kms) : Temples.] Matheran : Hill resort, Toy-train, Lake, Caves. Melghat : Dhakna Kolkaz Sanctuary. Mumbai : Museums, Parks (Hanging Gardens), Temples, Sport, Art Galleries, Shopping, Cuisine, Financial Capital of India, Bollywood - India's Hollywood, Planetarium, Churches, Beaches, Tombs, Race-course, Aquarium. [Borivali (35 Kms) : Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Elephanta (10 Kms) : Cave Temples, Sculpture. Juhu : Beach. Kanheri (40 Kms) : Buddhist tombs. Madh (45 Kms) : Beach. Manori (40 Kms) : Beach. Marve (38 Kms) : Beaches. Powai (27 Kms) : Lake. Tulsi (41 Kms) : Lake. Versova : Beach.] Murud : Beach, Island Fortress, Palace. Nagpur : 'Orange Capital', Fort, Gardens, Military Cantonment. [Ramtek (40 Kms) : Temples, Lakes.] Nanded : Sikh pilgrim centre, Fort. Nasik : Major Temples, Festivals, Caves, Kumbh Mela. Nawegaon National Park : Birds, Lake. Paithan : Temples, Handloom silks. Panchgani : Hill station. Pandharpur : Temples. Pune : Palaces, Temples, Museums, Film, Military, Gardens, Cultural centre, Gliding, Caves, Observatory. [Baneshwar (34 Kms) : Temple. Chinchvad (16 Kms) : Temples. Karnala (140 Kms) : Bird sanctuary, Fort. Simhagadh (25 Kms) : Fort.] Purandhar : Fort, Hill station. Rajgadh : Fort, Shivaji's Samadhi, Lake, Palace. Ratnagiri : Beaches, Fort, Mangoes.[Malvan (175 Kms) : Fort, Beach. Radhanagari (150 Kms) : Bird sanctuary.] Satara : Palace, nearby Forts, Museum, ancient capital. Shirdi : Mosque, Pilgrim centre, Shrine of Shri Sai Baba. Shivneri : Fort, Birthplace of Shivaji, Buddhist caves, Mosque. Sindhudurg : Fort, Temple. Solapur : Fort, Temple, Textile centre. Tadoba : National Park. Tuljapur : Temple. Vajreshwari : Hot springs, Temples. Vasai / Bassein : Fort, Portuguese ruins. Wardha : Mahatma Gandhi's Ashram at Sevagram (8 Kms). [Paunar (13 Kms) : Vinobha Bhave's Ashram]
Festivals :	Mahashivratri (February / March), Holi (March), Gudi Padva (March / April), Ganesh Chaturthi), Gokulashtami (August / September), Dussehra (October), Diwali (October / November), Ellora Festival (November / December).