Tourism in Marathwada refers to tourism in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra state in India. Aurangabad is a regional headquarters in Marathwada, and the tourism capital of Maharashtra state.[1] Out of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra, two are in the Marathwada region.[2][3][4] There are also 110 monuments in Marathwada which are protected by Government of Maharashtra and recognized by Archaeological Survey of India.[5]

Marathwada is also important region for religious tourism; 3 of the 12 Hindu Jyotirlinga temples mentioned in the Shiva Purana are in Marathwada.[6] Hazur Sahib Nanded is the second holiest place in Sikhism after the Harminder Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.[7] There are also Sufi shrines in Marathwada, the most famous among them being Turabul Haq Dargah at Parbhani, where thousands of people of all religions visit the dargah annually.[8][9][10][11][12] Pathri in Parbhani district is the birthplace of Sai Baba of Shirdi, and the Sai Baba Birth Temple is one of the major religious tourism places in Marathwada.

Caves

The Marathwada region is home to a number of man-made cave temples, monuments, and historic sites.

Religious tourism

Hindu temples

Jyotirlingas are known as "Signs of God Shiva". These are mentioned in the Shiva Purana. It is believed that Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga on the night of the Aridra Nakshatra, thus the special reverence for the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment. Though contested with other claimants elsewhere for each of these, the following are Jyotirlingas in Marathwada:

Two other Jyothirlingas—Bhimashankar and Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple—are also in Maharashtra state, close to Marathwada.

Other major Hindu temples include:

Sikh gurdwaras

Tourism in Marathwada is located in India
Akal Takht Sahib
Akal Takht Sahib
Damdama Sahib
Damdama Sahib
Keshgarh Sahib
Keshgarh Sahib
Hazur Sahib Nanded
Hazur Sahib Nanded
Patna Sahib
Patna Sahib
Locations of the five takhts of Sikhism in India

Marathwada is the second most-visited region by Sikhs in India after Punjab. The main gurdwara in Marathwada is Hazur Sahib in Nanded.

The city of Nanded has been associated with the first and the last of the Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak Dev passed through Nanded during his extensive travels (which took him as far south as Sri Lanka); Guru Gobind Singh spent his last years in the city. Bhai Daya Singh, one of the Panj Pyare of Sikhism, lived in Aurangabad and has a gurdwara in the city named in his honor: Gurdwara Bhai Daya Singh.[19]

The major gurdwaras in Marathwada include:

  • Hazur Sahib – the most sacred takht among Panj Takht of Sikhism.[20] It is known for Guru Gaddi, an annual event in November which marks establishment of the Guru Granth Sahib as permanent guru by Guru Gobind Singh. In 2008, on the 300th anniversary of establishment of Guru Granth Sahib, thousands of followers visited the gurdwara.[21][22]
  • Gurdwara Bhai Daya Singh – gurdwara in Aurangabad related to Daya Singh
  • Gurdwara Nagina Ghat Sahib – gurdwara on the riverbank in Nanded
  • Gurdwara Baba Banda Bahadur Ghat – where Banda Singh Bahadur lived in Nanded
  • Gurdwara Hira Ghat Sahib – where Guru Gobind Singh first pitched his tent in Nanded on the banks of Godavari River
  • Gurdwara Mata Sahib
  • Gurdwara Shikar Ghat Sahib
  • Gurdwara Mal Tekari Sahib
  • Gurdwara Sangat Sahib

Islamic sites

Historically, Marathwada was part of Mughal empire and Nizam of Hyderabad, which has given the region its own Islamic heritage in the form of art and culture. The following are some of important places connected with Sufism and Islamic leaders in Marathwada:

Monuments and forts

Of the 244 state-protected monuments in Maharashtra state, 110 are in Marathwada.[23] The following are some of these monuments:

See also

References

  1. "Forbes India Magazine - The Value Hunters of Aurangabad". Forbesindia.com. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. "MAHARASHTRA TOURISM, The Official Website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. - WorldHeritage". Maharashtratourism.gov.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Ajanta Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  4. 1 2 UNESCO World Heritage Centre. "Ellora Caves - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. "List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Arunachal Pradesh - Archaeological Survey of India". Asi.nic.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. "12 JyotirLinga Temples of Lord Shankar - Location, Significance, & Information about Jyotirling". Shaivam.org. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  7. "MAHARASHTRA TOURISM, The Official Website of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. - Sikh_Identity". Maharashtratourism.gov.in. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  8. "Parbhani, India". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  9. http://www.hoparoundindia.com/maharashtra/Parbhani-attractions-history-of/Hazarat-Turabul-Haq-Shah-Dargah.aspx
  10. "सय्यद शाह तुराबुल हक साहेब (फोटो फिचर)". Sakal (in Marathi). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  11. "Hazarat Turabul Haq Shah Dargah, Parbhani | Hazarat Turabul Haq Shah Dargah Photos | Parbhani Tourist Places". www.holidayiq.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013.
  12. "उरुस". Ekmat. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  13. "Aurangabad Caves". ASI. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  14. "Dharashiv caves". osmanabad online. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  15. "Osmanabad". Incredible India. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  16. "दयनीय अवस्थेत धाराशीव लेण्या!". Sakal (in Marathi). 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  17. "Dharashiv Caves - Historical Background". Osmanabad. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  18. "ऐतिहासिक धाराशिव लेण्यांचे अस्तित्व धोक्यात" (in Marathi). Lokmat. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  19. "Gurdwaras in Marathwada". gurbaani. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  20. "Nanded set for tercentenary of Guru Granth Sahib". The Hindu. 27 October 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  21. "Grand celebrations for Guru-da-Gaddi in Nanded". 26 October 2008.
  22. "Nanded will become world famous due to Guru-da-Gaddi: Deshmukh".
  23. "Protected Monuments". ASI. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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