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World Heritage sites in Maharashtra



  World Heritage sites are managed by UNESCO. The International World Heritage programme recognizes sites of cultural importance such as forests, mountains, islands, deserts, monument, building, complex or a city as Heritage Sites for the preservation of cultural heritage. These sites will be maintained under the supervision of UNESCO. The criteria for selecting a site as Heritage site is that it should represent outstanding universal significance in terms of cultural contributions. The sites will be listed by each country and then, the International committee decides after examination of the prominence of such sites.
India has many World Heritage sites. Let us focus upon Maharashtra state. Four sites have been listed under the World Heritage Sites program in Maharashtra. 

To visit and explore these places you will need a well travel plan and for this either you can go by railway or can think of hiring a cab because that would be a insightful travel experience for you as it will pick up you from your location and drives you to each site which offers unique and fascinating experience.

Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus: 


This is a railway terminus located in Mumbai. This is a colonial structure named after the Queen Victoria. This railway terminus was renamed in 1996. The terminus was built was completed in 1880 during the British era. The monument is still active and is a major railway terminus in India.
It is popularly known as CST, which was under terrorist attack. The railway terminus is built in the Victorian Gothic style comprising beautiful carvings. It became a World Heritage Monument in 2004.

Ajanta: 

Situated about 100 km from the city of Aurangabad in Maharashtra these rock cut caves are well known for paintings. These caves were discovered by British officers in the 19th century. These caves date back to 100 B.C. All are Buddhist Caves.

image credit:kamat.com
 Ajanta caves are one of the prestigious monuments of India. One would marvel at the skill of Indian artisans. Details of the life style belonging to that period are displayed through paintings.
Ajanta caves can be approached by road. Hire taxis or take the MTDC tourist buses to reach Ajanta from Aurangabad city. Ajanta caves are protected by Eco-Conservation program. So, public vehicles are not allowed inside the premises. Public or private vehicles would drop you at the T-point and from there the tourists will be taken in an Eco-friendly bus. It takes about 5 minute to reach the cave site from the T-point.

Ellora: 

Ellora rock cut caves are situated at about 27 km from Aurangabad city. There are 34 caves in total belonging to Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. They were built in various periods spanning from 5th to 11th centuries. Kailas Nath Temple, which is known for its magnificence is a single rock cut temple.

image credit:siddharthtravels.com
Ellora can be reached by road. Aurangabad is the nearest destination for accommodation and transportation. You can visit the Daulatabad Fort on the way.

Elephanta Caves: 

Image credit: Christian Haugen

These 7th century caves are located on an island in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai Coast. Elephanta caves are located at about 9 nautical miles from the Gateway of India. You can reach the site by ferries. Regular ferries are available near the Gateway of India.



Western Ghats :




In 2012 UNESCO gave world heritage site status to 39 sites of the western ghat. The mountains cover an area of about 160,000 sq km (61,776 sq miles) stretching from the country's southern tip to Gujarat in the north to a place near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Western Ghats forests are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish species.
Wester ghat is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest biological diversity hotspots"

Some of popular tourist places to visit in western ghat: 
Mahabaleshwar[Maharashtra],  Thekkady[Kerala], Mollem[Goa],  Chorla Ghat [Goa], 
Mollem, Agumbe [Karnataka], Coonoor[Tamil Nadu], Dandeli [Karnataka], Kalpatta Wayanad [Kerala], Valparai [Tamil Nadu], Madikeri, Coorg [Karnataka].


Biosphere Odyssey - “Achanakmar - Amarkantak Reserve” in India


“Why pay fortunes for Exotic locations” 

Travelling flows in Indian blood, be it solo , group or family vacations. Often, unaware about exotic locations we end up paying fortunes on foreign trips.
Among 500 biosphere's Reserves across the world, India has total 18 reserves . Explore with Clear Car rental, the most beautiful locations in and around Madhya Pradesh.Untampered, rich with unique Flora & Fauna Achanakmar-Amarkantak Reserve has breath-taking natural beauty which is also a home for many endangered species like Four horned antelope.

