Maharashtra Tour Packages
About Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state in the western part of India occupying a major part of the Deccan plateau. People living in this state are called Maharashtrians with Marathi being their official language. It is the 3rd largest state in India by area and 2nd most populous state sharing borders with Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka and Goa with the Arabian Sea to the west. Depending on your choice of travel you can plan your Maharashtra Tour Packages as this state is known for its variety of delicacies, many forts, and its history, exploring caves, temples, World Heritage Sites, beautiful beaches and folk dance and music.
Tourism wise Maharashtra caters to all tastes and for your Maharashtra tour, we can help you create an itinerary where you can visit many important places, have fun with adventure activities and stay at luxurious hotels. This state attracts many tourists from within India and from foreign countries also as Maharashtra Tourism offers religious tourism as well as nature tourism. In 2014, it was one of the most visited states by foreigners and domestic tourists.
How to Reach Maharashtra
As informed earlier Maharashtra is bordered with many states and it can be visited by taking transportation like railways, airways, or roadways. Here is how you can reach Maharashtra:
By Road
Road trips can be long but it is the most exciting way of traveling to Maharashtra as it is well connected with other cities via National and State highways in the country. You can either on your vehicle or take state government buses who are also offering comfortable air-conditioned coaches. Depending on from which city you are coming from you can get a spectacular view on your road trip driving on hilly roads with views of a waterfall and lush green landscapes to driving along with the coastal areas.
By Rail
Maharashtra is well connected with other states in India and some of the busiest railways stations in Maharashtra are Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur, Pune, and Panvel. Nagpur one of the busiest and oldest railways stations in Maharashtra as many trains from eastern parts of India to Maharashtra and from northern India to southern India pass through the junctions of Nagpur.
By Air
Being the most industrialized state and also known for its tourism, many domestic and international airlines operate from/to Maharashtra and it has international airports at Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur cities. In the last few years under the Udaan scheme of the Indian government many other cities in Maharashtra are also covered where flights are operating like Nashik, Shirdi, Jalgaon, and many more.
Places to visit in Maharashtra
With Maharashtra tourism focusing more on tourist and heritage places there are more options for people to visit and explore untouched areas. Each place has its specialty so let us check some of the places to see in Maharashtra one must visit.
Mumbai
Mumbai is called the city of dreams and the city that never sleeps. One must visit here to enjoy the nightlife and see high rise buildings some being the tallest in India. If you are lucky then you may also get a glimpse of Bollywood and television celebrities. Some of the must-visit places are Gateway fo India, Haji Ali Dargah, Girgaon Chowpati, walk at Marine Drive at night, and Kanheri caves.
Pune
Many Sultan’s and Maratha Empires have ruled in Maharashtra with Pune district being its center which goes back to more than 400 years. You will find many forts and heritage buildings in the Pune district along with Ashtavinayak temples. Popular hill stations of Lonavala and Khandala are also near Pune so one can do a day trip here from Pune.
Adlabs Imagica
Adlabs Imagica is a theme park in Khopoli, Maharashtra in an area of 130 acres. Daily almost 15,000 visitors come to Imagica for a thrilling experience in its Theme Park, Water Park, and Snow Park. There are rides for all ages and one can spend a full day here. It is at one and a half hour distance from both Mumbai and Pune so those visiting Mumbai or Pune must visit here.
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar is a popular hill station not only in Maharashtra but in India also best known for its natural beauty, vast plateau, and growing strawberries. Around 85 percent of total strawberries in India is produced in Mahabaleshwar. There are beautiful waterfalls, lakes, and sunset points so those want to view the lush greenery then it is a must-visit place. Another popular hill station very close is Panchgani so many people get to experience 2 beautiful hill stations in one place.
Visit Mapro Gardens in Panchgani
This factory lies between Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar is a must place visit where they manufacture jams, crushes-squashes, and fruit bars. This park is open for all people and they can buy some freshly made jams and squashes. Since strawberry is their major produce this garden also hosts the annual Strawberry Festival.
Alibaug
Alibaug is one of the popular weekend destinations for Mumbaikars. While it is only around 100 km from Mumbai through National highway by road but one of the best ways to travel there from Mumbai is by taking a 1.5 hours ferry.
