255
Maharashtra
Maharashtra
MAH
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The second you step into Mumbai, thespirit of the bustling megapolisenvelops you. A mini-India of sorts, itis here you witness the most divergentscenarios – a blend of the old and new,traditional and contemporary, affluentand impoverished. This once sultrytropical archipelago of seven islands,and the brightest jewel in Raj's crown,Mumbai formed the dowry ofPortuguese Princess Infanta Catherinede Braganza when she marriedCharles II of England in 1661. Andwhat a long way it has come! Ateeming metropolis, its skyline dottedwith eclectic skyscrapers, its famerests as much on Bollywood as it doeson the historical perspective it holds inits majestic lap. Deriving its namefrom the local deity Mumba Devi,whose temple still exists, it was thePortuguese who chose to call it 'BomBain', meaning the good bay. Mumbairepresents the true saga of an oldcivilization seeking its place in theNew World Order.
City Lights
History peeps through the variouslandmarks and monuments that arescattered through the city. You couldca l l themagnificent structure in yellow basaltstone as brand Mumbai's logo. Built in1911 to commemorate the visit ofKing George V and Queen Mary toIndia, it is the starting point for most
Gateway of India ,
tourists out to explore the city. Fourturrets and intricate latticework are theoutstanding features of this Indo-sa racen ic a rch i t ec tu ra l f ea t .
home to acollection of shrines, courtyards, innercells, grand halls and porticos, housessome of India's most revered gods andgoddesses. The cave complex is a
Elephanta Caves,
Elephanta Caves
Gateway of India
Jalgaon
NagpurGondly
Bhandara
Chandrapur
Gadshireli
Yavatmal
Amravati
Akola
Washim
Hingoli
Nanded
Parbhani
Latur
Bid
Osmanabad
Jalna
SolapurSatara
Sangli
Aurangabad
Buldana
Kolhapur
Pune
Raigarh
Ratnagiri
Sindhudurg
Mumbai(Suburban)
Mumbai
Thane
Nashik
Dhule
Nandurbar
Wardha
Ahmadnagar
MAHARASHTRA
GUJARAT
MADHYA PRADESH
CH
HA
TT
ISG
AR
H
ANDHRA PRADESH
KARNATAKA
AR
AB
IAN
SE
A
Map not to Scale
shining example of India's ancientrock cut architecture. Situated onGharapuri Island in Mumbai'sharbour, it is about an hour's boatridefrom the Gateway of India.
is located in the heart ofMumbai, surrounded by statelyco lon ia l bu i ld ings .
, also known as Ferozeshah
FloraFountain
HangingGardens
Flora Fountain
Mehta Gardens, are known forspectacular sunset views over theArabian Sea. Don't miss the climbover the famed 'shoe' in concrete!
is a striking feature onMumbai's cityscape. Adjacent to theHigh Court, this 260-feet-tall structureis adorned with oriental figurines.Today it has limited its repertoire tomere chimes of the clock on thequarter hour from a veritable choice of16 symphonies. ,the railway station is now known asChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus but is
Rajabai Tower
Victoria Terminus
Mumbai's architectural masterpiece.shimmering like a
majestic strand of diamonds, hencecalled 'Queen's Necklace', covers theconcrete jungles of Mumbai'sManhattan, the Nariman Point.Marine Drive by the night is sure toleave an indelible mark on yourmemories of Mumbai.
are a must-see as theseBuddhist caves provide a perfectcont ras t to the archi tec tura lextravagance you might haveexperienced at Elephanta Caves. Thecaves consist of more than a hundredtiny cells, cut into the flank of a hilland the monasteries date back to thefirst century AD. Any visitor toMumbai must visit the beaches of thecity. is Mumbai'smost famous and popular 'family'beach. A carnival-like air grips thisstretch of sun and sand every evening,what with joyrides, merry-go-rounds,multi-coloured fast-food vendors,astrologers and magicians andperformers of all kinds dotting itslandscape. unlikeChowpatty, is more upscale. Abourgeois paradise, you will still findfrolicking kids, courting couples andsundry folks. But here you can alwaysretreat to the many five-star hotels inthe vicinity, and yet enjoy a panoramicview of the coast, along with a
Marine Drive,
KanheriCaves
Chowpatty Beach
Juhu Beach,
Victoria Terminus
256
Maharashtra
Juhu Beach
steaming cup of coffee!houses
interesting exhibits and specimenspreserved since 1883 when theBombay Natural History Society wasfounded.
Beaches, heritage districts, filmstudios and art galleries abound here.Mumbai is the tinsel town of Indiawhere most of India's glamorous starsstay. The film industry of India issynonymous with Mumbai.
There ison Marine
Drive housing exotic marine life,
BombayNatural History Museum
Taraporewala Aquarium
Prince ofWales Museum, built in a mix ofGothic and Moorish architecture andcrowned with a sparkling white dome,houses a fantastic collection ofartefacts of the Indus ValleyCivilization, dating back to 2000 BC.Definitely worth viewing here is thecollection of over 2,000 miniaturepaintings that are a legacy of India'svarious art schools.
City Culture
amusement parks for the family tospend time at together.
(26149546),(22833737),
(22048212)and (22325757) at theOberoi ShoppingArcade.
Apart from the only domedIMAX theatre in the country, there arecinema halls you can drop by to catch amovie if you have the time. Thesecould be atBandra (26552972), at Colaba(22021017), at Dhobi Talao(22030303), (26432254),INOX cinema (56595959) and
atAndheri (26991212).Nehru Planetarium
( 2 4 9 2 0 5 1 0 ) , N e h r u C e n t r e(24964676) and Chhatrapati ShivajiM a h a r a j Va s t u s a n g r a h a l a y a(22844519). All closed on Mondays.
