Destination of Maharashtra
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.
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.
