Maharashtra Tourism

Maharashtra, a state spanning west-central India, is best known for its fast-paced capital, Mumbai (formerly Bombay). This sprawling metropolis is the seat of the Bollywood film industry. It also has sites like the British Raj-era Gateway of India monument and cave temples at Elephanta Island. To the south is the rustic, beach-lined Konkan Coast. In the city of Pune, Aga Khan Palace is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

History
Maharashtra is a state in the western region of India and is India's second-most populous state and third-largest state by area.Although the present day state in India was only formed in 1960,the region that comprises the state has a long history dating back to the 4th century BCE. From the 4th century BCE until 875, Maharashtri Prakrit and its Apabhraṃśas were the dominant languages of the region. Marathi, which evolved from Maharashtri Prakrit, has been the lingua franca from the 9th century onwards.The oldest stone inscriptions in Marathi language can be seen at Shravana Belgola in modern-day Karnataka at the foot of the Bahubali Statue. In the course of time, the term Maharashtra was used to describe a region which consisted of Aparanta, Vidarbha, Mulak, Assaka(Ashmaka) and Kuntal. Tribal communities of Naga, Munda and Bhil peoples inhabited this area, also known as Dandakaranya, in ancient times. The name Maharashtra is believed to be originated from rathi, which means "chariot driver". Maharashtra entered the recorded history in the 2nd century BC, with the construction of its first Buddhist caves. The name Maharashtra first appeared in the 7th century in the account of a contemporary Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang. According to the recorded History[clarification needed], the first Hindu King ruled the state during the 6th century, based in Badami.

Fairs & Festivals
Maharashtra is home to various religious and cultural traditions. The state has many diverse communities. The Maharashtrians are cheerful people and festive spirit is deep rooted in their culture. Apart from the main festivals, Maharashtra has many other fairs and festivals which are celebrated in different parts in Maharashtra. These festivals accompany various songs, dances and cuisines in every festival. Each festival is significant in the lives of the people in Maharashtra.

Best Time to Visit
A large numbers of tourists visit the state of Maharashtra. From beautiful beaches to the most revered shrines and temples and the well-known historical monuments, Maharashtra has a lot to offer to tourists who love coming here for vacations. In order to enjoy their holidays to the fullest, people prefer visiting the state when weather conditions are ideal. The best time to visit this state is between October and February.
The summers are long gone by this time and the rains are done with. So, neither would the place be sultry or depressingly hot nor would it be extremely humid which is generally the case right after rains. The climate is pleasant and comforting by October. Winter season begins in November and lasts till mid-February.
Even after the winters end, pleasant climatic conditions are maintained till early March. Thus, due to these weather conditions, October to February is the peak season for visiting Maharashtra. Unlike most northern states of India, the weather during winters in Maharashtra is cool but not extremely cold. So, if travelling to this state during winters, it is advisable to carry light woolens. All you need to do is pack your bags with a few light woolens, say goodbye to your city for a few days and set out to a wonderful trip to Maharashtra.
If you are planning to visit hill stations of Maharashtra like Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala, September to June is the perfect time. Winter months between November and February are pleasant with lowest humidity levels and cool evenings. The average summer temperature is between 22°C-39°C while in winters it ranges between 12°C-34°C on an average.

How to Reach :-

BY AIR - The best way to reach Maharashtra is through the airways. Mumbai is one of the major cities with both the domestic as well as an international airport. Both these airports are situated to the north which is reachable by taxis and buses. In total, 37 different airlines are available for the domestic and international routes. You can catch flights to destinations like Middle East, Asia, Europe, Chicago, New York etc. Excellent facilities are being offered to the international visitors so that they can enjoy their trip to India. Sahara International Airport is located 10 km from downtown and offers top notch services of exchange, immigration and baggage too. Once you move out of the airport, you will find taxis to reach your destination.

BY RAIL - Mumbai is known to have a well connected rail network through western and central line. One of the busiest railway stations of Mumbai is CST from where you can easily get trains that travel on different routes. Trains that come from northern India usually arrive at Bombay Central. You can reach both the stations by hiring taxis or through the city buses.

BY ROAD - The city buses of Mumbai are considered to be the best option to explore the local areas. Most of the buses terminate at the Asiad Bus Stand which is located at Dadar. Being on the national highway route, Mumbai is connected to all the cities and towns so you can definitely find excellent bus facilities to reach Mumbai. NH 3 route is connected to Gwalior and Indore while NH 8 route leads to Ahmedabad and Delhi. Through NH4 route you can head towards Pune. Mumbai is also a trading hub handling about 1/6th of the total Indian trade. You can also try the ferry service with this facility being available at the Ferry Wharf located at the Gateway of India or Prince’s Dock. There is a separate railway line which connects the central as well as the western railways through the railway yard.