City: Maharashtra
Top Things to do in Maharashtra
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What to do and see in Maharashtra, India: The Best Places and Tips
Maharashtra (/mɑːhəˈrɑːʃtrə/; Marathi: [məharaːʂʈrə] ( listen), abbr. MH) is a state in the western region of India and is India's second-most populous state and third-largest state by area. Spread over 307,713 km (118,809 sq mi), it is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Indian states of Karnataka, Telangana, Goa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is also the world's second-most populous subnational entity. It has over 112 million inhabitants and its capital, Mumbai, has a population of approximately 18 million. Nagpur is Maharashtra's second capital as well as its winter capitalp
Restaurants in Maharashtra
1. Gateway of India
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Built in 1911 to welcome the King and Queen of England, this stone archway in Colaba is now a historic landmark.
2. Ellora Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Spectacular rock cut caves and elaborate sculptures of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths are over 10 centuries old.
Reviewed By DiFlies - Lyndhurst, United Kingdom
Auramabad is about 7 hours by train from Mumbai, then you can take a taxi to Ellora caves. There is a great deal to see, as there are over 30 temples (Buddhist, Hindu and Jain) some better preserved and more elaborate than others. There are a lot of steps and uneven floors and ground, but the effort is more than worthwhile as the carvings are magnificent. It is incredible to see the workmanship in temples that are over a thousand years old. Cave 16 is perhaps the most admired, but don't miss cave 10 with its amazing carved roof and huge buddha
3. Hazur Sahib
Overall Ratings
5 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By Mayuresh T
I have been hearing about this place right from my childhood and didn't want to miss out on visiting the same when I happened to be in Nanded for attending marriage . Its beautifully maintained and quite peaceful . Anything and everything in neatly managed . In the main temple area you can sit for a while and I can assure you that its very calming experience . So all in all a must visit if you are going to Nanded .
4. Ajanta Caves
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By 138500423 - Pune, India
This review is for those who wish to see Alluring Ajanta & Enchanting Ellora in 1 day from morning 6.30 am to evening 6.00 pm.
Very important information:
1. Closing days: Ajanta is closed on Monday & Ellora on Tuesday
2. Open week days timing: Ajanta 9 am to 5.30 pm & Ellora 6 am to 6 pm
3. Entry ticket: Rs. 30/- for Indians & Rs. 700 for foreigners at both places
4. Photography: Mobile phone & digital camera is allowed. For handy cam permission is required.
5. Bus facility:
a) Ajanta: Bus from car parking to cave main entrance & vice versa at 10 minutes frequency. 5 minutes journey. Ticket Rs.16/- for non AC & Rs. 26/- for AC. Photo of both bus stops & both buses attached.
b) Ellora: Buses at 10 minutes frequency to cover caves from 34 to 17. Ticket Rs. 21/- for ordinary bus. There are 3 to 4 buses frequently dropping & picking up visitors from cave no. 30 to 34 then 29 then 28 to 19 etc. Visitors can travel by any bus during sightseeing visit of 34 to 19 caves.
Cave no. 30 to 34 are little far that’s why bus. If you have plenty of time you can cover all 34 caves by walk otherwise bus is the best option for 29 to 34 caves only.
Please note that there are Porters also available to carry the person on chair or doli.
Porter rates charts is also attached.
6. Parking fees: Rs.30/- for car at both the places
7. Food outlets
a) Ajanta: MTDC restaurant is there at cave entrance& couple of small restaurants plus many souvenir shops at car parking area. Photo of MTDC resort is attached. Restaurant menu card photo is attached. Restaurant has beer bar also.
b) Ellora: Plenty of restaurants at walkable distances from main cave entrance
8. Information on caves: Thru internet on google search engine. Guide books being sold at cave entrance. Both provides excellent information.
9. Distances: Aurangabad to Ajanta apprx 100 km & Ajanta to Ellora apprx 100 km
10. Toilet facility: At Ajanta caves, it is at main entrance, in MTDC restaurant & at cave no. 16. At Ellora, it is at only main entrance.
11. Entrance:
a) Ajanta has 2 entrances:
i) Ajanta view point (Many are unaware of this fascinating panoramic spot)
Photo of this spot is attached & also photos of views from this spot are also attached.
Road tips:
Please use GPS from Aurangabad Central Bus Stand to View Point Ajanta Cave.
At Balapur T junction (apprx 88 km from Aurangabad bus stand), Hotel Prem Sagar on your left & Hotel view point on your right is located.
From T junction: Left side road goes to view point at 8 km & right side road goes to Ajanta caves parking area at 16 km. So take left turn. On reaching view point you have two options:
a) If you have hired driver from Aurangabad, he will drop you at view point & will proceed to Ajanta caves parking area. After seeing caves you have to meet him at Ajanta caves parking area. This is the most convenient option OR
b) You have to come back again to view point after seeing the caves & driver should wait at view point itself.
View point provides captivating panoramic views of Ajanta caves from top. Photos are attached.
Those who are physically fit, please choose this option, I repeat please choose this option as it provides most stunning panoramic views while descending down simple trek of 30 minutes to caves. While descending down keep to your left to see the 7 water ponds carved on the mountain at different levels from ground to top before reaching the view point at center on hill. Visit left & right side fence before reaching view point at center on hill. Both sides provide magnificent views.
Photos of both side plus center hill attached.
Descend down from view point at center on hill to the bridge on the river. Don’t cross the bridge instead go to the left side road parallel to the mountain hill to see 7 water ponds. Return back to bridge & cross it to reach entrance ticket counter.