A Hindu Temple, Amarkantak (MP)
Image courtesy: wikipedia.org 

A must visit location for nature lovers ,located at the origin of great river “Narmada”,this biosphere is shared by two more rivers i.e Joshila and Son.
A perfectly distributed combination of tropical dry and moist deciduous forest, conserving the natural resources and ancient tribes residing in deep forest. Bauxite Rock Plateau, Achanakmar -Amarkantak share its breath-taking beauty with 2 states Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh covering a huge area which is 383,551 Hectares.

Though a bit risky ,this Biosphere has its best view in the monsoon season but best season to visit this region is November to June. Government statistics says that, this Biosphere is a blissful home for tigers, panthers, bears, Chitals,  sambars, barking deers ,bison (gaur) and around 170 bird species. Moving deeper in the Biosphere one might also witness  blackbuck, chinkara, wolves, foxes, Jackals, wild boar, monkeys samarth and giant squirrels ananya. 

Other Places to Visit- Kapildhara, Temple of Kalchuri era ,Narmada Kund, Shri Yantra Mandir, Kanha National park and Bandhavgarh.

Reaching Amarkantak Reserve


By Air

Jabalpur & Raipur are the nearest airport well connected to Mumbai, Delhi, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai. You can take a airport transfer taxi by booking it online prior to your arrival because that is suitable options to ensure you will have a cab available to reach  Achanakmar-Amarkantak Reserve.

By Rail 

All major Trains are well connected to Madhya Pradesh Bhopal , Jabalpur , Katni, Ujjain, Raipur & Bilaspur  is the nearest railway station.

By Road 

Local taxis/Cab, buses and private vehicles are available for transportation from Bhopal, Itarasi , Durg , Pendra & Bilaspur.

A real treat for the wild life photographers.So get started for this real wild life adventure tour, in the thick Dense lush green  forest of  “Achanakmar - Amarkantak  Reserve”

Visit Clear Car Rental's Official blog to explore more such locations.



Top 10 Most Visited Pilgrim Destinations in Southern India



Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Image courtesy: wikipedia

The Temple Town of South India “Madurai “ is located on the banks of Vaigai River. The city is known for its historical and rich cultural heritage. Not only temples but the city is also known for “Jasmine Flowers” through out the world. Flocked by Tourist during  September till mid of February Madurai is considered a one of the major spiritual destination site in India. The most visited Meenakshi Temple, also referred to as Meenakshi Amman or Meenakshi-Sundareshwara Temple, is an ancient Hindu temple, dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva.

Other Places to Visit in Madhurai are - 

Azhagar Koyil ,Gandhi Museum ,Thiruparankundram ,Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal ,Kazimar Periya Pallivasal ,Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam .


Reaching Madurai



By Air: Nearest Airport is Madurai Airport (IXM). However connecting Flight from Chennai ,Mumbai,Delhi are available


By Train :  Regular trains connecting Madurai from major cities like Chennai , Kudalnagar are available.


By Road : Book AC as well as Non AC Taxi/Cabs in Madurai as per the need. Good connectivity leads to a good frequency of transport facilities for the travellers. So distances should not be a concern. 



Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

Image courtesy: te.wikipedia.org 

World renouned Lord Venkateshwara Temple or much know as “Tirupati Balaji”, situated at top of Tirumala hill is among the most visited spiritual destination in Southern India.
Seven hills,surrounded by natural beauty and peaceful ambience of Eastern Ghats, is  believed to be seven hoods of Sheshnag, the Serpent God cushioning Lord Vishnu. Being one of the most worshipped temples in India this holy city is dotted with numerous other temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Situated at 2,799 ft this is  the second richest temple in the world, first being Padamanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
The holy city dedicated to Lord Vishnu is dotted with numerous other temples that are regarded high by the pilgrims who come to get a glimpse of him as Lord Venkateshwara.  

Other Places to Visit are -

Silathoranam , Kapilateertham , Govindaraja Sway Temple , Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple , Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami Temple.

Reaching Tirupati

By Air: The closest airport to Tirumala is near Renigunta (International Airport). Direct flights to major Indian cities like Mumbai , New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam and Bengaluru operate from their airport. 

By Train : Tirupati located 26 km or so from Tirumala.


By Road : Direct buses from Chennai, Vellore and Bengaluru also operate from Tirupati. However Private Taxi and Cab Options are also available from Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Bangalore. 


