NDTV had unveiled 7 wonders of Maharashtra And Goa in 2009 based on the user polls. Here's the list of these wonders:
7. Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is an iconic monument in Mumbai and is located at the Apollo Bunder waterfront where it overlooks the Arabian Sea. It is an arch monument that was established in the 20th century and is associated with the colonial rule in the country. The monument was built to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit to India in 1911. The Gateway of India was built using the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The construction of the monument took place from 1911 to 1924. Following its inauguration, it served as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to the country.
6. Lonar Lake
Located in Lonar in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, the Lonar Crater Lake is the sixth wonder of Maharashtra and Goa. The lake’s creation dates back to the Pleistocene Epoch when a meteor impact resulted in its formation. The lake is unique in that it is the world’s only known location where the basaltic rock features a hyper velocity impact crater. The Lonar lake is alkaline and saline in nature and subject to numerous research studies.
5. Elephanta Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Elephanta Caves is located on the Elephanta Island in 10 km to the east of Mumbai in Maharashtra. The site has a number of cave temples dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Some Buddhist stupa mounds are also present here. The rock-cut sculptures here exhibit the syncretism of Buddhist and Hindu ideologies. Carvings on the walls of the temples depict tales from Hindu mythologies. Although the exact dates of completion of these temples are not known, researchers estimate that the temples were built between the 7th and 9th centuries and patronized by the rulers of the Hindu dynasties of the time. The temples were plundered and ravaged during the Muslim period and also later by the Portuguese. However, these monuments still manage to attract tourists from all over the world due to their jaw-dropping architecture, sculpture, and rich history.
4. Murud-Janjira
Located on an island off the coastal village of Murud in Maharashtra’s Raigad district is an ancient fort that was voted as the fourth wonder from Maharashtra and Goa. The fort is one of India’s strongest marine forts and is accessible from the Rajapuri jetty. The fort features 26 rounded bastions, several cannons, quarters for officers, mosques, natural freshwater lakes, etc. During its time it was a fully-functional living fort. It was built by an Abssynian minister named Malik Ambar who was a courtesan of the Sultan of Ahmednagar. The fort was constructed towards the latter half of the 17th century.
3. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
The CSMT, another UNESCO World Heritage Site from Maharashtra, is currently the headquarters of the Central Railways of India. The building was built in 1887 during the colonial rule in India. Its design was made by Frederick William Stevens. The construction of the CSMT commemorated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It was then known as the Victoria Terminus and the name was later changed to first CST (
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) in 1996 and then to CSMT in 2017. Today, it is one of India’s busiest railway stations and a large number of long-distance and local trains ply to and from the station daily.
2. Basilica of Bom Jesus
The second wonder from Maharashtra and Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica houses St. Francis Xavier’s mortal remains. It exhibits one of the best examples of baroque architecture in the country. The construction of the basilica began in 1954 and it was consecrated in 1605. It is one of the landmarks in the history of Christianity.
1. Ajanta-Ellora Caves
Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves together feature as the first wonder of Maharashtra and Goa. Both the sites are located in Mumbai’s Aurangabad district and are together inscribed as a World Heritage Site. The Ajanta Caves feature 29 Buddhist monuments carved into rocks in caves in the region. Cave paintings and sculptures in the monuments speak volumes about ancient Indian ways of life and religion. It is believed that Indian art was heavily influenced by the masterpieces discovered at this site. The cave monuments are estimated to have been built between the 2nd century BCE to the about 650 CE.
The Ellora Caves are also a complex of cave temples that feature not only Buddhist but also Jain and Hindu monuments. These temples were built between 600-1000 CE. The Kailasha temple in the complex, referred to as the Cave 16, is the world’s largest excavation using a single monolithic rock.
7. Gateway of India
The Gateway of India is an iconic monument in Mumbai and is located at the Apollo Bunder waterfront where it overlooks the Arabian Sea. It is an arch monument that was established in the 20th century and is associated with the colonial rule in the country. The monument was built to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary’s visit to India in 1911. The Gateway of India was built using the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The construction of the monument took place from 1911 to 1924. Following its inauguration, it served as a symbolic ceremonial entrance to the country.
6. Lonar Lake
Located in Lonar in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, the Lonar Crater Lake is the sixth wonder of Maharashtra and Goa. The lake’s creation dates back to the Pleistocene Epoch when a meteor impact resulted in its formation. The lake is unique in that it is the world’s only known location where the basaltic rock features a hyper velocity impact crater. The Lonar lake is alkaline and saline in nature and subject to numerous research studies.
5. Elephanta Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Elephanta Caves is located on the Elephanta Island in 10 km to the east of Mumbai in Maharashtra. The site has a number of cave temples dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. Some Buddhist stupa mounds are also present here. The rock-cut sculptures here exhibit the syncretism of Buddhist and Hindu ideologies. Carvings on the walls of the temples depict tales from Hindu mythologies. Although the exact dates of completion of these temples are not known, researchers estimate that the temples were built between the 7th and 9th centuries and patronized by the rulers of the Hindu dynasties of the time. The temples were plundered and ravaged during the Muslim period and also later by the Portuguese. However, these monuments still manage to attract tourists from all over the world due to their jaw-dropping architecture, sculpture, and rich history.
4. Murud-Janjira
Located on an island off the coastal village of Murud in Maharashtra’s Raigad district is an ancient fort that was voted as the fourth wonder from Maharashtra and Goa. The fort is one of India’s strongest marine forts and is accessible from the Rajapuri jetty. The fort features 26 rounded bastions, several cannons, quarters for officers, mosques, natural freshwater lakes, etc. During its time it was a fully-functional living fort. It was built by an Abssynian minister named Malik Ambar who was a courtesan of the Sultan of Ahmednagar. The fort was constructed towards the latter half of the 17th century.
3. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
The CSMT, another UNESCO World Heritage Site from Maharashtra, is currently the headquarters of the Central Railways of India. The building was built in 1887 during the colonial rule in India. Its design was made by Frederick William Stevens. The construction of the CSMT commemorated Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. It was then known as the Victoria Terminus and the name was later changed to first CST (
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) in 1996 and then to CSMT in 2017. Today, it is one of India’s busiest railway stations and a large number of long-distance and local trains ply to and from the station daily.
2. Basilica of Bom Jesus
The second wonder from Maharashtra and Goa is the Basilica of Bom Jesus. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The basilica houses St. Francis Xavier’s mortal remains. It exhibits one of the best examples of baroque architecture in the country. The construction of the basilica began in 1954 and it was consecrated in 1605. It is one of the landmarks in the history of Christianity.
1. Ajanta-Ellora Caves
Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves together feature as the first wonder of Maharashtra and Goa. Both the sites are located in Mumbai’s Aurangabad district and are together inscribed as a World Heritage Site. The Ajanta Caves feature 29 Buddhist monuments carved into rocks in caves in the region. Cave paintings and sculptures in the monuments speak volumes about ancient Indian ways of life and religion. It is believed that Indian art was heavily influenced by the masterpieces discovered at this site. The cave monuments are estimated to have been built between the 2nd century BCE to the about 650 CE.
The Ellora Caves are also a complex of cave temples that feature not only Buddhist but also Jain and Hindu monuments. These temples were built between 600-1000 CE. The Kailasha temple in the complex, referred to as the Cave 16, is the world’s largest excavation using a single monolithic rock.
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