Maharashtra is one of the largest
state in India both in terms of population and areas. Its booming capital,
Bombay,
makes it not only one of the most important states economically but also a
major arrival points for overseas visitors. From bombay you can head off
into India in number of directions but most travellers will either be
heading south through Pune, with its famous ashram, to Goa or North-East to
the amazing cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora. Most of the state stands on
the high Deccan pleateau and histrocially this was the main centre for the
Maratha empire which defied the Moghuls for so long and under the fearless
rule of Shivaji carved out a large part of central India as their own
domain.
BOMBAY- Political capital of Maharashtra, and commercial capital of
India,
Bombay
is many cities in one. As the world's largest textiles market, a major
industrial centre and the country busiest port handling over 40 percent of
India maritime trade. Bombay has no recorded ancient past. From time to time
there were only scatter settlements on the island till the Portuguese
presented Bombay to the British as part of the dowry of Catherine of
Braganza, bride of Charles II, in 1661. Over the next 150 years, the seven
original islands were gradually joined together. The city received a
tremendous impetus with the commissioning of India's first railway in 1854.
BOMBAY's colonial legacy is the Gateway of India built to
commemorate the royal visit of George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The Taj
Mahal Hotel opposite the Gateway was built in 1903 by Jamshed ji N. Tata,
founder of a prestigious industrial house, to counter a ban on Indian
entering the then famous Watson's hostelry. The Prince of Wales Museum,
Flora Fountain, St. Thomas Cathedral Crawford Market, Chor Bazaar ( thieves
market) and famous Marine Drive, Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens and Kamla
Nehru Park are the other places of interest.
The rock-cut Hindu temples at
Elephanta, an island 6 miles across
the harbour provide an exciting glimpses of Indian sculpture daring from 600
AD. Huge panels depict episodes relating to Lord Shiva, the central one
being the most imposing one - a five meter bust of the god, represents his
three aspects as creator, preserver and destroyer. Motor-launch takes about
an hour to reach the island where the caves are situated.
AURANGABAD-Named for the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb, it was once a
major centre of power. Famous for Bibi ka Maqbara, tomb of the empress, a
replica of the Taj; Panchakki - where an old mill and the tomb of an
important Sufi saint are set. Daulatabad Fort just outside the city, built
by Muhammad bin Tuglaq trying for an unsuccessful attempt to find
alternative capital to Delhi.
Ajanta Caves were discovered in 1819 by a British hunting party.
Their isolation had contributed to the fine state of preservation in which
some of the paintings over 2000 years old remain to this day. Aurangabad is
known more for the caves excavated and painted by Buddhist monks between 200
BC and AD 600. The 30 caves at Ajanta are the superb example of Indian's
finest artistic treasures. They depict scenes from the life of the Buddha
and Buddhist fables with skill and devotion. The best known
caves(1,12,16,17, 19) contain magnificent depictions of the bodhisattvas,
Avlokitesvara and Padmapani.
Caves 1, 4, 17, 19 and 26 also contain excellent sculptures. The superb
statue of the Buddha and of a naga (snake) and the reclining Buddha are
remarkable works of art. At Ellora, 34 cave temples were carved out of the
hillside with hand tools. Only 12 of these 34 caves are Buddhist . The 17
Hindu caves in the centre are the mosts impressive. The massive Kailash
Temple(cave 16)is nearly one a half times taller than the Parthenon and
occupies almost twice its area. It is believed that it was constructed by
excavating approx., 200,000 tones of rock and is possibly the world's
largest monolithic structure. Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the
temple is exquisitely sculpted with scenes from Hindu mythology, each
pulsing with drama, energy and passion. The depiction of the demon Ravana
shaking Mount Kailash is a masterpiece.
