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Maharashtra Tour
Maharashtra is a large, populous and economically important state. From Mumbai
most travellers head south to the beaches of Goa, south-east to Pune and its
famous ashram, or north -east to the World Heritage-listed cave temples of
Ajanta and Ellora.
The Western Ghats run parallel with the coast; the rest of the state stands
on the high Deccan plateau, stretching some 800 km east.
Maharashtra with Mumbai as capital was formed in 1960 when the Maratha and
Gujrati-speaking areas were again separated. It has strong links with Gandhi
and India's Independence
Gateway of India
Built in the Indo-saracenic style, the Gateway of India is meant to commemorate
the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay, prior to the Darbar in
Delhi in December 1911. The foundation stone was laid on March 31, 1911 and
George Wittet's final design sanctioned in August 1914. Between 1915 and 1919
work proceeded on reclamations at Apollo Pier for the land on which the gateway
and the new sea wall would be built. The foundations were completed in 1920.
The Gateway is built from yellow Kharodi basalt and reinforced concrete. The
central dome is 48 feet in diameter and 83 feet above ground at its highest
point. The whole harbour front was realigned in order to come in line with
a planned esplanade which would sweep down to the centre of the town.
Bibi Ka Maqbara
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal, in Agra, in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz.
His son Aurangzeb, who overthrew him, built the Bibi-Ka-Maqbara as a mausoleum
to his wife Rabia-ud-Durrani. This is the monument for which Aurangabad is
best known, probably because it was obviously intended to rival the Taj Mahal,
which it imitates. The comparison with the Agra monument has unfortunately
somewhat denigrated the Aurangabad tomb which in itself displays a worthwhile
architectural design, with much distinguished surface ornamentation in the
late Mughal style. The mausoleum dates from 1678 and it was erected by Prince
Azam Shah, one of Aurangzeb's sons, in memory of Begum Rabia Durani, his mother.
It stands in the middle of a spacious and formally planned garden, some 457
by 274 metres, with axial ponds, fountains, and water channels, many defined
by stone screens and lined with broad pathways. The garden is enclosed by
high crenellated walls with bastions set at intervals, and open pavilions
on three sides. In the middle of the south wall is an imposing gateway with
brass-inlaid doors; these are inscribed with the name of the architect, Atam
Aula. The central focus of this vast enclosure is the tomb itself. To the
west of the tomb is a small mosque with finely worked cusped arches and corner
minarets. Small recesses, rosettes, and arabesques embellish the faqade. Mention
may also be made here of the Sunheri Mahal, situated to the north of Bibi
ka Maqbara, which is a notable building in the late Mughal style. It is of
interest for the patches of old painting and goldwork that adorn the walls.
Aurangabad Caves
Aurangabad Caves are artificial caves, dug out of the rather soft rock during
the 6th and 7th century. This caves are found on two separate locations, called
Western Group Caves (caves 1-5) and Eastern Group Caves (caves 6-10), about
1km from each other. Each group has five caves. The architecture and iconography
is influenced by Tantric Hinduism. Cave four of the Western Group Caves is
the oldest cave. It is a Hinayana Chaitya with a ridged roof like the Karla
Cave near Lonavala. Hinayana (Sanskrit: Lesser Vehicle) is the more orthodox,
conservative schools of Buddhism. Chaitya (Sanskrit) is the word for a funeral
monument. There is a stupa in front of it, now partially collapsed. The other
four Western caves are viharas, which are an early type of Buddhist monastery
consisting of an open court surrounded by open cells accessible through an
entrance porch. The viharas in India were originally constructed to shelter
the monks. Cave 3, the most fascinating cave of the Western Group, is supported
by 12 finely carved columns.
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Haji Ali Mosque
This early 18th century shrine contains the tomb of HAZRATH HAJI ALI, a Muslim
Sufi saint. There are two local legends which claim to trace the hazrath’s
antecedents. One story has it that Haji Ali was a rich , local businessman
who gave up materialism after a visit to Mecca and then took up meditation.
Another legend says that he was an Afghan mystic who lived and meditated here.
He specifically ordered that after his death , his casket should be cast off
into the sea off the shore of what is today Pakistan. However , the casket
surfaced intact at the spot where the shrine is today. The Haji Ali shrine
is located on a small island on the Arabian Sea. There is a walkway which
connects the shore to the shrine. This walkway is the only way to enter the
shrine and it can be used only during low tides. High tides and monsoon rains
completely cover the walkway. Inside the shrine there is a courtyard which
normally sports a festive, talkative atmosphere.
