Must See in Maharashtra
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.
more
>>
Bibi
Ka Maqbara
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.
more
>>
Ajanta Caves
Among the finest examples of some of the earliest Buddhist architecture, caves-paintings
and sculptures, these caves comprise Chaitya Halls, or shrines, dedicated to
Lord Buddha and Viharas, or monasteries, used by Buddhist monks for meditation
and the study of Buddhist teachings.
more
>>
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.
more
>>
Ellora Caves
The cave temples and monasteries at Ellora, excavated out of the vertical face
of an escarpment, are 26 kms. north of Aurangabad. Extending in a linear arrangement,
the 34 caves contain Buddhist Chaityas, or halls of worship, and Viharas, or
monasteries, Hindu and Jian temples.
more
>>
Elephanta Caves
Elephanta Island was known in ancient times as "Gharapuri" or The Place of Caves.
The Portuguese took possession of the island and named it Elephanta after the
great statue which they found on the seashore. There are seven caves of which
the most important is the Mahesha-Murti Cave. The main body of the cave, excluding
the porticoes on the three open sides and the back aisle, is 27 m square and
is supported by rows of six columns. The gigantic figures of Dvarapalas, or
doorkeepers are very impressive.
more
>>
Mahabaleshwar
Mahabaleshwar
was the summer capital of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency. A popular town, with
an air of unspoilt beauty, it meanders leisurely for 5 kms. at an altitude of
1372m.
more
>>
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.
more
>>
Must See in Maharashtra