Are you on the lookout for the best Maharashtra tourist places? I should say that you will be overwhelmed with a wide range of choices available. The reason is that this cultural state is blessed with diverse topography. You might be interested in spending a peaceful evening by the Marine Drive. Otherwise, you might be interested in climbing the Sahyadri ranges. It should be stated that Maharashtra has something for everyone.
When you choose traditional Maharashtra tourist packages, you will get options like Shirdi, Pune and Nashik. By visiting these places, you will get a closer look into the unique culture of the state. Similarly, Maharashtra tourism also promotes sites like Tadoba and Malvan for adventure seekers.
Do you look for a romantic getaway with your spouse? With the best time to visit Maharashtra, you can visit hilly places in the state. You will be stunned by the beauty of the Western Ghats. From small hill stations like Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani and Lonavala to beachside destinations in the state like Alibaug, every corner of this state showcases magnificence. Would you like to delve deeper into history? If so, you can choose forts among the tourist places in Maharashtra.
With an ideal combination of beauty, adventure, culture and traditions, your Maharashtra trip will become unforgettable by choosing a few places from the list of top 100 Maharashtra tourist places to add to your bucket list:
Top 100 Maharashtra Tourist Places
Historical Forts
If you are a history buff, you can choose Maharashtra tour packages that can take you to a few of these historical forts in the state:
- Lohagad Fort: This is a trekking place ideal for trekking during the monsoon. You can gain stunning views once you reach the top of this fort.
- Vasai Fort: This Portuguese relic near Mumbai will provide you with a combination of photography and history-learning opportunities.
- Murud-Janjira: Tiis is a huge sea fort. You can find this fort off the Konkan Coast in Maharashtra.
- Daulatabad Fort: This fort near Aurangabad is popular for its intricate defensive structure.
- Shivneri Fort: The birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj is a must-visit if you are a history buff.
- Torna Fort: An ideal spot for trekking enthusiasts, this fort holds the pride of being the tallest in the state.
- Rajgad Fort: This is yet another iconic fort near Pune. This fort is popular for its strategic design.
- Pratapghad Fort: You can understand the Maratha history from this gem in the Western Ghats.
- Sinhad Fort: Located near Pune, this fort is an ideal spot for trekking enthusiasts.
- Raigad Fort: This fort was a key place during the Shivaji Maharaj Rule in the state. You can get the best historical experience and attractive panoramic views from this fort.
Spiritual Destinations
Would you love to visit spiritual places? If so, the Maharashtra Tourism can satiate you with the following places:
- Nashik: You might have heard about Nashik from your textbooks. Yes, it is a popular city, where Indian Rupee notes are printed. This is a spiritual city as well. Yes, the city is located on the banks of River Godavari. It is popular for its Kumbh Mela. Thousands and even millions of devotees visit Nashik during this festive season. If you wish to participate in this festival, you should choose the best time to visit Maharashtra, which comes once in 12 years only.
- Grishneshwar Temple: This is one of the Jyothirlinga temples in India. It is located near Ellora Caves. So, during your visit, you can cover both of these places.
- Ajanta Caves: These Buddhist Caves in Maharashtra are popular for exquisite sculptures and paintings.
- Ellora Caves: As mentioned earlier, you can cover these caves during your Grishneshwar Temple Visit. These rock-cut caves are popular for Hindu, Jain and Buddhist monuments.
- Bhimashankar Temple: This is again, one of the Jyothirlinga temples in India. It is located amidst dense forest providing you with a different experience.
- Siddhivinayak Temple: When talking about spiritual tourist places in Maharashtra, you should not miss out on the Siddhivinayak Temple located in the capital city of Mumbai.
- Pandharpur: This is a major pilgrim site in Maharashtra known for the Vitthal-Rukmini Temple.
- Ganapatipule: This coastal town in Maharashtra is popular not only for a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha but also for its beach.
- Trimbakeswhar: Yes, you have guessed it right. It is again one of the Jyothirlinga temples in India. This is located near Nashik. So, you can cover it during your Nashik visit.
- Shirdi: You might have heard that the number of devotees to Shirdi Sai Baba is increasing every day. The reason is that many people get their wishes satiated after placing their prayers at the foot of Shridi Maharaj. Your spiritual Maharashtra trip will become complete only after a visit to Shirdi.
Stunning Beaches
If you wish that your Maharashtra tour should include a visit to the popular beaches in the state, you can consider choosing the spots among the following beaches:
- Murud Beach: Popular as Murud Dapoli Beach, this beach located in Dapoli village is popular for its serene surroundings. Also, this beach destination is popular for Janjira Fort.
