Maharashtra
Gateway to the South
Overview
Quick facts at a glance
India's financial and entertainment hub, blending Mumbai's commerce with the Deccan plateau's forts and Ajanta-Ellora heritage.
History
How Maharashtra came to be
Home to the Maratha Empire under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; became a unified Marathi-speaking state in 1960 after the split of Bombay State.
Earlier / Historical Names
- Part of Bombay State
Did You Know?
Surprising highlights
Mumbai's Dabbawalas deliver lunchboxes with near-zero error rates.
The Ajanta and Ellora caves showcase rock-cut architecture spanning centuries.
State Symbols
Emblems of identity
Culture & Festivals
Living traditions
Folk Dances
- Lavani
- Tamasha
Traditional Dress
Dhoti and Nehru topi for men; nauvari saree for women
Festival Carousel
Cuisine
Flavours of Maharashtra
Ranges from spicy Kolhapuri curries to coastal Malvani seafood and Mumbai street food.
Popular Dishes
Popular Sweets
Tourism & Attractions
Places to explore
Top Attractions
UNESCO World Heritage
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
- Elephanta Caves
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
National Parks
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Tadoba Andhari
Tiger Reserves
- Tadoba-Andhari
- Melghat
Geography & Nature
The lay of the land
Major Rivers
- Godavari
- Krishna
- Tapi
Mountain Ranges
- Western Ghats (Sahyadri)
Major Lakes
- Lonar Lake
On the Map of India
Location & land neighbours
Neighbouring States & UTs
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Chhattisgarh
- Telangana
- Karnataka
- Goa
Economy & Agriculture
How Maharashtra works
Home to India's principal stock exchanges, a large film industry, and major IT and automotive manufacturing clusters.
Key Industries
- Finance (Mumbai)
- Bollywood/media
- IT (Pune)
- Automobiles
Major Crops
- Cotton
- Sugarcane
- Jowar
Largest Producer Of
Infrastructure & Connectivity
Getting around Maharashtra
Airports
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport
Major Ports
- Jawaharlal Nehru Port
- Mumbai Port
Metro Rail
- Mumbai Metro
- Pune Metro
- Nagpur Metro
Education & Research
Centres of learning
Major Universities
- University of Mumbai
- IIT Bombay
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
Research Institutes
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
Heritage & GI Tags
Craft & legacy
GI-Tagged Treasures
Monuments
Handicrafts
Prominent Personalities
Icons of Maharashtra
Interactive Timeline
Tap any milestone to expand
Frequently Asked
Good to know
Sources & Verification
Authoritative references used to verify facts on this page
Sources
- Know India — National Portal of India — Government
- Survey of India — Government
- Ministry of Road Transport & Highways — Government
- Indian Railways (Ministry of Railways) — Government
- Airports Authority of India — Government
- University Grants Commission — Government
Last verified: 02 July 2026 · Facts without a listed source are marked “Verification Pending” and are being audited progressively via the CMS.
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