Explore the Beauty and Culture of Maharashtra State in India.
India has long been a top travel destination for tourists from all around the world. India’s western state of Maharashtra, in particular, is an ideal region to explore. Maharashtra is a state made up of vibrant cityscape, peaceful rural areas and numerous historical and cultural monuments. Visitors who come to this region can drive the region’s vast roadways and stop at many of the major sites to see.
Mumbai, which is one of India’s most renowned metropolises, is also the capital city Maharashtra. Visitors who come to this city can easily reach the Mani Bhavan Gandi Museum, the Bombay Museum and other cultural and historical centers by a car. Mumbai also features sacred temples such as Mahalakshmi and Babulnath. The exquisite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is the city’s main railway station and has been designated as a World Heritage Site for its historical significance and grand Gothic architecture. The Kanheri Caves, which are located in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, feature ancient Buddhist stone carvings.
Travelers can drive from Mumbai to the city of Pune via the Famous Mumbai Pune Expressway. After arriving in Pune, travelers will be treated to ancient sites like the Pataleshwar Cave Temple. The Aga Khan Palace, which was constructed at the end of the 19th century, is considered by many to be the city’s most significant landmark.
The Aurangabad District is another region of Maharashtra worth exploring. The beautiful Bibi Ka Maqbara monument has been standing since the 17th century and is similar in architectural style to the Taj Mahal. Visitors driving around the Aurangabad District can also make a stop at the Ajanta Caves to see ancient Buddhist paintings on the cavern walls.
The archeological site of Ellora is another fascinating place to visit while traveling through Maharashtra. A series of caves featuring intricate stone carvings make up this historical attraction. Most of the carvings were completed in the 10th century over a 500-year period. Many of the carvings depict sacred images from the Buddhist and Hindu faiths.
Maharashtra is also a great place to explore wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is a manmade sanctuary featuring sacred temples and many forms of indigenous plant and animal life. Chandoli National Park is particularly known for its exotic animal species and even features a tiger and leopard reserve. The wildlife sanctuary of Nagzira is known for its pristine lakes and lush forestry.
The Arabian Sea beaches located along Maharashtra’s western border are also easy to reach. Breathtaking seaside views and fun outdoor activities await visitors at many of these beaches. The beach at Ganapatipule is famous for its clear seawater and vast stretches of greenery. Many local celebrities often frequent Juhu Beach. The beach at Velneshwar is the perfect place to go sunbathing while enjoying the sight of green coconut palm groves.
Exploring Maharashtra is one of the best ways to gain a full appreciation of this intriguing state in India. The versatility of sites and activities found within Maharashtra can provide something special for every visitor.
Article source by :- windiaw
For more information visit :- http://www.travelthemes.in/
Cycling Vacations In India – A Few Things to Know
Are you planning cycling vacations in India? Well I suggest you first read below before you book your tickets for cycling vacations in India so that you are prepared for them and have a pleasant experience.
There was a time when India was a nation of Bicycles, and bicycles are one item that India produces more than any other country in the world. So why is it that you rarely find bicycles in big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai etc? Well the reasons are not very difficult to find. Leave aside cycling vacations in India, most Indians don’t even ride bicycles for day-to-day use.
The roads in India are not designed to accommodate bicycles, unlike cities like Amsterdam where the roads are designed or have been redesigned to keep cyclist in mind. But in India even in cities like Delhi where in 70s and till mid 80s cycles were still popular now hardly anybody rides a bicycle. Even the kids today use them as recreational tools when their mothers snatch their ipads away, unlike when I was growing up a bicycle was the primary source of exercise, entertainment and commute for me. I have fond memories of riding cycle during vacations in my childhood.
Cycling vacation in India
Most of the cyclists in India you will find on roads will be poor people who can not afford any other vehicle, unlike in western countries where a bicycle is a recreation tool and not a sign of poverty. Most highways in India are death trap for cyclists, with more cyclists dying in road accidents than anybody else. The challenge is most of the bicycles in India still follow the designs of first world war and safety features like a light, bright-colored strips to glow in light are unheard of. The bicyclists never wear any kind of helmet to protect them in case of any mishap. But still in rural India bicycles are very popular not only to ride to market, fields and the village temple but also as a family vehicle, to carry fodder, and to drop kids to school. If you are lucky you may see a bridegroom in rural India on a bicycle to go to the home of his bride for marriage.
A lot of young boys in Indian villages will ride the large bicycles of their father with legs inserted inside the frame to reach the pedal in a riding style called “Crenchy” like I saw this boy in Weavers village Pochampally outside of Hyderabad.
I found a lot of people using bicycles in Gandipet and Chilkur when I went there to click pictures of Flamingos. You will also notice that a lot of bicyclist on Indian roads are actually not riding them but are actually walking with the cycle. This is a defense mechanism when they hop down where they feel vulnerable and ride back the cycle when the road is safer.
But slowly there is a movement to revive the bicycle culture in India especially in cities like Hyderabad and Bangalore where a large no of Expats and Indians who have returned after living abroad reside. So in Hyderabad we have clubs like GHAC, Hyderabad Bicycling club are trying to promote using more of bicycle use. Atlanta Foundation organizes cycling races with the money going to charity. Most of these groups are formed by highly educated upwardly mobile IT and BPO professionals with the idea of using cycles as much as possible and promote safe cycling with proper use of helmets and other safety gear using better bikes with gears etc. A lot of these clubs also organize mountain bike races in the cities as a part of promoting cycling as an adventure sport.
So if you are planning a cycling holiday in India I suggest you take help of a specialist bicycling holiday company and visit places where there is still some culture of bicycle travel with both locals as well as travelers. Some of the places that are good for bicycling holidays are Pondicherry, Temple Town of Hampi, Parts of Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan and Western Ghats. Your tour operator should be able to help you in better planning. But remember you will still be on same roads ruled by trucks and buses and it will be a good idea to not ride alone and stay in a group to avoid any unfortunate incident like the ordeal of this Swiss couple.
So while it is a good idea to have a bicycling holiday in India you need to be ready for the heat, unfriendly roads and go to parts like, Pondicherry, Hampi and Kerala in South India, where it is not uncommon to see foreigners on cycling vacations in India.
article source by :- desitraveler
For more information visit :- http://www.travelthemes.in/
