- Capital
- Mumbai
- Area
- 307,713 sq km
- Official language
- Marathi
- Coastline
- About 720 km along the Arabian Sea
- Best time
- October to March
- Main airport
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
Where to go
Most itineraries draw from these regions:
- Mumbai: the state capital, with colonial-era architecture, seafronts and street food.
- Pune: a historic Maratha city with a relaxed pace and good day trips.
- Ajanta and Ellora: UNESCO World Heritage cave sites, reached from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar).
- Hill stations: Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Lonavala and Matheran in the Western Ghats.
- Konkan beaches: Alibaug, Murud, Ganpatipule and Tarkarli, several with sea forts nearby.
- Pilgrim towns: Shirdi and Nashik, among others.
Best time to visit
October to March is the most comfortable season, with temperatures in many areas staying roughly in the 12–25°C range. April to June is hot inland, sometimes above 40°C, though the hill stations stay cooler. The monsoon, from about June to September, turns the Ghats and the Konkan green and brings waterfalls, but heavy rain can disrupt road and rail travel.
Culture and festivals
The Maratha legacy is everywhere, from hill forts to local pride in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Ganesh Chaturthi is the biggest festival, especially in Mumbai and Pune, with huge idols and street processions. Gudi Padwa (the Marathi new year), Diwali and Makar Sankranti are also widely celebrated, and the Ellora Festival and Mumbai's Kala Ghoda Arts Festival draw culture lovers.
Look out for Lavani and Tamasha folk performances, the nine-yard Nauvari sari, Paithani silk saris, Kolhapuri chappals and Warli painting.
Food to try
Street snacks lead the way: vada pav, misal pav, pav bhaji and sabudana khichdi. A home-style thali might include bhakri or chapati, varan bhat, amti and bhaji, while the Konkan coast is known for coconut-based fish and prawn curries. For sweets, try puran poli, modak (especially at Ganesh Chaturthi) and shrikhand.
How to reach and get around
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is the main gateway, with other airports at Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik. Major railway hubs include Mumbai CSMT, Mumbai Central, Pune, Nagpur and Nashik Road, with direct trains from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and other cities. MSRTC state buses and private operators link most towns. We can plan a Maharashtra circuit with Shirdi, Ajanta, Ellora and Mumbai from Tamil Nadu.
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