Kashid - Murud
Kashid and Murud are famous beaches in Maharashtra with a wildlife sanctuary and Murud-Janjira Fort which is built on an island being the main attraction along with dolphin watching at Murud. Many Maharashtrian families like to visit these places.
Aurangabad
Aurangabad is known as the tourism capital of Maharashtra for its natural beauty. Man-made caves of Ajanta & Ellora is well known internationally also where you can see carvings of Lord Buddha in stone.
Nashik
Known as the Wine Capital of India there are 22 wineries located in Nashik which is famous for its grapes and vineyards. Nearby Nashik one can visit Shirdi Sai Baba temple and Trimbakeshwar temple which is one of the 12 jyotirlingas.
Things to do in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is now a very well known tourism state with plenty of exciting things to do. Below are some things to do in Maharashtra.
Ajanta & Ellora Caves in Aurangabad
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a man-made 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monument that is many centuries old. There are many other caves nearby like Elephanta caves, Shivleni caves, and more. Those who love to know more about history then this place is a must-visit. Beware of things that you are carrying on your hand as monkeys can bother you.
Visit vineyards for wine tasting
Wine tourism is becoming the latest trend as Nashik is known as the Wine Capital of India. Around 30 wineries are functioning around the area and some of the most popular wineries you must visit are Sula, York, and Soma. You can taste here some world-class variety of wines.
Marine Drive in Mumbai
Mumbai is known for its nightlife be it parties, pubs, or late-night eateries. One such place is Marine Drive in South Mumbai where you should take a walk at night. It is a 3kms long concrete road along the coastline in C shaped and at night if you view from an elevated point it looks like Queen’s necklace because of street lights that make it look like a string of pearls. Here there is Chowpaty beach which is one of the famous beaches in Mumbai along with Juhu beach. There are lots of late-night eatery options for both veg and non-veg lovers.
Janjira Fort in Raigad district
One of the famous forts in Maharashtra is situated in Raigad district. This fort is built on an island which is 500m offshore. British, French, and Portuguese colonists tried but failed to make it past the fort’s 12m high wall. You can find giant cannons and 19 bastions and the only way to reach the fort is by boat.
Pump up your energy with adventure activities
Paragliding is one of the most popular adventure activity and hills of Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar are perfect for this activity. The best time is between October and March. Kolad is a very famous spot for water rafting with lush greenery on both sides. There are also camps and resorts in the forest and you can go for a trek in the jungle with a guide. The best time to visit here is after the monsoon.
Raigad Fort in Raigad district
This fort serves as Maharaja Shivaji’s capital between 1648 and 1680. Monuments like a royal court, royal chambers, and Shivaji’s tomb remain there so it can worth a visit. There is Raigad ropeway which takes only 4 minutes and this is at a height of 400m and 750m in length. Fort itself is situated at 820m from sea level and you can see splendid view of the Sahyadri mountain ranges from the top.
Best time to visit Maharashtra
Maharashtra has 3 distinct seasons where summers are very hot and humid, winters are pleasant and heavy rains during monsoon. One can plan Maharashtra tour at any time of the year as this is one of the few states where people can enjoy even during monsoon. However, the best time to visit Maharashtra is during winters.
Winters in Maharashtra
It does not get very cold in Maharashtra apart from its hill stations. Between October and February, there will be a gentle breeze and pleasant weather. Lowest temperatures could be around 12 degrees during winters. This is the perfect season for traveling and some of the best places to visit in Maharashtra during winters are Aurangabad, Pune, Mumbai, and Raigad.
Monsoon in Maharashtra
Maharashtra receives heavy rainfall between June and September with July being the wettest month but rainfall depends on region to region. Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sidhudurg districts receive rainfall of average 200cms while districts of Nashik, Pune, Jalgaon, Satara, Solapur, and Kolhapur receive an average rainfall of 50cms. Places one can explore during monsoon are Malshej Ghat, Bhandardhara, Mahabaleshwar.
Summer in Maharashtra
Summers can be very hot and humid in Maharashtra between March and June with temperature can go as high as 43 degrees during April and May months. Some of the best places that can be explored during summer are Adlabs Imagica, Alibaug beach, Kashid-Murud beaches.