Excursion Heritage

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is today one of the most industrialized states in western India extending over the Sahyadri mountains. The vast stretch of 720 kilometers of the Arabian Sea coast provides it a beautiful backdrop.

The emergence of name of Maharashtra is traced in the 7th century inscription. Going by the connotation in origin maharathis, meaning builders and drivers of chariot. The early known king Vidishri founded Junnar as his capital in Pune region. Then came the period when Muslims established their supremacy throughout India, with Babar having gained the recorded prominence by early 16th century. In intervening period of nearly 900 years there does not exist any authentic chronology.

Buddhism was almost entirely supplanted throughout the entire country by the twelfth century, in what has been characterized as a peaceful popular revolution attributable largely to the popular poet-saints. The troubled populace found solace in the bhakti and devotional commentary by Saint Gyanesvara (1271-1296), poet-saints tailor by profession Namdev (1270-1350), Tukaram (1598-1650), whose wife and son died in a famine, and Ramdas, the "Servant of Rama" (1608-1681). Ramdas, both ascetic and political activist, provided the philosophical underpinning behind the campaigns of Maharashtra's greatest warrior, Shivaji.

Shivaji Bhosle laid the foundations of Maratha Empire in early 17th century. At the young age of 16 years he avowed to free the land from Muslim rule. Thus started the Maratha struggle against Mughals. The mantle was taken up by the most courageous of Maratha warriors, Shivaji. He went on to establish the best of administration and powerful army that drove out regional Muslim powers like Nizamshahi, Adilshahi, and Qutubshahi. He slowly started capturing forts in the region, Purandar, Raigad, and Torna being most notable of his first achievements.

Shivaji’s reign spread the kingdom to encompass entire Deccan. Even after the death of Shivaji in 1680, the seeds of courage and freedom supplanted continued for almost another 150 years. The spectacular achievements of Shivaji find the highest place in Maratha history. The other rulers of significance were Balaji Vishwanath (1712-21), Bajirao Peshwa (1721-40), Nanasaheb Peshwa (1740-61), Thorai Madhaorao Peshwa (1761-72), Sawai Madhaorao Peshwa (1774-1795), Second Bajirao Peshwa (1795-1802). The state came under British supremacy during 1818-1947.

Prominent cities and places of Maharashtra are Pune, Mumbai the largest metropolis in India, Aurangabad, Daulatabad, Kolhapur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mahabaleshwar, Raigad, and Lonavala.

City List
- Mumbai
- Pune
- Aurangabad
- Shirdi
- Kolhapur
- Sholapur
- Nashik
- Jalgaon
- Lonavala
- Mahabaleshwar
- Raigarh
- Khandala
- Pandharpur
- Shegaon
- Nagpur

(* represents compulsory fields) *Your Name :   * Phone : (Include Country/Area Code)   *Your Country :   *Your E-Mail Address :   * Tentative Date of Travel:   Duration of Travel in India (Approx.):   No. of People Travelling:   00 01 02 03 04 05 Adult       00 01 02 03 04 05 Children *Budget Per Person Per Day :  USD 50-75 USD 75-100 USD 100 and above Verify Request * Describe Your Travel   Plan / Requirements :

Excursion Heritage
» Best of India Tours North India Heritage Tour Peace of Heaven Skiing at Auli Uttaranchal more...	» Popular India Tours East India Tour Delhi Agra Jaipur Travel India Nepal Tour more...	» Luxury Trains in India Luxury Trains in India Royal Orient Palace on wheels more... » South India Kerala Tamilandu Karnataka more...
» North India Delhi Rajasthan Uttar Pradesh more...	» East India West Bengal Orissa Sikkim more...
» West India Goa Gujarat Maharashtra more...	» Mossaic of Hotels Taj Group of Hotels Choice Hotels India ITC Welcomegroup more...