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Maharashtra
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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.
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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.
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