Mumbai
(formerly known as Bombay)- The Commercial Capital of India

Kolis, a fishing community were the earliest inhabitants of the seven islands of Mumbai. They called the islands "Mumba-aiee (mother Mumba)" out of a reverence for Mumbadevi, their patron deity. Over history, the seven islands were linked and conglomerated, forming the commercial capital of India.

In 1662, Catherine of Braganza, the sister of the King of Portugal, married Charles the II. The Portuguese, who then ruled the islands, included them as part of the wedding dowry. In 1668, when the coffers of England were almost empty, Charles the II sold his dowry to the East India Company, a trading venture, which fully appreciated Mumbai’s natural advantages; a magnificent harbour sheltered from the monsoon winds encouraged the Company to shift its headquarters to Mumbai. The Company established docks, a printing press and a mint and invited rich merchants and ship builders to the city, promising freedom of worship. Armenians, Gujaratis, Parsis, Jews and Christians soon arrived, giving Mumbai its cosmopolitan character and the work ethic which survives even today.

Mumbai is the financial and commercial capital of India. It has the largest proportion of taxpayers in India and its share markets transact almost 70 per cent of the country’s stocks. Mumbai offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a variety of food, entertainment and nightlife.

The world famous Prince of Wales Museum houses an exquisite collection of Rajput and Mughal miniatures, as well as rare pieces of Tibetan, Japanese and Chinese art. Mumbai is the home of the Hindi film industry, known as Bollywood, distinguished by prolific records in production. Cinemas showing the newest films from the West, theatres with Indian and English plays and dance and music performances can be seen all across the city.

Mumbai has dynamic transportation links with the rest of India and the world. Mumbai Port offers connections with major ports worldwide. The Mumbai international airport attracts major airlines of the world, as well as domestic airlines.

PUNE

Pune, the second largest city in Maharashtra, is the state's cultural capital, with a population of 2.5 million people. About 170-km from Mumbai by road, Pune was the bastion of the Maratha empire. Under the reign of the Peshwas - key ministers in the Maratha Empire - Pune blossomed into a centre of art and learning. Several far-reaching revenue and judicial reforms were also initiated in the city.

The British developed Pune as a military town when they captured it in 1818. Educational institutes there include the College of Military Engineering and the University of Pune, which offers a diverse choice of engineering, agriculture and technical courses.

A number of industries were located in Pune after Independence, as the city had well-connected road and rail links and a pool of technical and professional personnel.

Bajaj Auto, the world’s largest manufacturer of scooters and three wheelers, TELCO (Tata Electric and Locomotive Company), the manufacturer of India’s primary commercial vehicles and trucks, and the luxury car-maker, Mercedes Benz are located here. Software companies are the newest entrants into Pune's vibrant atmosphere. With the setting up of these new industries, there has been a corresponding increase in both the population and standards of lifestyle; today Pune is rapidly maturing into a prime industrial town, while retaining all its old charm, a unique blend of British and Maratha influences.

NASIK

One of the holy cities of the Hindu tradition, Nashik lies on the banks of the sacred river Godavari and has a population of about 0.725 million people. It is believed that Lord Rama, hero of the great Indian epic, the Ramayana, spent a major part of his exile here. Nashik is also a temple town, with over 200 temples.

Nashik is located at a distance of 195 km from Mumbai by road on the Bombay-Agra highway. It is also a major pilgrimage centre. The greatest event in Nashik is the sacred Kumbha Mela, held to commemorate a mythological story. The mela (a religious carnival) occurs every 12 years (equal to one day for the gods) and attracts millions of people from India and abroad. This event is held alternately at Nashik, Hardwar, Ujjain and Allahabad, which are among the major pilgrimage centres in the country.

NAGPUR

The nerve centre of Vidarbha (eastern Maharashtra), Nagpur - the 'orange city' as it is known - is located in the heart of India, with a population of about 1.7 million people. It is dotted with many picturesque sites, including the civil lines and well-laid-out gardens. Nagpur has much to offer by way of relaxation. It was the old capital of the Bhonsale rulers, the former Central Provinces and Berar. The city is noted for its antiquity and is about 868 km from Mumbai by road.

Nagpur is a growing industrial centre and the home of several industries, ranging from food products and chemicals to electrical and transports equipment.

SANGLI

Sangli City in South Maharashtra lies along the Krishna river to the west & Yerala river to its North. Sangli region known as Kundal in medieval India was the capital of Chalukya dynasty who ruled India. Also known as Natyapandhari, the birth place of Marathi Drama, Sangli has a rich cultural heritage. Sangli known as the ‘City of Six Lanes’ now has large number of broad & well planned roads.

Sangli is the largest & the most important trade centre for Turmeric in Asia. Sangli district houses over 15 large sugar factories & is the largest sugar producing districts in India. Its market in oilseeds, commodities & fruits is one of the most important in India. Sangli is again one of the largest producers of grapes in India. The city has a large whole sale grape market. A Grape Wine Park spread over 142 hectares has come up at Palus just 30 km from Sangli. Another huge Food Park, the Sangli Food Park sprawling 300 acres is coming up at Alkud Mane-Rajuri.

Sangli has a Historical Ganapati temple that attracts devotees from across the globe. The Valley of river Krishna and its tributaries is one of the greenest areas in the country. Other small rivers like Warana, Yerala and Panchganga meet river Krishna. There are numerous unknown spots of scenic beauty in and around Krishna Valley near Sangli. There are a numerous Hindu Shrines and Jain Temples in and around Sangli, which attract lot of devotees. Twin cities Sangli and Miraj have merged to form a large urban agglomeration. Miraj, also a capital of a former Princely State, is renowned for manufacturing musical instruments. The Dargah of Meerasaheb Avalia attracts devotees from far and wide. Miraj has world famous hospital like Wanless Hospital, Siddhivinayak Cancer Hospital & Kripamayee Institute of Mental Science to name a few.

Today Sangli-Miraj city is an important education center with renowned schools, technical computer institutes, colleges of science, management, medical & engineering. A Major railway junction, rich quality of housing & cuisine, good public transportation & telecommunications, star hotels, sports complexes, health clubs & variety of entertainment have made Sangli similar to any other metro city in India. The city now has an Infotech Park with state-of-the-art facilities waiting for Infotech companies to start operations.

To add to all this, tourist & religious spots like Sagareshwar wild life Sanctuary, Chandoli Wild life Sanctuary, Gokak water falls, Bahubali Hill Temples, Audumbar, Narsobawadi, Koyna, Mahabaleshwar, Bijapur provide an excursion which is memorable to tourists visiting Sangli. More….

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AURANGABAD

Malik Ambar, the Prime Minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah II, and the then ruler of the Deccan (central parts of Southern India), founded Aurangabad in 1610. The city has a population of about 0.593 million people.

Aurangabad derives its name from Prince Aurangzeb (who later became a Mughal emperor), who made it his regional capital when he was Viceroy of Deccan. His legacy is reflected in the architecture of the city. Even today, Aurangabad is a hub of culture and history in the Marathwada region. The Bibi-ka-Maqbara is the only example of Mughal architecture in the Deccan plateau; it was built in 1679 as a tribute to Aurangzeb’s wife, Begum Rabia Durani, by his son.

Close to the city of Aurangabad are the famous Ajanta and Ellora caves, an architectural marvel. Through the caves, visitors can trace the evolution of three great world religions - Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

Aurangabad is famous for Paithani saris, himroo shawls and bidri work (zinc with silver embedding).