It is believed that a new restaurantopens in Mumbai every week. The citythrives on novelty, and can satisfy thegourmet in anyone. Mumbai'skitchens run 24x7 days, and apart fromglitzy five star coffee shops, there arestreet vendors selling , tea,coffee, eggs, chapattis and the
of course round the clock. Iflook ing for f ive-s ta r d in ingexperience, you can begin with thegood-old , with famedrestaurants like
while closer tothe airport, at the
and at
promise fabulous Far East cuisine andhearty Tandoori fare. atHyatt Regency is another landmark
Art Gallery: Prithvi GalleryNational Centre for the
Performing ArtsJehangir Art Gallery
Art Walk
Cinema:
Gaiety Galaxy ComplexRegal
MetroGlobus
FameAdlabsMuseums:
Taj PresidentTrattoria, Konkan
Café, Thai PavilionThe Great Wall
Leela, Pan Asian PeshawariITC Grand Maratha Sheraton
Glasshouse
kebabsvada
pao
Gourmet's Delights
Esselworld and Water KingdomFantasy LandS t r i k e 1 0A c re s C l u b
Game ZoneHakone
(phone 28699957),( 2 8 3 6 5 6 8 3 ) ,( 2 6 3 2 4 5 3 3 / 3 4 ) ,(25226052) , a tCrossroads (24945890) and(25797000) are some of the known
Taraporewala Aquarium
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MAH
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24-hours eatery. attoo is making waves. At the
same time, standalone restaurants likeand pubs like ,
have acquiredgreat fame, andarecertainlywortha try.
GoaPortuguesa, Mahim: 24440202,F l a v o u r s , T h e A m b a s s a d o r :22041131, Bayview, Marine Plaza:22851212, The Palms, The OberoiTowers: 22324343, Shamiana, TajMahal, Sidewalk Café: 56934444,Ambrosia, Mercure Hotel Guestline:26705555.
ChinaGarden at Crossroads: 24955588,Golden Dragon, Taj Mahal Hotel:22023366, Just Chinese: 26429975,Sampan, Holiday Inn: 26934444.
Starters & More:22814124, Not Just Jazz by the Bay:22851876, Zodiac Grill, Hotel TajMahal: 22023366.
The Rotisserie & Sea Grill,The Oberoi: 22325757, Trattoria,Hotel President: 22150808, Fiorella,The Leela 56911234, Siciliana26368899.
Tian Resto-Bar: 26914425, Fusion,The Residence Hotel: 28578686, TheVindhyas, The Orchid: 26164040,Casa Mexicana, The Oberoi:22325757 , Unde r the Over :23861393.
The culture in Mumbai is, work hardand play hard and the pulsatingnightlife of Mumbai has choices
Mezzo Mezzo JWMarriott
Olive Athena Indigo,Lings Pavilion, Nosh, CopperChimney, Bellissima
Some recommendations:
Chinese:
Continental:
Italian:
Multicuisine:
Night Out
Pan Asian, ITC GrandMaratha Sheraton: 28303030,
Peshwa Pavilion, ITCGrand Maratha Sheraton: 28303030,
unlimited.Dublin at ITC Hotel Grand
Maratha Sheraton: 28303030,Champs: 22325757, Geoffreys:22851212, Sports Bar: 26499844,Library Bar: 22150808, Starboard:22023366, Smooth: 23631311,Churchill's Bar: 26551234, TheBonaparte Bar: 26911333.
Fire & Ice: 24980444,Cyclone: 26911234, J-49: 26184546,H Q : 2 2 8 8 3 9 8 2 , R a z z b e r r yRhinoceros: 26184014.
Not Just Jazz by the Bay:22851876, Copa Cabana: 23680274,The Western Café: 26415221, TheGhetto: 24921537, The Tavern &Beyond: 22042911.
From world class designer wear, street
chic, leather bags and goods, home
wares, antiques, curios – name
anything and Mumbai has a
mindboggling array. The best of mega
malls and pavement markets can be
found here, and you can safely shop till
you drop at Flora Fountain, Cross
Roads, Linking Road, Kemp's Corner
and several other spots.
Fashion Street,
Chor Bazaar, Kalbadevi, Crawford
Market and Linking Road.
Mughal Art Co.:
22023643 , Mahendra Dosh i :
23630526, Essajee & Son: 22021071,
The Raj: 24941971, Collector's
Paradise : 22824675, Almar i :
24973427.
We s t s i d e :
23841730, Tulips: 23695306,
Amarsons Collections: 23635551,
Premsons Bazaar : 23636600,
Shopper's Stop: 26240451, Bombay
Bars:
Discos:
Pubs:
Shopper's Paradise
Bargain Shopping:
Antique Shopping:
S h o p p i n g M a l l s :
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Maharashtra
Stores: 22885048.E n s e m b l e :
22843227, Krishna Mehta: 23674531,
Ara iya : 23678293, Melange :
23854492, Ritu: 22846995.
Mumbai's social calendar is choc-a-bloc with events like fashion shows,charity shows, wine and cheesetasting, art exhibitions and culturaldos. They open windows to a newworld, a vibrant crowd of Bollywood,theatre and creativity and the kind ofdiversities you can only find inMumbai.
Mumbai enjoys excellent
aerial, rail and road connectivity with
nearly all the important cities of India.