Guruvayur, Kerala

Temple architecture
Image courtesy : wikimedia

 Located in Thrissur (Trichur) district of Kerala in India, dedicated to Lord Vishnu ,it is also known as Bhoolokavaikunta, which literally means heaven on Earth . 
A real touch of typical Kerala style murals and architect can be seen in temples with a 7-meter high lamp stand known as “Dipastambha” 

Also known as “Dwarka of South” this red-roof temple is the most significant temple in India.The famous Poonam Festival with night long fireworks and Temple Elephant procession is a major tourist attraction.

Other Places to Visit- 

Kaladi , Punnathur Kotta, Chavakkad , Palayur.

Reaching Guruvayur Temple


By Air: Kochi is the  nearest airport for the international travellers.



By Train : Thrissur, just 29 km away, is the nearest railway station.



By Road : Bus connecting to all the major cities. Book a Cab/ Taxi from Thrissur to Guruvayur.

Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Image courtesy : flicker 

“Dotted with  Thousand of Temples” - the most sacred city considered after Varanasi, Kancheepuram attract devotees from all over India. Located 62 km from Chennai.
Hotspot for a one day visit for tourist travelling to Chennai and Tirupati, to admire the sandstone craving , chariot processions and shrines. And yes, don't miss to buy ,pure silk sarees “Kanjeevaram Sarees” are world famous.

Other Places to Visit - 

Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple (Panchabhoota Temple) , Kamakshi Amman Temple (a Shakti Peetha) and the hundred-pillared Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Divya Desam). 


Reaching Kanchipuram


By Air: Nearest Airport Kancheepuram , Chennai airport , Tirupati airport.



By Train : Nearest Railway Station- Kancheepuram.



By Road : Kanchipuram is well connected to other major cities of the country via regular buses. Private Cab/Taxi may be hired from Chennai,  Tirupari.

Sabarimala, Kerala


Sabrimala Temple
Image courtesy : wikimedia 


The most visited  pilgrim centre of South India is “Sabarimla”, 165 km away from Thiruvanathapuram the temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa Swami.  Located amidst the Western Ghat of India surrounded by the natural beauty ,this place is believed to be a very sacred place ,among the Hindu's in Kerala. The two main rituals are Mandalapooja and Makarvilakku. People visiting Sabarimala have to observe austerity for 41 days before visiting the temple.
It is the only temple in India where women aged between 10 and 50 cannot visit !

Reaching Sabarimala


By Air: International airports in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. However connecting flight from Calicut ,Kozhikkode , Madurai , Coimbatore are also available.


By Train : The nearest railway stations are at Kottayam, Thiruvalla and Chenganur.


By Road : Bus facility connecting all major cities available. Private Cab/Taxi may be hired from nearest city.

Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh

Image courtesy : flicker
Located in a small town of Andhra Pradesh, Puttaparthi is world renowned for its spiritual and cultural importance. Believed to be the second incarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, Puttaparthi is the birth place of the divine, Sri Satya Sai Baba. 

Prashanti Nilayam “Abode of Peace” is one among the famous destination for people looking for spiritual tourism. A trip to south India is literally incomplete without visiting the Sai Baba ashram of Puttaparthi. 

Other Places to Visit – 

Chaitnanya Jyoti, Museum, Planetarium (Space Theater) , Hill View Stadium, Sathyabhama Temple, Gopuram,Kalpavruksha,Anjaneya Swamy temple.

How To Reach Puttaparthi


By Air: There is a local airport in Puttaparthi, which connects it to Mumbai and Chennai.



By Train : The railway station at Puttaparthi connects it to the main cities of India like Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bubhaneshwar, Mumbai and New Delhi.



By Road: Puttaparthi is easily accessible from the various cities of India by road




Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Image courtesy : flicker 

Piligrim attraction “Rameshwaram” is an island situated on Pamban Island at the very tip of the Indian peninsula and is one among the 12 Jyotirlingas of India. According to an ols saying “Pilgrim to Varanasi is incomplete without visiting to Rameshwaram”.

Considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimage  i.e Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka and Rameshwaram.

Other places to Visit-

Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Agni Tirtham, Sri Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir & Floating Stone.

