News Broadcasting
Maharashtra Tourism and NDTV have comes together to produce series ‘Mesmerising Maharashtra’
Mumbai:In a bid to showcase Maharashtra’s magical monsoon experiences, Maharashtra Tourism and NDTV have come together to produce a series titled’ Mesmerising Maharashtra’. The series features close to 20 locations ranging from Satara, one of Maharashtra’s lesser-known monsoon destinations to Chikhaldhara, Amravati district’s only hill station to popular monsoon destinations such as Igatpuri, Bhandardara, Lonavala and Matheran. The series highlights how travelers can experience the fabled monsoons of Maharashtra by travelling in a caravan, rafting down a river, trekking up a hill or just by just soaking in the views while lost in the gentle mountain mist.
The destinations covered by the series include:
1. Bhandardara – Known as Maharashtra’s own Lake District, this small hill station, in the Western ghats in Ahmednagar district, is surrounded by enchanting water bodies including waterfalls, dams and lakes.
2. Igatpuri & Khodala – A weekend paradise, located close to both Mumbai and Pune, these hill stations become green, verdant & soothing during the monsoon.
3. Kolad is a scenic spot Raigad district, not far from Mumbai, with lots to offer for an adventure experience. The white water rafting on the river Kundalika is immensely popular with tourists.
4. Amboli Ghat – This mountain pass in the Sahyadri, on the way from Kolhapur to Sawantwadi, is surrounded by thick forest, waterfalls and beautiful natural landscape.
5. Malshej Ghat, located on the Kalyan-Ahmednagar Road, close to both Mumbai and Pune, is replete with mountain trails & waterfalls. It is one of the most visited monsoon destinations.
6. Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Tapola & Wai – Monsoon marvels
7. Satara – Maharashtra’s lesser-known monsoon destination, with seven hills and mighty waterfalls to visit.
8. Chikhaldhara – A hill station situated in Amravati district, this is a monsoon enchantment, offering beautiful homestays, orange skies, and mango orchards.
9. Lonavala – The magic of the mountain mists
10. Matheran – A quaint paradise, in Raigad district close to Mumbai, Matheran is Asia’s only automobile-free hill station.
11. Jawhar, a municipal council in Palghar district ranks high as one of Maharashtra’s dreamy monsoon escapades
12. Toranmal is a hill station in the Satpura range with some of the most spectacular views of monsoon gorges & tranquil lakes
13. Devkund waterfall & Andharban forests situated in Raigad district and Pimpri region offer monsoon adventures with a difference
14. Tamhini Ghat – A jewel in the Sahyadris
As part of the series, NDTV also carried features on Caravan Tourism during the monsoon and celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi in Mumbai and Pune. In addition to the videos, the campaign also features several reels on Instagram.
The list of destinations & experiences to be enjoyed in each location can be found here
Maharashtra is blessed with a rich culture, diverse landscape, and areas of tourist interest that range from beaches, forts and caves to forests, pilgrimage sites and cosmopolitan cities. It is also blessed with a monsoon season that transforms the landscape of the state from dusty brown to lush green. Nowhere can the monsoon be enjoyed better than in Maharashtra’s charming hill stations, breathtaking valleys and waterfalls, enchanting lakes, thrilling white water rapids and mountain trails, and the majestic Western Ghats – a UNESCO world heritage site.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
