Nature & Travel

<strong>Ajanta, Ellora—the doors to Indian culture </strong> Ajanta and nearby Ellora caves are monuments of immense cultural significance in India. Located in the Maharashtra, the site is about 300 kilometers northeast of Mumbai. It is said that caves were built by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks, who worshiped and meditated in the caves. The structure depicts the life of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. They were built during 350 AD to 700 AD period. There are 12 caves that are dedicated to Buddhism, 17 dedicated to Hinduism and five dedicated to Jainism. The most illustrated structure of Ellora caves is the Kailasha temple. It is the largest monolithic construction in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and named after his home ‘Kailash mountain’.

Located on the banks of River Pravara, Bhandardara is a hill station nestled in the Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra. Bhandardara is crisscrossed by trekking trails and dotted with forts. Blessed with lush greenery, Bhandardara is a popular stopover for tourists travelling to Nashik and Shirdi. Arthur Lake and Wilson Dam are most famous tourist attractions here. The monsoon season paints the entire hill station green and various waterfalls break out from the hills. This is the best time to witness the sheer beauty of Bhandardara. While it is best to trek to the place, you can also drive down here as it makes for the perfect weekend getaway from cities like Mumbai, Pune and Nashik. Considering its scenic beauty, it is one of the most interesting destinations for photographers.

Satara is a district in Maharashtra. The name is derived from the seven (sat) hills (tara) surrounding the town. Satara is famous for its "Kandi Pedha (sweetmeat). Beautiful hill stations such as 'Panchgani' and 'Mahabaleshwar' are situated in Satara District. It is also famous for two great rivers namely the Krishna and Veena. The city is a calm and quite peaceful place. Several temples, forts, lake as well as bird sanctuary make the place a wonderful place of visit.

<strong>Beauty of Konkan</strong> Maharashtra’s 720-km coastline and the adjoining area is 'Konkan.' It extends from Dahanu in the north up to Goa in south. Konkan is well known for its natural beauty. Konkan's greenery, coconut trees, beautiful virgin beaches, waterfalls, mountains and lush green valleys provide a rich and pleasant experience for the traveler. Given these facts, it is a dream location for a passionate photographer.

<strong>Matheran—In nature’s lap</strong> <strong>Matheran</strong> is a most famous and coolest Hill Station situated in Karjat Tahsil, Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. Matheran is the smallest hill station of India. There are around 38 designated look-out points in Matheran, including the Panorma Point that provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding area and also the Neral town. From this point, the view of sunset and sunrise is breathtaking. The Louisa Point offers crystal clear view of the Prabal Fort. The other points are the One Tree Hill Point, Hart Point, Monkey Point, Porcupine Point, Rambgh Point, and more.