Maharashtra: 500 Temples, 60 Forts, 1,800 Stepwells To Be Restored To Boost Tourism In The State

In a bid to preserve its cultural legacy, the Maharashtra government has launched an extensive heritage conservation project to restore 500 temples, 60 forts, and 1,800 stepwells across the state. The initiative not only aims to protect these historic landmarks but also to boost tourism and celebrate Maharashtra’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Scroll on to know more about it.

Maharashtra Heritage Conservation Project To Boost Tourism

According to Hindustan Times, the Cultural Affairs Minister of Maharashtra, Ashish Shelar, has announced a comprehensive plan to preserve and conserve 500 temples, 60 state-protected forts and 1,800 stepwells across Maharashtra. This project will be done with the help of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) and the state archaeology department.

With this restoration project, Maharashtra aims to preserve its rich heritage sites while boosting tourism and showcasing the state’s cultural and architectural legacy. Ashish Shelar has directed the cultural affairs department to draft a plan for this. The new plan will complement the state’s ₹5,000-crore project aimed at restoring and developing seven major religious sites.

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All You Need To Know About This Project

राज्यातील ५०० मंदिरे, ६० राज्य संरक्षित किल्ले आणि १८०० बारव यांच्या संवर्धनासाठी बृहद् आराखडा तयार करणार!

राज्यातील समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक वारसा जतन करण्यासाठी राज्य सरकारकडून मोठा उपक्रम राबविण्यात येत आहे. राज्यातील ५०० मंदिरे, ६० राज्य संरक्षित किल्ले आणि १८०० बारवा (जलस्रोत)… pic.twitter.com/716P5tkp1s

— Adv. Ashish Shelar – ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) October 16, 2025

Elaborating on this heritage conservation project, Shelar took to X and said in Marathi, “Maharashtra’s history, historical buildings, temples, forts, and Barav are our pride. Therefore, a comprehensive plan is needed for proper planning regarding preservation and conservation, and it is necessary to complete it within the time limit.”

He also asked the officials to accommodate all the state-protected monuments and 350 non-protected forts in the plan. They are now exploring a public-private-partnership model to make this project a reality.

Back in May, Maharashtra also launched a ₹5,000-crore project to restore and develop major religious sites across the state. The plan includes the Shri Tuljabhavani Temple in Dharashiv, Mahalaxmi Temple in Kolhapur, Shri Renuka Mata Shakti Peeth Mandir in Nanded, Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Nashik, and Shree Jyotiba Devasthan in Kolhapur, Hindustan Times reported.

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We can’t wait to see how this project will help boost tourism in Maharashtra.

Cover Image Courtesy: website/incredibleindia (representative image)