Internationally too, it remains one of
the best-connected cities with airlines
running direct flights to their hubs.Mumbai is the first
metropolis in India to have a reliable
rail network that connects its various
suburbs with city centers. Termed
'locals', however, visitors to the city
are advised not to venture out on their
own, during peak office hours when
the crowd can become too much. At
the same time, Mumbai's taxi service
is highly recommended, and so is the
BEST bus service, but familiarity with
the routes network is essential before
embarking on a bus.
September to April. November and
February are ideal as the evenings
become rather pleasant. Summers
(March to May) can get fairly warm
and June to September is the monsoon
time when a rain-drenched Mumbai
D e s i g n e r We a r :
Entertainment
Facts at a Glance
Access:
Getting Around:
Best time to visit:
extends a wet welcome.022
D o m e s t i c A i r p o r t ,Santacruz, Terminal 1/A: 2615 6600;Terminal 1/B: 26156920
28325331General enquiry:
131, 23077575, 23075252, MumbaiCentral: 23085555, ChhatrapatiShivaji: 22659512, Kurla: 25224812.
Airconditioned Cool Cab taxisare mobile dispatched from 28246216,28227006, 28016622.
Breach Candy: 23685406/23633651/ 4872, Hinduja: 24449199,J J: 23735555/9031, Jaslok: 24933333Nanavati: 26182262/2255, Raheja:24467569, Tata Memorial: 24146750
Day & Night Medical andGeneral Stores: 28820353, BombayHospital: 22067676 Extn.: 252, 355Ganesh Medical Store: 24073467
123, M Karve Road, Opp. Churchgate:Tel.: 22033144, 22036854
Opposite LIC Building, MadameCama Road, Tel.: 22024627
A/41, Vinmar House, Road No. 2MIDC, Andheri (East)Mumbai 400 093Tel.: 28200862/64/65/68
2nd Floor, Royal Insurance Building14, Jamshedji Tata Road, Churchgate,Mumbai 400020Tel.: 22850159, 22830529
Thomas Cook, Fort:
City Code:A i r p o r t :
Sahara International Airport:
Railway Station:
Taxis:
Hospitals:
Chemists:
Government of India Tourist Office:
Maharashtra Tourism
Development Corporation:
International Travel House:
International Travel House:
Forex:
Banks: Federal Bank: 23453202/3/4,23453315, Global Trust Bank:22825033/5027, Vijaya Bank:22835623, 22044595
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MAH
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speciality of Matheran. You couldsafely buy hats and footwear, not toforget the sweetmeat called 'Chikki',made of jaggery, peanuts and sesameseeds.
02148230277
Facts at a Glance
Access: By Air:
By Road:
By Rail:
Getting
Around:
Best time to visit:
Temperatures:
Annual rainfall:
Home Away From Home
Mumbai, 100 kms
away, is the nearest airport.
Mumbai is 108 kms away, and you go
via Karjat and Neral. Pune is 120 kms
away. State Transport buses regularly
ply from Mumbai and Pune, though
one can hire a taxi from Neral to reach
Matheran. There is a restriction on the
kind of vehicles that can enter this
serene town. The charm of
going to Matheran lies in the two-hour
ascent in a toy train, or a tough trek of
11 kms through shady forests.
Horses and hand-pulled
rickshaws are the only means of
transport available in Matheran.
Horses can be hired for around Rs.100
per hour for enjoying the splendorous
sights from many of its viewpoints.
However, wa lk ing i s h igh ly
recommended for nearer location.
November to
February while April to June and
Diwali and Christmas are the peak
holiday seasons for Mumbiites.
During the monsoon (mid-June to
early-October) the village is virtually
closed and the roads become very
muddy. 16 C in winter
to 32 C in summer.
524 cms.
Regal Hotel, Royal Hotel, Brightlands
o
o
City Code:MTDC:
260
Maharashtra
Matheran
22048556, 2 7American Express Travel Services,Colaba: 22048291, Bank of America,Nariman Point: 22852882
ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton &Towers: 28303030, J.W. Marriott:56933000, Renaissance MumbaiHotel & Convent ion Centre:56928888, Taj Mahal: 22023366, TheOberoi: 56325757, The Orchid:26164040, The Shalimar Hotel:54641000, Rodas: 56936969.
An undulating hilltop, covered withshady trees, Matheran languidlybeckons holidaymakers from analtitude of 800 m. The cliffs, with steepdrops, proffer stunning views. So headfor for a memorableview of Mumbai at night! ActuallyMatheran has many quixoticallynamed points that are popular forpicnics during the day and firesiderevelry in the nights! ,
andare other highpoints, though it is
the old world charm of British and
204855
Home Away From Home
MATHERAN
The Heart Point
Charlotte LakePanther's Caves PaymasterPark
Parsi homes that is an irresistible draw.Shopping
Cane and leather articles are a
Janjira Fort
261
Maharashtra
Khandala
Resort, MTDC Holiday Camp.MURUD JANJIRA
Chaitya style. Their speciality is thatthe rays of the setting sun light up theinteriors and one can see carvedfigures of gods and goddesses. The
are close to the Mumbai-Pune Road, between the towns ofKadde and Bedsa. Huge pillars, lionsand humans forms and a large Chaityahall with resting rooms is a specialityof these caves. A vaulted roofsuppor ted by 2 ,000-year-o ldwoodwork and a big skylight provideslighting for the entire cave.
The main lakes are ,on
the Valvan Dam and . Theprettiest falls are thewhere the water descends dom 100 minto a pool below. The majesticcascade is visible from the
and is particularly magnificentduring the monsoons.resembles the sight of a tiger leaping
Bedsa Caves
Lakes: PavnaLonavala, Tungarli, Valvan Lake
Bushi LakeKune Falls
KhandalaGhat
Tiger's Leap
MAH
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rock face. The caves with viharas(monasteries) are among the bestpreserved and boast interiors with lionpillars, elephant forms, carvedrepresentations of Gautam Buddhaand dancing couples. The
are smaller and also built in theBhaja
Caves
into the valley.
