Maharashtra

Maharashtra is India's second most populous state and home to Mumbai, the country's financial capital. The Western Ghats (Sahyadri) run parallel to its Konkan coastline, and the Deccan Plateau covers most of the interior.

The state has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Ajanta and Ellora caves, the Elephanta Caves and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai.

Maharashtra has been ruled by the Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas and Yadavas, and later by the Deccan sultanates and the Mughals. In the 17th century Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha state, which grew into a power across much of India under the Peshwas. Bombay became a major colonial port city. The present state was formed on 1 May 1960 when Bombay State was divided on linguistic lines.

The narrow Konkan coast lies between the Arabian Sea and the Sahyadri (Western Ghats), with hill stations such as Mahabaleshwar and Lonavala. East of the Ghats lies the Deccan plateau, drained by the Godavari, Krishna, Bhima and Tapi. Vidarbha in the east includes the tiger reserves of Tadoba and Pench.

Maharashtra has the largest economy of any Indian state. Mumbai is India's financial capital, home to the Reserve Bank of India and the major stock exchanges. Pune is an automobile and IT hub, and the state is a leading producer of sugarcane, cotton, onions and grapes.

Marathi is the official language. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with enormous public festivities, especially in Mumbai and Pune, and the Pandharpur wari pilgrimage draws lakhs of devotees. Lavani dance, Warli painting, Paithani saris and Kolhapuri chappals are cultural treasures, and Mumbai is the home of the Hindi film industry.