Maharashtra is a picturesque state in Western India,
with a 720 km coastline and dominates the heart of
the Peninsula. The Western Ghats run parallel to the
coast and have some scenic and inviting hill stations.
The rest of the State stands on the high Deccan plateau,
historically the main centre of the Maratha empire,
which successfully defied the might of the Mughals
under the fearless rule of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The State is dotted by rugged forts that stand as mute
witnesses down the ages to the march of warrior kings,
foreign trading vessels and invaders from across the
seas. The dry western margins of the plateau have sites
from the earliest
prehistoric settlements and Paleolithic remains in India.
The first well known rulers of Maharashtra were the
Satavahanas (230 BC to 225 AD), who were the creators
of Maharashtra,
and have left a plethora of literary, epigraphic, artistic
and archaeological evidence. Thereafter there were a
number of Hindu kingdoms, followed by the first Muslim
Dynasty in 1307. Mughal power dominated much of the
area in the 16th century until the Deccan became the
epicenter of the Maratha
Empire in the 17th century.
Controlled by the Peshwas, the Marathas retained power
until they upset the British in 1817. After Independence,
western Maharashtra and Gujarat were joined to form
Bombay State. The present state was formed in 1960 when
the Marathi and Gujarati speaking areas were again separated.
How
to Reach
The main entry point into the State is Mumbai, the capital.
It is an international airport and one of the major
gateways to India. Mumbai is extensively connected not
only to all the major cities of the country but also
of the world. It is also connected to all important
cities in India by train and by road.
Places
to Visit Mumbai (Bombay), Ajanta, Aurangabad,
Bhandardara, Elephanta, Ellora, Ganpatipule, Karla
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