Photo of 7 ponds & bridge attached.
Buy ticket & proceed to see caves from 8 to 26 to your left then return to see the cave from 7 to 1 to your right. Then descend down to MTDC restaurant / bus parking place. Catch bus to go to car parking area.
ii) Main entrance
Thru this entrance, you reach at cave no. 1. This also provides spectacular views. Buy entrance ticket & proceed to see cave from 1 to 26 in a sequence. Photos attached from this views.
b) Ellora has only one entrance:
It is at 18 no. cave. This cave called as Kailas temple & it is the prime attraction of Ellora caves lot.
To your right are caves from 17 to 1 & to your left are cave from 19 to 34.
Cave no. 18 & 29 are the biggest cave.
12. How we planned for one day Ajanta Ellora trip.
Thru Aurangabad Taxi we fixed the deal of Rs. 2500/- for Ajanta Ellora trip on 18th March. The owner & driver turned out to be very good persons.
1. Travelled by Shivshahi bus from Pune Shivajinagar at 7.30 pm on 17th March. Bus fare Rs.662 per head.Bus frequency every hour from 5.30 am to 1 am.
Reached Aurangabad central bus stand at 1 am of 18th March.
Went to Hotel opposite bus stand, normal charges were Rs.600/- for 2 persons. I negotiated for Rs.500/- for period upto 6.30 am i.e only for 5 hours.
Another best travel option is by Pune Nanded Express train. Train starts at 10 pm at night from Pune & reaches Aurangabad at next day at 5 am. Hotels at Aurangabad do provide rooms at Rs.200/- for getting fresh in an hour or so.
This train is on Monday & Wednesday. So ensure you travel by Wednesday train only.
2. Hired car driver arrived at 6.30 am & we started our journey to Ajanta caves
3. We had breakfast at Balapur T junction & then proceeded to view point. After dropping us at view point driver proceeded to Ajanta main cave parking area.
Then we trek down from view point fully engrossed in taking panoramic pictures continuously as well as of Ajanta caves. After finishing sightseeing of Ajanta caves, we proceeded to the MTDC resort premises. After spending 10 minutes at MTDC we boarded the bus & travelled to car parking area in less than 5 minutes.
Strolled thru the shops & food stalls before car parking area then went to parking area & started our journey to Ellora at 1.30 pm. We had lunch on route. We reached Ellora at 4 pm.
After buying entrance ticket, saw first 18th cave, then 17 to 6. Renovation work is going on so could not go till cave no. 1. Returned to the spot in front of Cave no. 18 where bus facility is there for seeing caves from 19 to 34. Got the ticket & visited the caves & finished sightseeing exactly at 6 pm.
At 18 cave no. you can climb up to top from outside right to have the best views. 18 no. cave is the place where high percentage of time is spent by the visitors.
13. Best time to visit
a) Ultimate best: Rainy season
It will provide most eye gratifying views. Waterfalls is icing on cake for both Ajanta and Ellora.
b) Next best: Winter
It will provide most mind soothing green views
c) Last best: Summer
Visited now in this summer, so please see the attached photos in this review to decide the feeling.
Photos are tagged appropriately for better understanding. If you are planning for this trip in summer then please do see the photos.
I had visited this cave in 1992 & now on 18th March 2018. This visit was more memorable than it in terms of views because of visit thru view point entrance & not main entrance.
Hope this review provides all required helpful information to plan one day trip to Ajanta and Ellora in best way.
5. Sri Sai Baba Samadhi Mandir
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By AnjanManda - Hyderabad, India
The holy is temple is open to all religions.The main shrine is known as samadhi mandhir.There is the beautiful marble statue of Saibaba in sitting posture and his mahasamadhi.Baba took mahasamadhi in 1918.The Italian marble statue is real life like.You will feel baba is looking at you and responding.Remember his message “look to me and I shall look to you”.Experience the divine blessings and peace.
There is free Darshan.You can book aarti online to save time and have good Darshan.For senior citizens and parents of less than one year child , special entry Darshan is provided.Avoid Thursday’s and weekends when there will be heavy rush of piligrims.Mobiles are not allowed inside the shrine.
6. National Defence Academy
Overall Ratings
5 based on 205 reviews
Reviewed By rkr-ch - Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
visited this spectacular place where our future stars are prepared, saw the wonderful facilities from where we get our leaders from. we should make it a mandatory visit if we are with our children.
7. Mahalaxmi Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 857 reviews
Reviewed By Hemant D - Nagpur, India
Visited the temple in the evening hours. Was a divine experience.
Had issues with the car parking, which is far off from the temple, and in a very narrow lane. Rush is expected. Choose afternoon time, where the rush is limited.
The place has vibrations. Must See
8. Shree Ganesh Mandir Tekdi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 222 reviews
Reviewed By Abhishek_Shahu - Hyderabad, India
Place is close to Nagpur railway station.Its Lord Ganesh Temple which is open from 8 am till 11 pm daily.This place has a very high holy value.Best part of this place is its vicinity to railway station and this place provides good enough space for holding family functions.Just be alert from parrot shiting on your body as this place is a dwelling of many wild parrots living on high trees.Its a short time event
9. Krishnabai Temple
10. Ganpatipule Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 573 reviews
Reviewed By VrushaliJamode - Mumbai, India
Ganpati Bappa Maurya...it said all your wishes would come true when you seek blessings at the abode built here...over the years a small temple is now a huge complex...at the evening arti you all get prasad post it...delicious made is a very clean kitchen setup...nice divine experience overall..
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