Major Tourist Places in Maharashtra

• Konkan Coast Beaches

  There are a lot of beautiful beaches along the entire Konkan coast. Most of this beaches are not yet truly discovered by the tourists and are far better than the so called popular beaches in India. We are giving you a quick reference of the beaches along the Konkan coast.Many of the beaches like Alibag, Guhagar, Harihareshwar, kihim, Ganpatipule are dangerous for swimming and proper care should be taken while entering the water. Please listen to the local people if they warn you of dangerous waters as many peole have drowned on these beaches.

  Beaches

• Kolhapur

  Kolhapur is a city on the banks of the Panchaganga River, in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. It???s known for its temples, like the ancient Mahalakshmi Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site. The Bhavani Mandap is an imposing old palace with a small museum displaying stuffed wild animals. Close by, Rankala Lake is surrounded by gardens. The hilltop Jyotiba Temple complex is on the city's outskirts.

  Temple

• Mumbai

  Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is a densely populated city on India???s west coast. A financial center, it's India's largest city. On the Mumbai Harbour waterfront stands the iconic Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. Offshore, nearby Elephanta Island holds ancient cave temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The city's also famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry.

  Capital

• Ajanta Ellora Caves

  The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India.

  Caves

• Matheran

  Matheran is a hill station, near Mumbai, in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. It???s known for its mild climate and well-preserved colonial architecture. Motor vehicles are banned and many visitors arrive by narrow-gauge railway on the 1907 Neral???Matheran Toy Train. The Panorama Point lookout offers views across the mountains of the Western Ghats. Louisa Point has views of waterfalls and the ancient Prabal Fort.

  Hill

• Raigad Fort Mahad

  Raigad is a hill fort situated in the Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Raigad Fort was seized by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and made it his capital in 1674 when he was crowned as the King of a Maratha Kingdom which later developed into the Maratha Empire, eventually covering much of western and central India.

  Fort

• Bhimashankar

  Bhimashankar is the sixth Jyotirling in the series of Dwadasha Jyotirlingas. The temple is very old and surrounded by a scenic nature with green forest. The place is totally surrounded by dense forest which is also considered as the wild life sanctuary by Indian Government. This hill region is called Sahyadri and situated at a distance of 125Kms from Pune. This forest is also called Khed. The temple is located at Dakini hill (Shikharam). Nana Padnis of Peshwa kingdom has improved this place to a great extent and built the beautiful temple.

  Jyotirlinga

• Tryambakeshwar

  Tryambakeshwar is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak, in the Trimbakeshwar tehsil in the Nashik District of Maharashtra, India, 28 km from the city of Nashik and 40 km from nashik road. It is dedicated to the god Shiv and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where the Hindu genealogy registers at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra are kept. The origin of the sacred Godavari river is near Trimbak.

  Kusavarta, a kunda (sacred pond) in the temple premises is the source of the Godavari River, the longest river in peninsular India. The current temple was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb).

  Jyotirlinga

• Ghrishneshwar

  The Ghrishneshwar temple is a revered pilgrimage site located in Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra. Situated about 20 kilometers from Daulatabad in the village of Verul, this site is the last of the twelve jyotirlingas in the country, making it a popular destination for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Re-constructed by Rani Ahilyabai after destruction during the Mughal period, this site is a magnificent structure emanating pure divinity.

  Located about a kilometer from the famed Ellora caves, this temple is the smallest of all the jyotirlingas and is believed to offer a less crowded and better view of the Mahadev. The carvings within the magnificent structure, as well as the ambience of the place, are what makes it an important site with devotees from all over the country visiting it to gain spirituality.

  Jyotirlinga

• Shani Shingnapur, Ahmednagar

  The presiding deity of Shingnapur is Sri Shaneshwar or Lord Shanidev who is the personification of the planet Saturn. Shanidev is worshipped with much devotion and held in reverence by the people. The shrine is a five and half feet black rock installed on an open-air platform symbolising Shani. The spectacle of the deity is quite overwhelming. Visited by thousands of devotees every day, the temple attracts largest number of visitors on amavasya or new moon day. Amavasya is considered the most auspicious day for appeasing Lord Shani.

  Temple

• Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mumbai

  Commanding utmost reverence and devotion of the people of Mumbai is the temple of Shree Siddhi Vinayaka or ‘Ganesha who grants your wish.’ Built in 1801 the temple was reconstructed to accommodate more devotees. Sculpted from a single black stone, the 2.5 feet tall idol of Ganesha rests within the 2550 sq meter temple complex. Enjoying its pride of place at the heart of the city of Mumbai, the temple is visited by thousands of devotees everyday to offer their prayers. Politicians and Bollywood celebrities are regular visitors to the temple, seeking blessings before the launch of their new ventures. It is also the richest temple in Mumbai.

  Temple

• Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Shirdi

  Shirdi Sai Baba temple owes its origins to Sai Baba, an Indian guru or yogi. Sai Baba attained popularity and substantial following through his teachings and religious messages. His teachings combined elements of Hinduism and Islam. Shirdi became an important pilgrimage centre because of Sai Baba. The temple or mandir is visited by thousands of pilgrims each day and its fame and name has crossed the borders of Maharashtra.

  Temple

• Janasthaan: Shakti Bhramari

  Janasthaan: Shakti Bhramari,  Body part--Chin: In the Godavari river valley in the Nasik city fell both parts of the chin of Goddess Sati. Devi is known as Shakti Bhramari or Chibuka (meaning Chin) here.

  Shakti Pithas

• Jwala: Shakti Ambika/Siddhida

  Jwala: Shakti Ambika/Siddhida,  Body part--Tongue: Situated 30 km south to the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh is the  Jwala Shakti Peeth. Discovered by the Pandavas, here the Goddess Sati resides in form of Devi Ambika or Siddhida. Tongue of Sati is said to have fallen here. She sits in the form of a flame, which miraculously keep burning, even under the layer of rocks.

  Shakti Pithas