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A Trip4India > India & States > Maharashtra Tourism

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Maharashtra Tourism

Maharastra is a land of diverse tourist interest. It is one of the largest states in India both in terms of population and area. It is the most fascinating region of India. It's capital Mumbai makes it not only one of the most important states economically, but also a major arrival point for overseas tourists. Nature has bestowed on Maharastra with beautiful hill stations, palm-shaded golden beaches, placid lakes, variety of wildlife. It is a land of old fortresses, rock cut caves rich with murals and sculpture, hill resorts, beaches, amimals and bird sanctuaries.

Capital : Mumbai
Language : Marathi,Hindi, Gujarati,English
Temperature : Summer 22 C-39 C, Winter 12 C-33 C
Tourist season : Sep-Apr (Coast), All year(Hill Station)
Airports : Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, Sholapur
Mode Transport : Excellent Air, Rail and Road links are available for travel within the state and around.
Physical Features

As far as the geography of Maharashtra goes, much of the state consists of the high Deccan plateau, which is separated from the straight Konkan coastline by 'Ghats'. The Ghats are a succession of steep hills, periodically bisected by narrow roads, and which are often crowned by medieval forts. Given their altitude, it is not surprising that the Ghats are home to the state's hill stations.

One of the three major regions of the state is the Sahyadri range with an elevation of 1000 meters. The unique feature of this region is a series of crowning plateau.

Lying between the Arabian Sea and the Sahyadri Range, Konkan is narrow coastal lowland, just 50 km wide and with an elevation below 200 meters.

The third important region is the Satpura hills along the northern border, and the Bhamragad-Chiroli-Gaikhuri ranges on the eastern border form physical barriers preventing easy movement. These ranges also serve as natural limits to the state.

Climate
The climate of Maharashtra is moderate, with variations in temperature ranging between 16°C and 35°C. July to September are the months when monsoon lashes this state with good rainfall. This does not mean that the whole state gets uniform rainfall; a large part of inner Maharashtra remains dry in comparison to other areas under the rain shadow of the Sahyadri.

Flora and Fauna
Total area under forest cover in Maharashtra is only 17%. Majority of the forests are in the eastern and Sahyadri regions of the state. Maharashtra has five national parks, three game reserves, and 24 wildlife/bird sanctuaries. These range from the Borivili National Park, surrounded by the Mumbai suburbs, to the Melghat Tiger Reserve, high up in the north of the state.