Gujaratiare wholesome while
has anIndian and Chinese menu to choosefrom. (in Khandala) atthe new Taj can be tried for Chinese,Indian or Continental fare.
Gourmet's Delights
Hotel Rama Krishna'sThe
Mehfil Bar and Restaurant
The Pavilion
thalis
Must Buy
National Chikki Mart Rupam
'Chikki', the Indian equivalent ofpeanut brittle are highly popular here.
or aretwo good stores to buy from.
Temperatures:
City Code:Banks:
Hospitals/Chemists:
Usually rangebetween 21°C and 32°C in summer,and 16°C and 21°C in winter.
02114Syndicate Bank: 273762-
Lonavala, 273768.Adequate
facilities except for highly specialisedtreatments. Both towns are popular as
Besttime to visit: October to May.
Bhaja Caves
Pavna Lake
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Maharashtra
Karla Caves
Facts at a Glance
Access: By Air:
By Rail:
The nearest airport isPune (67 km) and Mumbai (80 km).
Every train or car goingtowards South India from Bombay via
health resorts and have manysanatoria.
Pune has to pass through Lonavala andKhandala. The Mumbai-Bangalore Nat ional Highwayconnecting southern and western Indiapasses through Khandala-Lonavala.They can also be reached via the newMumbai-Pune highway, some 104 kmfrom Mumbai.Taxis, autos and rickshaws are theb a s i c m o d e o f t r a n s p o r t .
By Road:
Getting Around:
Venna Lake:
Mahabaleshwar Temple
The 10 square km VennaLake is a must on every visitor'sitinerary. It offers boating and fishingfacilities. Mahabaleshwar's famousstrawberries can be sampled here.Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the
here housesone of the 12 important Shiva
.jyotirlingas
Gourmet's Delights
Sayali ( Aaram (Aman ( Elsie's Bakery
Sher-e-Punjab (Angarre/Pavilion/Olive Garden
Excursions
Panchgani:
Tapola:
This is berry country – strawberries,mulberries, gooseberries are availableeverywhere. The corn patties are aspeciality of Mahabaleshwar. Also trythe , honey and gouda cheese.Some of the popular restaurants are
260635), 261744),261087),
(260274), 260291)and(260700).
At an altitude of 1,334metres, Panchgani is another popularhill station of Maharashtra. It derivesits name from the five hillssurrounding it. Some 19 km fromMahabaleshwar, Panchgani is a dropof 38 metres in altitude. An interestingdeviation would be, visits to Parsi andBritish bungalows. Tableland, aplateau, is a popular tourist placeoccupying over 6 sq km of red earth. Itis famous for watching the sunrise andsunset. Taxis can be hired fromMahabaleshwar.
About 25 km fromMahabaleshwar, Tapola popularlyknown as 'mini Kashmir', has a biglake with small islands. The ideal wayto spend a day here is to hire a boat andtravel down to one of the many islands.
chikki
Pratapgarh Fort: Pratapgarh Fort,24 km away, is where Shivaji, the greatMaratha warrior and ruler, defeatedGeneralAfzal Khan. The fort stretchesalong the entire length of a high ridge.Tourists can see Afzal Khan's tomb
amid fabulous views of the place.
Some of the finest relics of theMaratha era can be seen in thishistorical town of Satara. The
Satara:
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Maharashtra
Lingamala Waterfalls
Venna Lake
magni f icen t Shiva j i Mahara jMuseum, the Wasota Fort, in the southof the town, are worth a visit.
Facts at a Glance
Access: By Air:
By Rail:
By Road:
The nearest airportfrom Mahabaleshwar is Pune (120 km).
Pune is the most convenientrailhead, but the nearest station isWathar, 62 km away, on the Pune-Miraj section of the South CentralRailway. It is well connectedwith all the important places in M
AH
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Maharashtra. Mumbai is 247 km awaywhile Pune only 120 km.
Metered as well as unmeteredtaxis are available.
October to June.
021682026713
Bank of Maharashtra: 260290,SBI: 260297, Union Bank of India:260413
Mahabaleshwarhas a government hospital and severalprivate doctors and chemists, alllocated in the main bazaar.
Valley View Resort: 260066,Dreamland: 260228, Fountain:
GettingAround:
Besttime to visit:
City Code:MTDC:Banks:
Hospitals/Chemists:
Home Away From Home
Temperatures:Summer: Min 19°C, Max 25°C;Winter: Min 10°C, Max 18°C
264
Maharashtra
Pratapgarh Fort
Panchgani
260227, Regal Hotel: 260001,Brightland Holiday Village: 260700,Panorama: 260404, 604.260
Once a smal l vi l lage cal ledPunnyapattam, meaning city ofauspicious deeds, Pune is oftenreferred to as the 'Queen of theDeccan'. The buzz of big sister–city ofMumbai has obviously touched Pune,and this picturesque town in Sahyadari
PUNE
hills has emerged as an enviable huband industrial town. The constructionof the Bombay-Pune Expressway, thefirst eight-lane highway conforming toglobal standards, promises to reachyou to Pune in three hours flat,provided you start early enough toavoid the morning rush. Pune has agreat historical perspective too, sinceShivaji was brought up here. Poonawas the headquarters of the hereditaryfief of his forefathers.
