Maharashtra is India's second-most populous state and a powerhouse of culture, history, and natural beauty. Home to the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, ancient UNESCO World Heritage cave complexes at Ajanta and Ellora, majestic Sahyadri mountain forts, and pristine Konkan coastline beaches, Maharashtra offers an extraordinary diversity of experiences for every type of traveler.
Maharashtra has one of the most storied histories in the Indian subcontinent, from the ancient Satavahana dynasty and Buddhist cave monasteries of the 2nd century BC to the magnificent Maratha Empire founded by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. The state was shaped by the Yadava and Bahmani sultanates, the Mughal Empire, and ultimately the Peshwa rulers of Pune before British colonial rule transformed Bombay into the subcontinent's commercial capital. Maharashtra was at the heart of the Indian independence movement, producing luminaries like B.R. Ambedkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Maharashtra.
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1
Satavahana Dynasty
The Satavahanas establish their kingdom across the Deccan; Buddhist rock-cut caves begin to be carved at Ajanta, Karla, Bhaja, and Naneghat
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2
Chalukyas and Cave Building
The Chalukyas of Badami patronize the early Hindu and Buddhist caves at Ellora; the Kailasa Temple project begins under the Rashtrakutas
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3
Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Rashtrakuta rulers commission the monumental Kailasa Temple at Ellora (Cave 16), the world's largest monolithic rock sculpture
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4
Yadava Kingdom
The Yadava dynasty rules from Devagiri (Daulatabad), establishing Marathi as a literary language and building the Devagiri Fort
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5
Alauddin Khalji's Deccan Conquest
Delhi Sultanate general Alauddin Khalji captures the Yadava kingdom's capital Devagiri, beginning Islamic rule over the Deccan
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6
Bahmani Sultanate
The Bahmani Sultanate is established in the Deccan, introducing Mughal-Persian architectural traditions that influenced Aurangabad
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7
Birth of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Shivaji Maharaj is born in Shivneri Fort near Junnar; he would go on to found the Maratha Empire and build an independent Hindu kingdom in the Deccan
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8
Battle of Pratapgad
Shivaji defeats the powerful Adilshahi general Afzal Khan at Pratapgad Fort, establishing himself as a dominant force in the Deccan
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9
Coronation at Raigad
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is crowned at Raigad Fort, establishing the Maratha Empire. Raigad becomes the first capital.
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10
Peshwa Rule from Pune
The Peshwa prime ministers assume effective control of the Maratha Empire and rule from Shaniwar Wada in Pune, extending Maratha power across India
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11
British Conquest
The Third Anglo-Maratha War ends with the fall of the Peshwa; the British East India Company takes control of the Deccan and Bombay
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12
First Railway in India
India's first passenger railway opens between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thane, transforming Bombay into the subcontinent's industrial hub
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13
Crawford Market
Crawford Market (Mahatma Phule Market) opens in Bombay, symbolizing the city's growth as a major commercial center
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14
Tilak and Swadeshi
Bal Gangadhar Tilak launches the Swadeshi movement and popularizes Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival to build national consciousness
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15
Quit India Movement
Mahatma Gandhi launches the Quit India Movement from Bombay; Gandhi and Kasturba are imprisoned at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune
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16
Indian Independence
India gains independence; Bombay becomes the capital of Bombay State
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17
Maharashtra Founded
Maharashtra is created as a separate state on May 1, 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement demanding a Marathi-speaking state
Historical eras
The chapters of Maharashtra's past.
Buddhist Era
Maharashtra served as a key center of Buddhist culture and trade, with dozens of rock-cut monasteries carved along the Sahyadri trade routes, culminating in the magnificent paintings at Ajanta.
Hindu-Jain Medieval Period
The Rashtrakuta, Chalukya, and Yadava dynasties built magnificent temples, fortresses, and the extraordinary Ellora cave complex representing all three major Indian faiths.
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Peshwa prime ministers built an extraordinary network of mountain forts and established Marathi culture as a dominant force in the subcontinent.
Colonial Mumbai
British-ruled Bombay became the commercial and cultural capital of the subcontinent, leaving a remarkable legacy of Victorian Gothic and Indo-Saracenic architecture now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage.
Historical sites
Places where Maharashtra's past comes alive.
Ajanta Caves
UNESCO World Heritage Site with 30 Buddhist cave monasteries featuring the finest ancient Indian paintings and sculptures. The masterworks of ancient art include elaborate Bodhisattva murals and exquisitely carved facades.
Where: Ajanta, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra 431117
Admission: $5 for foreigners
Ellora Caves
UNESCO World Heritage Site with 34 rock-cut caves representing three religious traditions. Cave 16 — the Kailasa Temple — is the world's largest monolithic rock excavation, carved entirely from a single basalt rock cliff.
Where: Ellora, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra 431102
Admission: $5 for foreigners
Raigad Fort
The coronation site and capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Maratha Empire. Perched at 820 meters, the fort contains the ruins of Shivaji's palace, throne room, the samadhi (tomb) of Shivaji, and a spectacular ropeway offering panoramic views.
Where: Mahad, Raigad District
Admission: $1.20
Shaniwar Wada
The grand palace-fortress of the Peshwa rulers of the Maratha Empire, built in 1732 in Pune. The lotus fountain, ornate teak gates, and massive basalt walls survive from the original structure; the palace itself was destroyed by a mysterious fire in 1828.
Where: Shaniwar Peth, Pune, Maharashtra 411030
Admission: $0.30
Daulatabad Fort
Considered one of the strongest fortresses ever built in India, the Devagiri Fort features concentric defensive rings, a moat, an elephant-proof iron spike portal, and a terrifying dark tunnel with sharp bends — all engineered to prevent capture.
Where: Daulatabad, Aurangabad District
Admission: $2.40 for foreigners
Aga Khan Palace
Built in 1892 by Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III and now a national monument, the palace is where Mahatma Gandhi, his wife Kasturba, and secretary Mahadev Desai were interned by the British from 1942-1944. The samadhis of Kasturba and Desai are within the grounds.
Where: Survey No.1, Aga Khan Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411006
Admission: $0.30
Museums
Curated collections that tell Maharashtra's story.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
Mumbai's premier museum with extensive collections of Indian art, natural history, archaeology, and decorative arts housed in a magnificent Indo-Saracenic building in Kala Ghoda
Hours: 10:15 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Admission: $5 for foreigners
Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune
An extraordinary private museum founded by D.G. Kelkar, housing over 20,000 objects reflecting daily Indian life across centuries — from kitchen utensils and locks to musical instruments and hookah pipes
Hours: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (all days)
Admission: $1.80 for foreigners
Aurangabad Archaeological Museum
Museum adjacent to the Aurangabad Caves with sculpture and artifacts from the Ajanta and Ellora cave complexes
Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed Fridays)
Admission: $0.30
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Walking tours
Free walking tours of Kala Ghoda (Mumbai) run Tuesday-Sunday at 9 AM from CSMVS Museum; INTACH conducts heritage walks in Pune on weekends
Day tours
Full-day tours combining Ajanta + Ellora from Aurangabad: ₹2,500-4,000 ($30-48) per person with guide
Private tours
Private heritage guides in Mumbai from ₹1,500 ($18) per half day through accredited operators like Khaki Tours