Maharashtra Travel Guide: A 10-Day Itinerary ✈️ Based on my visit to Maharashtra. Written by Debarun Sana. Maharashtra covers a genuinely wide range in one state — Mumbai's density and energy, Pune's Maratha-era history, Western Ghats hill stations, and the UNESCO-listed rock-cut caves at Ajanta and Ellora, among the most significant ancient art sites anywhere in India. This 10-day route runs from Mumbai through Pune, Lonavala/Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, and Aurangabad, before returning to Mumbai. Days 1-2: Mumbai Start at the Gateway of India , built in 1924 to commemorate a royal visit and now the standard departure point for ferries to Elephanta Caves — a UNESCO World Heritage Site about an hour offshore, with 5th-7th century rock-cut sculptures dedicated primarily to Shiva, including the well-known Trimurti sculpture. Marine Drive , nicknamed the "Queen's Necklace" for how its streetlights curve along the bay at night, is best walked ...