: S e t u p b ycontroversial godman AcharyaRajneesh, this 'spiritual health club' iscocooned in lush greenery with state-of-the-art amenities. A five-hectareZen garden (open for general publictwice a day) and Bistro are the perfectplaces within the commune to be in.The institute has a slew of programmesin meditation.
Peshwaminiatures, carved doors andwindows, quaint musical instruments,ornate betelnut crackers this museumboasts over 17,000 artworks andcurios belonging to the Late Sri DinkarGangadhar.
City Lights
O s h o A s h r a m
City Culture
Raja Kelkar Museum:
Triba l Cul tura l
Museum:
The Film andTelevision Institute of India:
St Mary's Church,
David Synagogue:
Shaniwar Wada:
PataleshvaraCave Temple:
AgaKhan Palace Kasturba GandhiNational Memorial:
This museum has a detaileddocumentation of the life and cultureof the tribals of Maharashtra,particularly from the Sahayadri andGondawana regions.
Member of CILCET (InternationalLiaison Centre of Schools of Cinemaand Television), this premier instituteoffers various programmes coveringall aspects of film-making, TVproduction and film appreciation.
built in 1825 andinspired by the famous Martin-in-the-Field, situated in London's TrafalgarSquare, is the first of its kind in Pune.
Colloquiallyknown as 'Lal Deval', this red brickstructure built by David Sassoon, isfrequented by Armenian Jews. A 90-ftspiralled clocktower, the stained glasswindows are among its noteworthyfeatures. Theopulent fort-palace of the Peshwarulers was built in 1736 and destroyedin 1828. The burnt out remains, a smallgallery and a deserted two-hectaregarden surrounded by massive wallsare all that are left.
Similar to the famedEllora temples in style, this eighthcentury rock-cut temple has massivepillars. The Nandi Mandapan is acircular pavilion opposite the templewhich unfortunately was nevercompleted. A shrine dedicated toJunglee Maharaj a Hindu ascetic whodied in 1818 is located next door.
The grandpalace of Imamsultan MuhammadShah Aga Khan was built in 1892 in6.5 hectares of lush gardens. After thedemise of the Aga Khan IV, it wasdonated to India. This historical
l a n d m a r k a c h i e v e d f u r t h e rprominence after Mahatma Gandhiwas imprisoned here during the QuitIndia Movement of 1942. His wifeKasturba Gandhi and his secretaryMahadeobhai Desai died during term,and their ashes are kept in memorialsin the gardens. TheE x p r e s s - N a g a r i k Wa d g a o nVijaystambh Pratisthan built thismemorial at Morwada Gardens tocommemorate India's victory overEnglish invaders in 1779. It bearsinscriptions of 1,080 martyrs who laiddown their lives in the service of thenation after Independence.
Pune's fine restaurants closely followMumbai's trendy eateries. To beginwith, , at Bund GardenRoad, offers mouth-watering Italianand Mexican fare whileat Koregaon Park serves Mexican,Continental and Indian food to theaccompaniment of live bands. Puneoffers the widest variety of sizzlersyou have
and are certainlyworth a visit. onDasturmeher Road, has the best
and delectable Parsi cuisine.
War Memorial:
Gourmet's Delights
La Pizzeria
Jazz Garden
The Place: Touch the
Sizzler Zamu's
Dorabjee & Sons,
biryani
265
Maharashtra
Shaniwar Wada
MAH
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Blue Nile
Appa's Canteen,
is best for Iranian food.on Bhandarkar
Road, serves a potpourri of Indian andSouth Indian snacks and mini meals.
and onMG Road are best for snack meals,
in Koregaon Park,offers delicious sandwiches, fluffyomelettes, crunchy cookies and softcakes along with a selection of pastriesand ice creams.
(26114650)
(26128343), (26114277) andat the Le Meridien are some of
the pulsat ing nightclubs anddiscotheques that lend Pune the
Pasteur Dairy Marz-o-Rim
German Bakery,
Night Out
Crystal Ball , Club
Scooba Doo, 10 Downing Street
Pegasus
Scream
sobriquet of 'party city'.
Maharashtrian sarees with theirunique borders, glass bangles, silverjewellery, leather ware and red potteryare the interesting buys. The city isfamous for slippers and sandals inKolhapuri style. Another item youshould not return without, are thebutter-cookies from Kayani Bakery
Shopper's Paradise
Aga Khan Palace
266
Maharashtra
and (puffed rice).
Pune's airport isabout 10 km from the railway stationand is connected with Delhi,Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai byall domestic carriers. Puneis linked with Mumbai (170 kms),N a s i k ( 2 0 8 k m s ) , C h e n n a i(1,090 kms) and other major cities ofIndia. Convenientmotorable distances from Mumbai,Nasik and Aurangabad (230 km).
Autorickshaws area convenient and affordable means oftransport. Private taxis, can be hiredfor exploring the city and nearbyattractions. A unique way would be tohire a bicycle and visit all thehotspots of the city. These can behired at major shopping areas andfrom the booth outside the NationalHotel. Summer: Min26°C, Max 40°C; Winter: Min 19°C,Max 29°C. Punee n j o y s a m o d e r a t e c l i m a t ethroughout the year.
020IndianAirlines: 141,
Airport 142, Jet Airways: 26127181,Air Sahara: 26059003.