- Velas Beach: Velas Beach is located in Velas Village in the Ratnagiri District of the Maharashtra State. It is popular for its turtle-hatching events.
- Vengurla: Vengulrla Beach is located in Sindhudarg District on the Konkan Coast. This beach is popular for its coconut groves, pristine sands and Vengurla Fort.
- Harihareshwar: This is one of the less crowded beaches in Maharashtra. This serene beach destination is popular for its Shiva Temple as well.
- Tarkarli: This is a hotspot for scuba diving. It is popular for its crystal-clear waters.
- Ganpatipule Beach: This beach is popular for its stunning sunset views and cleanliness.
- Dapoli: Popular as Mini Mahabaleshwar, this beach is popular for its dolphin tours and unspoiled beaches.
- Diveagar: This beach is popular as a place to relax.
- Kashid Beach: This beach is popular for its peaceful ambience and clear waters.
- Alibaug: This is one of the most-loved weekend getaway spots for Mumbaikars. If you love water sports, you can plan your visit to this beach.
Hill Stations
When it comes to tranquil Maharashtra tourist places, you can consider visiting one of the many hill stations available in this state. Here are a few details to be aware of:
- Chikhaldara: This hill station holds the pride of being the only coffee-growing area in Maharashtra. It is known for its stunning landscapes.
- Amboli: It is a biodiversity hotspot located in the Sahyadri Hills in Maharashtra.
- Panhala: This hill station is located near Kolhapur. It is known for its historical importance as well.
- Bhandardara: This hill station is popular for its forts, waterfalls and lakes.
- Igatpuri: This hill station is a paradise for nature lovers and trekkers.
- Matheran: You will be surprised to know that this is the only hill station in the entire Asia to continue to stay free of automobiles. So, this hill station retains its tranquillity.
- Panchgani: This hill station is popular for its boarding schools and scenic beauty.
- Mahabaleshwar: This hill station is popular for its cool climate, viewpoints and strawberry farms.
- Khandala: You might have heard about Lonavala, Khandala is one of the twin hill stations popularly called Lonavala and Khandala. You can expect breathtaking views in this hill station.
- Lonavala: This hill station offers a lush retreat with its caves, waterfalls and a lot of opportunities for adventure activities.
You can check whether you can find Maharashtra tour packages with a few of the following urban marvels:
Best Urban Marvels in Maharashtra
- Solapur: This city in Maharashtra is popular for its historical temples and textiles.
- Satara: This is a historical city in the state known for its temples, forts and the popular Kaas Plateau.
- Ratnagiri: This coastal town in Maharashtra is popular for its natural vistas and beaches.
- Kolhapur: Popular as the house for Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur is also known for the Kolhapur Memorial. This memorial is an honour to the city that contributed a lot during the Second World War.
- Thane: Thane is popular for its bustling suburbs and serene lakes.
- Navi Mumbai: This is a planned city with modern attractions like Central Park.
- Aurangabad: Aurangabad is popular as a valley of the Sufi Saints. In addition to textile production, this city is popular for its historical monuments as well.
- Nagpur: The city of Nagpur is popular for its Zero Mile Stone and oranges.
- Pune: Known for its vibrant lifestyle, Pune is considered a modern city in Maharashtra, following Mumbai.
- Mumbai: Yes, Mumbai, as you know, is a city that never sleeps. You can visit many landmarks in Mumbai, like the Marine Drive and Gateway of India. Seeing how well these spots are maintained can help you understand the growth of Maharashtra tourism.
Wildlife and Adventure Spots
If you are a wildlife and adventure spot enthusiast, apart from knowing the best time to visit Maharashtra, you should also learn about the best spots in the state. Here are the names of 10 such places:
- Kolad: If you love water sports, you will love this place for the best white-water rafting experience it provides.
- Kaigal Falls: This place is ideal for photographers and adventure seekers
- Bhimashakar Wildlife Sanctuary: You will be stunned to find giant Indian squirrels along with other wildlife creatures in this sanctuary.
- Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary: Among the many tourist places in Maharashtra, this wildlife sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Pench National Park: Maharashtra shares this wildlife sanctuary with Madhya Pradesh. You can take part in thrilling wildlife safaris in this sanctuary.
- Melghat Tiger Reserve: I should say that this tiger reserve is not that popular even among nature enthusiasts. So, if you wish that you should visit a tiger reserve that is not too crowded, you will love this place.
- Bhigwan: If you love birdwatching, you will love spending some time in this place located near Pune.
- Chikhaldara Wildlife Sanctuary: Apart from wildlife, this sanctuary is popular for its lush forests as well.
- Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary: This is a haven for biodiversity.
- Tadoba National Park: Maharashtra’s largest and oldest tiger reserve.
Architectural Wonders
Your Maharashtra trip will become enjoyable if you choose to visit one of these architectural wonders:
- Elephanta Caves: These UNESCO-Listed caves feature rock-cut sculptures.
- Kanheri Caves: When you visit Sanjay Gandhi National Park, you can visit Kanheri Caves inside the national park.
- Deekshabhoomi: This is an important Buddhist monument in Nagpur.
- Aga Khan Palace: This is a monument of national importance standing in Pune.
- Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum: Yes, you will find a huge collection of Artefacts in this museum.
- Shaniwar Wada: This is a grand fortification in Pune. This place is known for its haunting history.
- Bibi Ka Maqbara: You can understand the beauty of this attraction from the fact that it is called the “Taj of the Deccan”.
- Flora Fountain: This colonial-era marvel is located in South Mumbai.
- Gateway of India: Your visit to Mumbai will not become wholesome without visiting this iconic spot standing as the pride of India.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus: This is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Mumbai City.
Scenic Waterfalls
How about including a few of these scenic waterfalls in your Maharashtra tour plan?
- Tamhini Ghat: This place is popular for its misty landscapes with its seasonal waterfalls.
- Devkund Waterfalls: Located near Bhira, this is a hidden gem for trekking enthusiasts.
- Chinaman’s Falls: This serene retreat is located in Mahabaleshwar.
- Dudhsagar Falls: When you visit Goa, you can visit these waterfalls. The reason is that this waterfall borders Maharashtra and Goa. Its milky white waterfalls will take you to a different world.
- Kune Falls: This three-tier waterfall is located in Lonavala.
- Zenith Falls: This picturesque spot is located near Khopoli.
- Vihigaon Waterfall: This waterfall is ideal for adventure activities and rappelling.
- Lingmala Waterfall: This waterfall is located amidst lush green landscapes in Mahabaleshwar.
- Thoseghar Falls: This is a monsoon marvel near Satara.
- Randha Falls: This is a stunning waterfall near Bhandardara.
Cultural and Folk Heritage
Among the Maharashtra tourist places to visit, if you would like to visit cultural spots, here are some choices to consider:
- Bhuleswhar Temple: This architectural wonder is located near Pune.
- Ratangad Fort: With its lush greenery, this place will be relaxing for trekking enthusiasts.
- Baneshwar Temple: This peaceful temple is surrounded by greenery.
- Rajmachi Fort: Apart from trekking, this fort also takes deep into history.
- Gond Raja Fort: This ancient site is located near Nagpur
- Kolhapuri Mandi: You can shop for traditional Kolhapur spices and footwear from this place.
- Kaala Talao: This cultural hub is standing in Thane.
- Malshej Ghat: This hill station in Maharashtra is popular for its monsoon charm and rugged beauty.
- Jejuri: Popular for the Khandoba Temple, this is a must-visit in Maharashtra.
- Lavasa: This planned city looks very much like Italian towns.
Off-Beat Destinations
You can check whether you can find Maharashtra tour packages with the following off-beat locations in the state:
- Chandoli National Park: This serene retreat is ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.
- Sawantwadi: This place is popular for its crafts and wooden toys.
- Dharashiv Caves: These are Buddhist caves with intricate carvings.
- Parli Vaijnath: This is a jyotirlinga temple known for its spiritual importance.
- Chandrapur: Apart from being popular for National Parks, Chandrapur is popular for its ancient temples as well.
- Ranjangaon: This place is popular for its Ashtavinayak Temple.
- Mangi Tungi: This is a pilgrimage site for the Jains.
- Jawhar: If you plan to visit a hill station with cultural charm, you can visit Jawhar.
- Kaas Plateau: This plateau is popular as the Valley of Flowers.
- Lonar Crater Lake: This geological wonder in Maharashtra was formed by a meteor impact.
Conclusion
Maharashtra tourism is one of the sources of income for the local government. So, the state offers a wide range of opportunities for relaxation, history, spirituality and adventure. So, buckle up to plan your trip and make some memories!
Read my other posts related to Maharashtra
All You Need To Know About Chandrapur – City of Black Gold
Explore Mumbai – Top 15 Places to Visit in Mumbai Not to Miss
The Ultimate Guide About Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai’s Hidden Jewel
10-Day Maharashtra Itinerary – Exploring Cultural and Natural Odyssey
100 Places to Visit Near Mumbai to Consider For Your Next Trip
Pawna Lake Camping: A Tranquil Escape into Nature