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Covering a large part of the Deccan Plateau, the state of
Maharashtra is partially hilly. Centuries ago, these hills and
crags provided excellent ground for the highly perfected guerilla
warfare techniques of the Marathas like Shivaji against the
Mughals.
Influences of various schools and different ages can be seen
in the monuments and sculptures of Maharashtra. The caves of
Aurangabad, Ajanta and Ellora contain some beautiful rock-hewn
sculptures, columns and frescoes hard to find anywhere else.
The Matheran
Toy Train Nestling about 800 m above sea level, Matheran (meaning
jungle head) is the nearest hill resort to Mumbai - just about
2 hours away on a Pune-bound train. As the little narrow guage
train (which was introduced in 1907) wheezes up the Western
Ghats into the clear mountain air, you get a breathtaking view
of the hills and plains below. The train runs only between sunrise
and sunset, and is discontinued from mid - June to end September,
during the monsoons. Neral, which is the starting point of the
journey up, is easily accessible by Mumbai's local trains.
Area: 307,690 sq. km
Population: 78.9 million
Capital: Mumbai
Main Language: Marathi
Best time to visit: September to April (coast) & September to
mid-June (hills)
Maharashtra Travel Reservation Form
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