131/ 2612657526128169
for Air/Rail/CarBookings: 26113084
B J Medical College &Sassoon Hospital: 26128000,Poona Hospital: 24331706,Lokmanya Hospital: 27456496
K. M. Medical: 26133176,Kemps: 26137704
Le Meridien: 26050505, Sun-N-Sand:
chevdaFacts at a Glance
Access: By Air:
By Rail:
By Road:
Getting Around:
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Best time to visit:
City Code:Airlines:
Railways:MTDC:Travel House:
Hospitals:
Chemists:
Home Away From Home
26137777, Taj Blue Diamond:26125555, Sagar Park Plaza:26122622, Woodland: 26126161, The
TempleSunder
Narayan Temple
Naro Sankara Mandir
Kala Rama Mandir
Pandulena Caves
Sita Gufa
Tapovan
Ramkund
Muktidham Temple
Indian Institute
of Research in Numismatic Studies,
here has one of the12 of Lord Shiva.
, across theGodavari, houses Lakshmi and Vishnuidols. The temple was first built in1756. , builtby the Marathas in early 18th century,is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and housesand large church bell acquired duringthe battle of Vasai with Portuguese in1739. At jetblack deities of Lord Rama, Sita andLakshmana are placed in the holytemple that was built in 1782 and hasan 83-ft high imposing tower.
, some 8 kms drivefrom Nasik, are Hinayana Buddhistrock-cut caves built by the Jain kingsin the 1st century AD. Similar to theones at Ajanta, there are 24 of these.
is the site from whereRavana abducted Sita. One has tocrawl into the cave to view the deitiesof Sita, Rama and Lakshmana.
was where Rama is said tohave lived down during his exile.Also,it was here that Lakshman hadchopped off the nose of Ravana's sisterSurpnakha. Down the years, manysaints have meditated here.is the central attraction here – it isbelieved that Sita and Rama used tobathe here – bones dropped intoRamkund are said to dissolve. Theremains of eminent personalities likeIndira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi,Mahatma Gandhi and JawaharlalNehru have been immersed here. Thissite is also known as the
or the Bone Immersion Tank.depicts over 18
chapters from the mythological epicThe
jyotirlingaslocated
Asthi VilayaTirtha,
Bhagavad Gita.
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Maharashtrian Sarees
Central Park: 26054000, Best Western–The Pride: 25534567.
Nasik is where mythology's bestknown hero, Lord Rama, along withhis wife Sita and younger brotherLakshman, spent most of their 14-yearexile. And it was from here that Sitawas abducted by Ravana, before beingtaken to his kingdom in Lanka. Notedpoets like Valmiki, Kalidas andBhavabhooti have reverentiallymentioned ancient Nasik in theirliterary works. Besides, Nasik alsoenjoys being popularly called the fruitbasket of western India, withstrawberries, grapes and raisinsgrowing here like wild berries!
Tourists can trek up to the(30 km), or climb the 690 steps, to
catch a glimpse of the source of theGodavari river. The
NASIK
City Lights
TrimbakHill
Trimbakeswar
Kumbhmela
established in 1980, is a renownedresource centre on the variouscurrency systems that existed in India.It also has an exhaustive archive ofphotographs of Indian coins!
The one of the biggestreligious congregations, is celebratedonce every 12 years on the banks of theholy river Godavari.
is celebrated with greatfanfare all over Maharashtra. Crackersare burst and colourful processionscarrying huge images of Lord Ganesha
City Culture
Kumbhmela,
GaneshChaturthi
raisins or strawberries.
The nearest airport isin Mumbai, some 185 km away.
The nearest railhead, Nasik(10 km from Nasik city), is wellconnected to most metros and smallercities. Nasik has quickconnectivity with Mumbai, which isbarely 185 km away and Pune, whichis 112 km away. It takes four and threehours from both the cities respectively.
Unmetered taxis areavailable all over, but they are moresuitable for travelling long distances.Ayodhya Travels (2504394) or BawaTravels (2508627) offer such services.Autorickshaws are an alternative butthey too demand that you fix the faresbeforehand. Summer:Min 22°C, Max 43°C; Winter: Min6°C, Max 28°C. Evenings are pleasantthroughout the year.Between October and February.
02532570 059
DFC: 2318165/66, Central
Facts at a Glance
Access: By Air:
By Rail:
By Road:
Getting Around:
Temperatures:
Best time to visit:
City Code:MTDC:Banks:
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Kala Rama Mandir
Bank of India: 2506666, CenturionBank: 2319146/8
are the highlights.
Though somewhat limited in theirofferings, one can still check out someof our recommendations for clean andhygienic food. at PanchvatiHotel, has Indianat Nasik Club is known for decentSouth Indian fare while
on MG Road is a multicuisineeatery. For Gujarati , go to
at Hotel Samrat,on OldAgra Road.
Fruit lovers rejoice: this isthe place for great buys in grapes,
Gourmet's Delights
Dhaba,Woodlands
ShilpaGarden
Samrat Restaurant
Shopping:
thalis;
thalis
long beach is another high point ofGanapatiphule, which offers fantasticwa te r spo r t s and swimmingopportunities here. An MTDCbeachfront resort could be a delightfulbase to start your journey into theRatnagiri district and discover thelandscape, art, culture and history ofMaharashtra. The birthplace ofLokmanya Tilak, Ratnagiri has aplethora of palaces and museums:
is dedicated to the giantsof Marathi literature,housed the exiled King and Queen ofBurma in the earlier 20th century,
is the abode of spiritual leaderSwami Swaroopanand – all within aradius of 100 kms. Small detours fromthe coast can take you to the legendarysea-forts of
andthe soldiers of history who staunchly
defended the maritime might ofMaharashtra.
