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Ajanta
& Ellora Caves
One of the
most outstanding specimens of ancient Indian heritage
are the Ajanta & Ellora group of caves. Maharashtra
state treasures this mesmerizing caves which were
accidentally discovered in the 19th century by the
British. Ellora houses 34 caves while Ajanta houses 29
caves. Each cave depicting a tale from the Jatakas or
depicting stories of Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism.
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Elephanta
Caves
The Elephanta island is known for its great cave shrine,
excavated in the 6th century. The island lies 10 km
northeast to Apollo Bunder or Gateway of India. The
island which was known as Gharapuri earlier is the
glorious abode of Lord Shiva. This is land was renamed,
Elephanta by the Portuguese who landed here, after the
majestic carved elephant on this island.
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Murud Janjira
Sea Forts like the Siddi fort of
Murud Janjira and Jaigad near Ganpatipule, the famous pilgrimage
place belong to the Maratha period.Many other prominent forts of
the Maratha period still exist- Panhala, Purandhar where Baji
Prabhu laid down his life holding back the forces of Siddi Johar
at a narrow pass, since christened Pavankhind, and Lohagad
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Lonavala and
Khandala
On the way to Pune from Mumbai come the two pleasant hill
stations of Maharashtra, Lonavala and Khandala. Set at a height
of 625 m they are located on the western slopes of the Sahyadri
mountain range. The two hill stations are 5 kms apart.
Fascinating panoramic beauty adorns these places. Khandala being
the smaller of the two is relatively calmer. The lush greenery
of the mountains especially during the monsoons and the misty
paths attract tourist like honey bees here. The silver
waterfalls amidst the lush greenery are extremely magical.
Lonavala's bazaar is filled with surprises. The beauty of this
place is a refreshing experience
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Bassein
Fort
Located just 55 kms. (a 90 min. journey) away from
Bombay, is Bassein, one of the most important sea forts
of Maharashtra. The last bastion of the first sea-faring
foreign power in India, the Portuguese. Built by Bahadur
Shah -Sultan of Gujarat from 1526-1537, it was initially
one of a chain of forts intended to guard the coasts
against the Portuguese and pirates. The Portuguese
however captured it and remodelled the fort, building a
citadel inside.
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Raigad
Raigad also known as Durgadeshwar is the lord of all the
360 odd forts in the state of Maharashtra. Now you may
wonder why is Raigad the king of all forts - but there
is a very good reason behind Raigad being crowned thus.
It is because Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who roused
the patriotic fervour by his guru mantra, Hindavi
Swaraj, which later, became his war cry, chose this fort
as his capital. The fort was originally named Raigiri.
It was renamed Raigad by Shivaji who was coronated on
June 6, 1674
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Matheran
This place was discovered in 1850 and due to its
greenery & shade it was immediately taken as the
nearest hill station from Mumbai. Matheran is sightly
above the plains so it is cool and provides respite from
the heat of Mumbai. The place provides very nice views
of the near by places, particularly on a clear day one
can even see Mumbai from the Hart point. Though the
local population of Matheran is very less but the
visitors pour at this place frequently. Matheran has
maintained the tranquility and peace by banning any kind
of motor vehicle. The best season to visit this place is
between November to June but the place is worth visiting
any time of the year. During the monsoon the trails
become very dirty and the place virtually shuts
down.
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Panchagani
Situated at an altitude of 1334 mts it lies just 38 m
below Mahabaleshwar. It gets name from the 5 hills
around it. The way to Panchgani from Mahabaleshwar which
is 18 kms is absolutely spectacular. The Krishna river
that meanders through the farms, ravines and hamlets on
one side and the coastal plains on the other side has a
mesmeric charm. Panchgani has been a retreat for a long
time. It displays architecture of Old British building.
Parsi houses and the boarding school which would be
almost a century old.
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Sinhagad
Fort
Sinhagad,
is one of the important Maratha forts having a colourful
history linked with it. A history that echoes with the
bravery of the Maratha conquest of Kondana fort by
Tanaji Malasure. Today. 24 kms. south-west of Pune,
battle-scarred, it rises intimidating, amidst the
Bhuleshwar range
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