Things to do in Maharashtra

Famously known by its former name Victoria Terminus, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is a historic terminal train station in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The British architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens designed the terminus in the Victorian Italianate Gothic Revival architectural style. Started in 1878, the construction of the terminus was completed in 1887. Being the headquarters of India’s Central Railway, it is one of the busiest railway stations in the country. It serves as a terminal for suburban as well as long-distance trains. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the must-visit places in Mumbai.

Girgaon Chowpatty is a public beach along the Queen’s Necklace adjoining Marine Drive in Girgaon, Mumbai. The beach is famous for being the venue of immersion during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The beach also hosts the 10-day long Ram Leela play onstage every year.

Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments cut into a massive basalt outcrop in the forests of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Situated on an island of Salsette in the western outskirts of Mumbai, the caves had Buddhist sculptures and relief carvings, paintings, and inscriptions, dating back to the 1st century BCE to the 10th century CE. Having 109 caves, the Kanheri cave complex is a must-visit place in Mumbai.

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum is a historical building turned museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi located at Laburnum Road in the Gamdevi precinct of Mumbai. It is the place where Gandhi had initiated major political reforms like Non-Cooperation Movement, Satyagraha, Swadesi, Khadi and Khilafat. It used to be Gandhiji's residence between 1917 and 1934, while executing his political agenda.
The mansion was owned by Revashankar Jagjeevan Jhaveri, Gandhiji's friend and host in Mumbai during the period when the Mahatma was staying at Mani Bhavan. The house was taken over by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in 1955 with the aim to make it a memorial to Gandhi. The house got renovated in the same year when it was established as a memorial for Gandhiji with a life-like statue of Gandhiji in the ground floor.

The house is a wonderful show of Gandhi's life with a statue at the main room in the ground floor. There is a library in the same floor which goes up to the first floor trailing a staircase adorned with multiple pictures of the Mahatma. There are paintings, framed letters and documents that serve a look into the past. There are 3D tableaux depicting Gandhiji's life events. The famous Charkha (spinning wheel) and the Charpoy complete the overall look. Copies of Mahatma's favorite Les Miserables are well preserved and kept in the museum.

Visit the museum if you are interested to explore the life of the Mahatma, his struggles for freedom and initiatives for the welfare of the countrymen. Watch out for the books like those by Tolstoys and Shakespeare which were read by Gandhiji. Don't miss the childhood pictures of his along with his assassination clippings as launched by relevant press and media. Do visit the terrace where Gandhiji was arrested in 1932 by the British.

The Prince of the Wales Museum, or better known as The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya,, abbreviated CSMVS is the biggest museum of Mumbai founded the early 20th century. Prominent citizens of Mumbai are the founders of the museum who made this with the help of government. It was built to commemorate the visit of Edward VIII, the then Prince of Wales. It was renamed in 1998 after the founder of Maratha Empire - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The structure of the building follows the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture the most prominently, while elements of other styles of architecture like the Mughal, Maratha and Jain are also visible. Surrounded by a garden of palm trees and formal flower beds, the museum houses around 50,000 items on display belonging to ancient Indian history mainly. At the same time, there are objects from foreign lands, mainly categorized into art, archaeology and natural history.

The museum is a must visit for the ones interested in history and archaeology. There are Indus Valley Civilization artifacts and the different relics from ancient India that belong to the reign of the Guptas, Mauryas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakuta. Spread over an area of 12,142.23 sq m, the three-storeyed museum building is a wonderful depiction built of locally quarried grey Kurla basalt and buff coloured trachyte Malad stone.

Check out the exteriors ornamented by a garden of palm trees and formal flower beds. The dome of the museum carries an uncanny similarity with the Golconda Fort while the inner vaulting arches resemble to Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur. The sculptures kept inside the museum are treasures to behold especially those of terracotas belonging to the Gupta period and bricks from Mirpurkhas excavated by Cousens.

Located at the heart of the city, The Gateway of India is one of India's most unique landmarks situated right at the center of Mumbai. It was constructed in 1924 at Apollo Bunder, with the gateway overlooking the Mumbai harbor bordered by the Arabian Sea in the Colaba district. It is a monument that marks India's chief ports and considered among major tourist attraction for visitors. It had cost the Indian Government a total of around 21 lakhs during the British rule.
The 'First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry' passing happened to be the first main event that took place at the Gateway of India on 28th February 1948. It was after Indian independence and after the last set of British troops and divisions left India. The main aim to construct the Gateway of India was to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay.

The major attraction of the Gateway of India is the structural design that is mainly a large arch reaching a height of 26 m. The beautiful construction is designed in the Indo-Saracenic style built in yellow basalt and indissoluble concrete. Traces of Muslim architectural styles can also be seen in the structure of the grand edifice. The mesmerizing and intricate lacework along with the 4 turrets are among the most eye-catching features of the entire structure of the Gateway of India.

One can spend around an hour witnessing the massive edifice. Elephanta caves are quite nearby and hence one can also visit the spot in the same trip. The Taj Mahal hotel is a heritage and luxurious hotel of India standing quite close to the Gateway of India.

Counted among the most popular tourist destinations of Mumbai, the Hanging Gardens or the Pherozeshah Mehta Gardens is a terraced garden perched at the top of Malabar Hill, Mumbai. The history of the garden dates back to 1880 when it was built by Ulhas Ghapokar over Bombay's main reservoir with the aim to cover the contaminated water from the nearby Towers of Silence. It was later renovated in 1921.
The Hanging Gardens was built to dedicate to its barrister Pherozeshah Mehta. The beautiful garden is spectacularly known for its lush green vegetation and animal shaped hedges and topiaries. Everything around the garden adds to its beauty, including the comforting view of the vast Arabian Sea and the bird's eye view of Marine Drive and Chowpatty. There are a number of flowers and plants of different varieties which make it all the more colorful and pleasant to look at.

It is a pure bliss to watch the sunset at the Hanging Gardens, it is indeed a lifetime experience. The main attractions of the garden, besides the flowers and green and scenic view, is the clock placed right at the center of the garden. The well maintained garden is clean and complete with basic amenities for the ease of the visitors. The "Old Woman's Shoe" or "the Boot House" is another major tourist attraction. It is a gigantic boot structure made of stone and brick mainly for the kids to climb up.

You can spend the day exploring the natural beauty in the terraced gardens, or you can get there for a family picnic. Watching the sunset is an exotic experience here amidst the lush green overlooking the Marine Drive and Chowpatty. The garden makes it a very good location for photography. Early morning joggers and yoga performers too find the place a perfect one.