KeshavsootThebaw Palace
Pawas
Bassein, Murud-Janjira,Jaigadh, Vijaydurg Sindhudurg–
building where Sai Baba used to spendalternate nights. The isthe shrine where the spiritual leadergave up his body. The tree underwhich the Baba first sat when he cameto Shirdi is said to have miraculouspowers. The whereSai Baba went for a walk and sat inmeditation is a spot where devoteescome to pray. Theis the oldest temple of Shirdi.
Mumbai is the nearestairport (250 km). Shirdi is onthe Central Railway line; the neareststations are Manmad (65 km) orKopergaon (18 km). On theAhmednagar-Manmad Highway,Shirdi is 250 km from Mumbai and75 km from Nasik. MTDC runs busesfrom all major destinations for Shirdi.
40°C in May andlowest 7°C in January.
Shirdi has dry climate but June toAugust is pleasant, with scanty rains.
02453
Sun-N-Sand: 255728-30, Hotel SaiLeela: 255288-89, 255139.
Guru Sthan
Lendi Gardens
Khandoba Temple
Facts at a Glance
Access: ByAir:By Rail:
By Road:
Temperatures:Best time to
visit:
City Code:
Home Away From Home
neem
GANAPATIPHULE
The name derives its essence from thearmy of the Ganas of Lord Ganeshawho made its sands (pule) their home.A veritable treasure of Ganapatiphuleis the king of mangoesAlphonso that grows here inabundance! The entire belt is fertilewith popular fruits like kokum andphanas known to grow here in variousvarieties. Fruity fame apart, a 6-km-
Hapus,
Samadhi Mandir
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City Lights
Shramata Smarak: Ratnagiri is the
last of industrial outposts before
Ganapatiphule and it takes about an
hour to cover the 50-km drive from
Ratnagiri. But Ratnagiri's charms
begin right from the station where an
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elegant black granite tower welcomes
visitors. This was built in the memory
of those who lost their lives during the
construction of the Konkan Railway.
Facing the sea, this rather modern
temple structure with gardens and a
large fibreglass mouse (the lord's
vehicle) houses the idol bursting from
a rock. From 2-8 every February and
November, the setting sun casts its
rays directly on the idol within the
temple – a sight thousands of believers
come to witness! Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, who coined the
famous declaration, 'Freedom is my
birthright' was born here and his house
is one of the most famous landmarks.
His 'scholarly' possessions can still be
found as he had left them!
This is the first temple built
for non-Brahmins by Swatantra Veer
Savarkar, who lived here from 1924 to
1937 under house arrest. Savarkar had
the s ing le miss ion to e rase
untouchability from the country's
landscape, and the temple is a living
testimony to the great leader's
d e d i c a t i o n i n u p l i f t i n g t h e
Swayambhu Ganapati Temple:
Tilak Smarak:
Patit Pavan
Mandir:
dispossessed with knowledge of the
Vedas. The palace
was home to the exiled king and queen
of Burma in the earlier 20th century.
Once a grand building, the place is
now in ruins, which the state tourism
corporation plans to restore and run as
a heritage hotel.
Overlooking the
confluence of the Sangameshwar river
and the Arabian Sea are the bastions of
this 17th century fort. The beach is a
great spot for swimming. The
lighthouse, built in 1832 by John
Oswald, is known to have run on
kerosene oil till 1995 – the light is now
provided through special prisms.
About 85 km from
Ganapatiphule, the place hosts Shiv
Shristi, an exhibition on Chhatrapati
Shivaji. The famous
is located 112 km from
Ganapatiphule.
The grand bastions of
Maratha marit ime supremacy,
, or the Fort of Victory, was
strengthened in the 17th century by
Shivaji, who added a triple row of
walls and towers as well as inner
buildings. in Malvan
port is a historic monument housing
the only Shivaji shrine within its
bastions.
Check into the MTDC resort here.Bang on the beach, on 49 well-landscaped acres, it overlooks the6 km of the dune-covered beachbesides having the temple inproximity. A stay at a Konkani hut or aSagar Darshan deluxe room/suite is
Thebaw Palace:
Jaigad Fort & The
Lighthouse:
Derwan:
Parshuram
Temple
Vijaydurg and
Sindhudurg:
Vijaydurg
Sindhudurg
Must Do
Ganapatiphule
271
highly recommended. The watersportscenter here has kayaks, water scootersand boats, which can be hired fromOctober to May. Tel: 35248.
Named after the last of the GreatMughals Emperor Aurangzeb, who asviceroy of the Deccan, had made it hiscapital and later built a mausoleum forhis wife here. Aurangabad owes itsfame to the Caves; infact Aurangabad is thefor visitors to the state. Now WorldHeritage Sites, the hidden niches ofAjanta and Ellora are resplendent withcarvings and vivid frescoes ,representing the very essence of India.The world famous caves apart,Aurangabad holds out on its own too,thanks to an old-world charm touchedby contemporary activities. Helping itgain further stature are the spate ofimportant industries that havemushroomed here..
Ajanta & Elloraraison de etre
City Lights
Bibi ka Maqbara
Panchakki
HimrooFactory,
was built in 1679AD by Aurangzeb in memory of hiswife Rabia-ud-Daurani and though ittypifies the Mughal style ofarchitecture in all its elegance,comparisons with Taj Mahal, tend tosomewhat belit t le its beauty.
is a water wheel, whichused to pull water through earthenpipes to a mill located six km away.The mill is now abandoned, but in itstime it was used to grind flour to feedthousands of pilgrims. Aurangzeb'sspiritual advisor, Sufi saint Baba ShahMuzaffar is also buried within itswalls, while enormous fish fill thevarious tanks here. A
hidden in the bylanes of theold town, manufactures the renownedHimroo weave, in shawls and spreads.The shawls are masterpieces in goldand silk thread that along with cottonthreads replicate the wondrousfrescoes of the Ajanta and Caves,thereby providing a cheaper option to
kohl
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Swayambhu Ganapati Temple
The area is known for fresh fruits andshould be bought, space permitting.Facts at a Glance
Access: ByAir:
By Rail:Ratnagiri,
By Road:
Distances:
Temperatures:
Rainfall:May
Best time to visit:
City Code:
AURANGABAD
Pune and Mumbai arethe nearest airports. The Ratnagiriairport has only private charterservices. The closest railheadis some 50 kms fromGanapatiphule. Four trains along theKonkan Railway offer connectivity.
