Maharashtra
Discover Maharashtra
Maharashtra (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र Mahārāṣṭra) in Western India is the third-largest state of India by size and the second-largest by population. It stretches from the west coast to the interior regions with a variable climate. Maharashtra contains India's most industrialised region, the Mumbai-Pune belt. Agriculturally, too, the state is one of India's more advanced and well-irrigated. The Western Ghats divide Maharashtra into two parts: the lower Konkan coast at the west, and the upper Deccan Plateau at the east.
What to Experience in Maharashtra
Taste of Maharashtra...
There are lots of snack and side dishes in Maharashtrian cuisine. Some quintessentially Maharashtrian dishes are: Surali Wadi: Chick pea flour rolls with a garnishing of coconut, coriander leaves and mustard. Lots of items actually..further delicacies can be obtained in any typical maharastrian home. Pav bhaji: This speciality dish from lanes of Mumbai has mashed steamed mixed vegetables (mainly potatoes, peas, tomatoes, onions and green pepper) cooked in spices and table butter. The vegetable mix is served with soft bun shallow fried in table butter and chopped onion. Sometimes cheese, paneer (cottage cheese) are added. Saoji curry is special gravy mainly used in preparing non-vegetarian (chicken and mutton dish); But can also be used to prepare vegetarian dish (Potato, Paneer or Soya Chunk). Saoji chicken or Mutton is famous for its spicy taste and is highly recommended to all the spicy food lovers. Nagpur is famous for 'Saoji chicken'. Maharashtra’s beverage culture is a fascinating blend of coastal freshness, rural simplicity, and urban innovation. Along the Konkan belt, drinks like kokum sherbet and solkadhi are deeply rooted in daily life. Kokum sherbet, with its tangy-sweet profile, is a natural coolant cherished during the humid summers, while solkadhi — a soothing mix of coconut milk and kokum — is enjoyed both as a digestive and a refreshing drink. These beverages reflect the region’s reliance on local produce and its long-standing culinary traditions.
Climate
Maharashtra experiences a tropical wet and dry climate with hot, rainy, and cold weather seasons. Some areas more inland experience a hot semi arid climate, due to a rain shadow effect caused by the Western Ghats. The month of March marks the beginning of the summer and the temperature rises steadily until June. In the central plains, summer temperatures rise to between 40 and 45 °C (104 and 113 °F). May is usually the warmest and January the coldest month of the year. The winter season lasts until February with lower temperatures occurring in December and January. On the Deccan plateau that lies on eastern side of the Sahyadri mountains, the climate is drier, however, dew and hail often occur, depending on seasonal weather. All the cities of Maharastra all well connected by rail, air and road. There are other, smaller airports in the cities of Navi Mumbai (set to become an important hub soon, as of 2026), Nashik, Kolhapur, Nanded, Shirdi and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAll the cities of Maharastra all well connected by rail, air and road. There are other, smaller airports in the cities of Navi Mumbai (set to become an important hub soon, as of 2026), Nashik, Kolhapur, Nanded, Shirdi and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). Most have regular flights scheduled often served by Star Air or IndiGo, at higher prices though, however it is less expensive to reach these cities by railway. Maharashtra is also well connected with other parts of India by rail. Maharashtra is served by Western Railway (WR), Central Railway (CR), Konkan Railway (KR) and South East Central Railway (SECR) zones. Rail travel is quite cheap compared to travelling by road. Trains in India, although faster than cars/buses, are quite slow due to the terrain and also due their sheer length (it is not unusual for a train to have up to 24 coaches). Travelling a distance of about 600 km takes about 10-12 hours. Mumbai is served by both WR and CR....
Regions
Explore AreasThe Western Ghats divide Maharashtra into two parts: the lower Konkan coast at the west, and the upper Deccan Plateau at the east. Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised states in India. It is …...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Coastal Maharashtra (Konkan) has some of very beautiful beaches. With a 720 km coast line, there are beautiful beach destinations almost every 50-100 km, starting from Dahanu in the Northern part of the State to Sindhudurg, at the Southern tip. While the beaches in Bordi, Gorai, Juhu, Alibag, Kashid and Murud-Janjira are well-developed, with multiple accommodation choices, the rest remain still off the tourist circuit. The primary reason is lack of good accommodation choices. At most of the other beaches, the only decent stay options are properties owne and managed by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), a govt. organisation. These MTDC resorts have amazing location with great views, but being govt. run, these are not among the best in service, activities and food. There are lots of snack and side dishes in Maharashtrian cuisine.
Language & Talk
All the cities of Maharastra all well connected by rail, air and road. There are other, smaller airports in the cities of Navi Mumbai (set to become an important hub soon, as of 2026), Nashik, Kolhapur, Nanded, Shirdi and Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar). Most have regular flights scheduled often served by Star Air or IndiGo, at higher prices though, however it is less expensive to reach these cities by railway. Maharashtra is also well connected with other parts of India by rail. Maharashtra is served by Western Railway (WR), Central Railway (CR), Konkan Railway (KR) and South East Central Railway (SECR) zones. Rail travel is quite cheap compared to travelling by road.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Pickpocketing can occur in busy spaces, so keeping valuables secure, using anti‑theft bags, and avoiding displaying expensive items openly can go a long way in preventing trouble. It’s also wise to carry only what you need for the day and leave important documents, like passports, safely stored at your accommodation. Food and water safety is another important consideration. While street food can be delicious, choosing vendors with good hygiene practices is essential. Drinking bottled or filtered water is generally safer than tap water in many destinations. Tourists should also be cautious about trying unfamiliar foods too quickly, especially if they have sensitive stomachs. Staying aware of local weather conditions and seasonal changes can prevent unexpected issues. Some regions may experience extreme heat, heavy monsoon rains, or sudden storms, so packing appropriate clothing and checking forecasts regularly is important.
Glimpses of Maharashtra
green grass on mountain under white clouds during daytime
Shivraje Pratishthan Pune
Small waterfall in the mountains
The view from a room at the Taj Mahal Towers hotel in Mumbai
Mumbai Coastal Road Project at Haji Ali
View of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) and Sir Pherozshah Mehta statue from the BMC building in Fort, South Mumbai. CSMT is a historic railway terminus and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The terminus was designed by a British architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens from an initial design by Axel Haig, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style. It was completed in 1887, the year marking 50 years of Queen Victoria's rule. is the headquarters of India's Central Railway and is one of the busiest railway stations in India.
green grass field on mountain
a large waterfall in the middle of a lush green valley
people in a park with a view of a city during daytime
Sunset in the Sahyadri Mountains in Khandala, a scenic hill station located in the Western Ghats mountain range of Maharashtra, India. This was taken from a viewpoint on the road to Rajmachi Fort.
green grass on mountain under white clouds during daytime
Shivraje Pratishthan Pune
Small waterfall in the mountains