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Mumbai
| Pune | Aurangabad
| Ajantha
| Nashik
| Mahabaleshwar
|
Lonavala-Khandala
| Shirdi |
| |
Area : 308,000 Sq.kms.
Language : Marathi
Best Season : October to March
Sprawling across 300,000 rugged square kilometers of western India
just south of the Tropic of Capricorn Maharashtra is the third
largest state in the country. Naturally bound by its physical
features the region is one of remarkable diversity. Maharashtra is
situated just below the physical centre of India. It has always been
the melting pot between North and South India. Here people from both
these distinct parts of India comfortably adjust and live
harmoniously.
It is a region of intrinsic beauty and opportunity. It is also land
of varietyranging from a 720 kms. Long coastline dotted with
secluded beaches to the majestic Sahyadri mountain ranges to the
historic monuments of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta to Paithan. The
sprawling sugarcane and cotton belts of Kolhapur and Vidharba are
here too. All topped up by a relaxed friendly attitude that makes
Maharashtra an intoxicating cocktail to be savoured times and again.
Maharashtra is also a fruit lovers delight.On offer are grapes from
Nahik strawberries from Mahabaleshwar chikoos from Dahanu oranges
from Nagpur bananas from Jalgaon. figs from Pune and most
importantly Alphonso mangoes from Ratnagiri. Mumbai the financial
capital of the country and one the world’s leading cities is an
integral part of Maharashtra.
This is a large populous and economically important state. From the
capital Mumbai
( Bombay) most traveller’s head south to the beaches of Goa
south-east to Pune and its famous ashram or northeast to the World
Heritage-listed cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora.The state also has
some interesting ruined forts mostly associated with the Marathas.
The Western Ghats run parallel with the coast. South of Mumbai the
thin strip between the ghats (hills) and the Arabian Sea is known as
the Konark Coast and there are some surprisingly good virtually
undiscovered beaches along here.The rest of the state stands on the
high Deccan plateau stretching some 800 kms east and includes two
hill stations Matheran and Mahabaleshwar.
Maharashtra dominates the heart of the Peninsula. With over 500 kms
of coastline from Daman in the north to Goa in the south it
stretches over 900 kms east to the edge of the Chota Nagpur
plateau.There are some beautiful and fascinating sites.The earliest
of the world famous frescoes and carvings at Ajanta and Ellora caves
date from the 2nd century BC. Along the seacoast there are wonderful
ruined forts built by the Marathas and the Portuguese while Maratha
forts are also perched precariously on the hilltop of the Western
Ghats. From these fastnesses in guerrilla warfare carved out a
territory that stretched the width of India. Mumbai apart
Maharashtra is predominantly agriculture but has well developed
industries.
History
Long before agriculture the regions thick canopied forests provided
refuge to a bewildering variety of animals (including six species of
elephants) Around 40,000 years ago early hunters and gatherers led a
nomadic existence along many of its rich alluvial river valleys.
These early inhabitants slowly evolved into agro-pastroal
communities and evidence from the Tapti River Valley suggest that
about 4,000 years ago people were cultivating cereals. Remnants of
painted pottery copper ornaments and burial urns provide ghostly
glimpses into the lives of these early farming communities. Droughts
megalithic horsemen from the southern Deccan and other less dramatic
but no less traumatic catastrophes plagued these early settlers.
However by the time of Buddha Shurparaka (which is now Sopara near
Mumbai) was already an important port and a gateway settlement.
Perhaps as pivotal to the region as Mumbai is today Sopara is
believed to have been referred to in the Old Testament as ‘Ophir’.
Hiuen Tsang the famous Chinese pilgrim visited the area ( which was
destined to become Maharashtra) in AD 640 and referred to it as
Mo-ho-lo-cha ( Moholesh). As the region became a part of the Mauryan
Empire contact with the north increased with the newly established
trade routes. In the process the northern Aryans Shakas and Huns
blended with local tribal communities of Nags Munds Bhils and Gonds
as well as the Dravidians from the south.
While the scattered Paleothic remains may not easily be seen by the
Maharashtra enthusiast any wanderer can experience the ancient
Buddhist caves strewn around important trade routes of the time .
Since the second century BC central Maharashtra was an important
centre of Buddhism. Caves that once sheltered ascetic monks are now
on the agendas of all tourists. Ajanta’s peeling frescoes can
transport you to the time of its construction featuring the best
artists of region who sculpted the halls for mass worship. These
silent records of a religious austerity were ironically created by
surplus wealth from caravan trade routes between north and south
India. The land was not just the melting pot of traditions but also
the meeting ground of trade and commerce between the northern Aryans
and southern Dravidians.
Over the centuries Maharashtra was ruled by diverse dynasties each
adding to the cultural flavour of the region and leaving behind
their own distinctive marks. Ranging from new monuments a peculiar
tradition or simply an altered way of life. The Satavahanas made
Paithan the capital and the Rashtrakutas Kalachuris Chalukyas
Shilhara Yadava and Gupta dynasties all ruled variously yet combined
to mould the ethos of a people who would later be called the ‘Maharashtrian’.
In the 12th century about the time that Hinduism had begun to
replace Buddhism Maharashtra had begun to replace Buddhism
Maharashtra was one of the main conduits for the spread of Hinduism.
Through a peaceful yet powerful revolution motivated largely be
devotional songs the bhakti or devotional school of Hinduism spread
from south to north India through the poet-saints of Maharashtra .
Pandharpur in south-east Maharashtra became a recognised centre of
the bhakti movement and served as a bulwark against the stratified
caste system as well as an important confluence of northern and
southern cultures.
The Maharashatrian poet Dnyaneshwar who is considered the founder of
the bhakti movement is best known for his epic Dnyaneshwari. An
interpretation of the Bhagwad Gita this combination of philosophy
poetry and mysticism was written in Marathi rather than the elitist
Sanskrit which made it more accessible to the masses.
Perhaps the best known poet-saint of the time was Ramdas who with
zealous activism encouraged the integration of people who shared
linguistic cultural and traditional traits. Ramdas provided the
philosophical bedrock for the campaigns of Shivaji the legendary
Maratha warrior who remains an icon representing Maharashtrian pride
to this day.
The 17th century heralded the sudden rise in power of the
Marathas-the hardy Marathi speaking Hindu warriors of the region who
ruled from 1646 to 1680 under the leadership of Shivaji.The great Maratha leader ensured that his people remained the
dominant class in this powerful Hindu region through the 17th 18th
and early 19th centuries. Through military strength and amazing
leadership qualities he created an independent kingdom for himself.
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