From Mumbai, it takesabout 10 hours to reach Ganapatiphule.
Mumbai (375 km), Pune(325 km) and Kolhapur (160 km).Though medical facilities areavailable at Chintamani Hospital, it isRatnagiri where you have to head tofor money and other transactions.
Summer: Min 26°C,Max 35°C; Winter: Min 15°C, Max25°C. 900 mm duringmonsoon. is a good time forAlphonso-lovers!November to February.
02357
Ajanta Caves: It was a Britishhunting team that chanced upon whatis today considered the most importantsite of Buddhist art. Lying deep in the
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the more expensive(brocade and real gold/ silver shawls),patronized by royalty in the 14thcentury. is a smallyet compact museum, displaying thepersonal collection of a retired doctor.Don't be misled by its ambiguouslocation (behind an antique shop onSarafa Road), because here you willfind rare items like a 500-year-oldchain-mail suit, Aurangzeb's hand-written personal Koran and an 800-year-old Paithani saree!
There is a veritable treasure house ofthe soft and elegant Himroo shawlsand unique Paithani sarees, which userea l go ld th read in bordersembellished with bird and flowermotifs. These sarees have beenrevived almost from extinction to taketheir place among other sought-aftervarieties. Bidriware, created throughinlay of silver in a special alloy ofgunmetal is famous here. Semi-precious Agate is easily available andcan be set in jewellery or gifted assouvenirs. Shops in the Walled City orthe State Emporium are the best placesfor these.
You could try for South Indiancuisine; for North Indianand for Chinese foodwhile is known forTandoori food.serves Indian cuisine even as
isrenowned for, as the name suggests,fast food..
Kamkhabs
Purwar Museum
BhojFood Lovers
Master CookFoodwalla
Ranjit Restaurant
Ashoka's Fast Food Centre
Shopper's Paradise
Gourmet's Delights
Excursions
Bibi ka Maqbara
Sahyadri hills and cut into the curve ofthe mountainside, theare located about 100 kms far fromAurangabad. They depict the story ofBuddhism spanning from 200 BC to650 AD. The 30 rock-hewn caves,spread out like a horseshoe, were builtfor Buddhist monks who taught andperformed rituals in the 'chaityas' and'viharas', the nerve center of Buddhistcultural movement. The best exampleof a style of painting that moved on toother areas in the Far East, can beviewed in the frescoes within thecaves. Natural light affords the visitoran unparalled view of the brilliant cavepaintings each telling a story of itsown. The shadows of sunrays on theintricately carved pillars leave animprint on the mind that one neverforgets.
About 30 km fromAurangabad, in a different directionfrom Ajanta is Ellora, showcasing34 caves carved into the sides of abasaltic hill. The finest samples ofcave architecture, they house exquisitefaçades and adorned interiors. And thebest part is the confluence of threefaiths – Buddhism, Jainism and
Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves:
Hinduism. These three coexistharmoniously to provide a stunningdisplay of art and culture. The 12 cavesto the south are to the Buddhist, the17 in the center are dedicated to theHindus and 5 in the north are for Jains.The Kailasa Cave in the 16th houses anarchitectural wonder with the centraltemple and figures, carved from anenormous rock. The inner sanctum hasa of the temple-deity, Shiva. Itis believed that the rock temples wereconstructed under the aegis of theRashtrakutan King Krishna I.
lingam
Facts at a Glance
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By Train:
By Road:
Getting Around:
Temperatures:
Besttime to visit:
City Code:Airport:Railway Station:
Aurangabad hashopping flights from Delhi viaMumbai by Indian Airlines and JetAirways too offers daily connectivityfrom Mumbai. OnManmad-Kachiguda section of theSouth Central Railways, it is wellconnected with Mumbai as well asneighbouring states.Aurangabad can be reached fromMumbai (388 km), Pune (299 km),Nasik (221 km) and Manmad by roadconveniently.Autor ickshaws are ava i l ab leeverywhere and are willing tonegotiate prices. It is advisable to fix arate for a longer tour as it works outmore economica l . I f fee l ingadventurous, hop into a Tempo,though taxis from outside the hotelsare a safer bet. Private cars can be hiredfrom the hotel travel desks and fromlocal travel agents with or without theservices of a driver.Summer: Min 26°C, Max 36°C;Winter: Min 20°C, Max 28°C.
October to March.
02402484269
131, 132, 233 4376
Car Rentals:Banks:
India TourismMTDC:Hospitals:
Classic: 2337788SBI, Central Bank of India,
State Bank of Hyderabad, Bank ofMaharashtra.
: 23312172331513
Dhanwantari: 2334760,Kalyani: 337380
Taj Residency'Aurangabad: 238 1106Welcom Hotel Rama International:2485441-4, Ajanta Ambassador:2485211-4, President Park: 2486201
Home Away From Home
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Ajanta Caves
Entrance of Kailash Temple at Ellora
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The small Kailash Temple at Ellora