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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.
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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.
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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.
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