Reaching Rameshwaram


By Air: Nearest airport is Madhurai but connecting flight are also available from Chennai, Coimbatore, Thanjavur and Trichy. You can book one way cab or taxi from Madurai to Rameshwaram. 


By Train: Rameshwaram is well connected to Madhurai, Chennai , Coimbatore and Trichy.



By Road:  Since Rameshwaram is only 169 km away one day road trip on NH-87 Madhurai -Rameshwaram highway is much refreshing. Cab/Taxi from major cities like Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, & Thanjavur are also available. 

Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tanjavur

A perfect blend of historical depth and religious significance “Thanjavur” is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ruled by Cholas, Pandyas, Nayaks , Marathas and British at various time spans its talks about its history in the form of paintings and architecture. Blessed with three tributaries of River Kaveri (Pudhaaru, Vadavaaru and Vennaaru), it is first of many architectural footprints of Chola dynasty.

Other Places to visit Attraction-

Brihadeeswarar Temple , Shiva Ganga Garden , Guru Alangudi Temple , Vellai Puliar Temple , Tiruvannamalai Temple , Schwartz Church , Vijaynagar Fort

Reaching Thanjavur


By Air: The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli which is 60 km away from Thanjavur.



By Train: Direct trains from Thrissur, Tripur, Rameswaram, Ernakulam, etc are available connecting with Thanjavur Junction through southern railway line.


By Road: Bus service from Banglore, Pondicherry are available. Car/Taxi can also be hired from Rameshwaram , Thrissur and Ernakulam.

Auroville, Pondicherry (UT)

Matrimandir Auroville
Image courtesy: Wikimedia 

A symbol of Global Harmony, this is a spiritual centre established by Mirra Alfassa, a spiritual guru in 1968 where people from across globe visit in search of peace. Its focal point is the Matrimandir, a futuristic, spherical temple covered in gold discs.Located amidst beautiful forest and calm beach ,Matrimandir is one of the major highlights of this must-visit travel destination in Pondicherry. It's not just a place but a planned township in itself, to accommodate more than 50000 people.

Other places to visit- 

Matrimandir , Afsana guesthouse , Savitri Bhawan  , Vérité Learning Centre , Solar Kitchen’s Terrace , Visitors' centre , Auroville Beach. It will be best option that hire a local cab in Pondicherry and visit all these places in comfortably and conveniently. 

Reaching Auroville


By Air :  Chennai is The nearest international and domestic airport  Airport.

By Train : Pondicherry-Villupuram is the nearest railway station. However Nagercoil Express gives connectivity to northern region.

By Road : Direct Buses from Chennai or private Cab are also available making connectivity easier for travellers travelling to Auroville. Airport Cab are also available from Pondicherry airport.


KanyaKumari, Tamil Nadu

Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari
Image courtesy: Wikimedia

Most traveled destination and renowned for it's rosy-hued of sand and spectacular sunrise and sunset “Kanyakumari” is located at the southernmost tip with three mighty oceans acting as a natural defence to its state boundaries.Besides its importance as a Hindi Piligrim Centre “Kanyakumari  has been a great center for art, culture, civilization.

 Architectural wealth and literary heritage of this place have a touch of Islam, Christianity and Jainism.The remarkable spot where the oceans merge, known as Triveni Sangam is worth seeing where the oceans water can be distinguished from each other, based on variations in their shades of blue.

Other places to visit - 

Kumari Amman Temple, Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Gandhi Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue , Thanumalayan Temple, Udayagiri Fort , Vattakotai Fort

Reaching Kanyakumari


By Air : Kanyakumari is directly connected with Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by regular flights however  the nearest airport is at Trivandrum (80 km).

By Train : Kanyakumari is connected to Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, and Mumbai by broad-gauge railway network. Tirunelvelli (80 km) is the other nearest railway junction and can be reached by road via Nagarkoil (19 km).


By Road :  Buses from all the major cities connect Kanyakumari are available. 
Or else you can visit this place by private cab or taxi for Kanyakumari from your nearest. place.


  • Kanyakumari to  Nagarkoil (19 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Trivandrum (86 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Madurai (242 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram (300 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Cochin (309 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Kodaikanal (362 km)
  • Kanyakumari to Coimbatore (478 km)


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