Introduction

Maharashtra is a state in India that is located in the western region of the country and is considered the country’s largest and most prosperous state. Maharashtra is the third-largest state by area and stands at the second position population-wise, formed on 1st May 1960 after the reorganization of the erstwhile Bombay State. Maharashtra shares its borders with Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and the Arabian Sea. The state capital of Maharashtra is Mumbai, which is considered the Financial Capital of India and is home to the renowned Bollywood (India’s film industry).

Endowed with a varied terrain, Maharashtra consists of the Western Ghats, fertile land, dense forests, water bodies, and a coastline stretching along the Arabian Sea. The state has ancient forts, cave temples, festivities, and great contributions in the arts, literature, and music, which show it has a rich cultural background. Additionally, the state plays a very important role in the Indian economy in terms of rapid industrialization, agriculture, trade, information technology, and tourism.

State Nicknames of Maharashtra

Financial Capital of India
Powerhouse Capital of India
City of Dreams
Maya Nagari
Queen of Sahyadri Hills (Mahabaleshwar)
Hollywood of India

Date of Formation of Maharashtra

Maharashtra was established as the 14^th state of India on May 1, 1960.

History of Maharashtra

The history of Maharashtra dates back to the ancient period when Maharashtra was governed by the Satavahana Dynasty (1st BCE – 3rd CE). This dynasty was known for its trade, Buddhism, and arts. In the upcoming periods, Maharashtra was ruled by the Vakatakas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Yadavas of Devagiri, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Bahmani Sultanate, as well as the Deccan Sultanates.

However, the most important and fascinating era started from the 17th century onwards when the Maratha Empire was established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674. He had laid a foundation for exceptional governance and naval strength. Under the regime of the Peshwas, the Maratha Empire gained further expansion in most parts of India before being conquered by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818). Maharashtra became a part of the Bombay Presidency under British rule. The Indian Independence movement brought the state of Maharashtra into existence in 1960 from the erstwhile bilingual Bombay state.

Geographical Location of Maharashtra

Latitudinal Extent: 15°37' N to 22°06' N
Longitudinal Extent: 72°36' E to 80°54' E

Boundaries

North – Bordered by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
East – Shares boundaries with Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
South – Bordered by Karnataka and Goa.
West – Bordered by the Arabian Sea, with a coastline of about 720 km.

Strategic Location

Maharashtra is located on the western coast of India, providing easy access to the Arabian Sea and international trade routes.
It has a 720 km coastline and houses Mumbai Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), India's largest container port.
The state is India's financial and industrial hub, with excellent road, rail, air, and sea connectivity.

Climate at a Glance

Here is the climate overview for Maharashtra:

Summer Temperature: 22°C to 40°C
Winter Temperature: 12°C to 25°C
Average Annual Rainfall: Around 1,181 mm
Climate Type: Tropical Monsoon Climate

State Day of Maharashtra

Maharashtra Day, also known as Maharashtra Diwas, is celebrated annually on May 1^st.

PIN Code Prefix of Maharashtra

Ranges from 40 to 44.

Area of Maharashtra

Total Area - 307,713 sq. km.

Area-Wise Rank of Maharashtra

Maharashtra holds 3^rd Rank among all the Indian States.

Population of Maharashtra (Census 2011)

Total Population: 112,374,333
Male Population: 58,243,056
Female Population: 54,131,277

Population Rank of Maharashtra

Maharashtra ranks as the third-most populous state in India.

Population Density

370 people per square kilometer.

Sex Ratio

899 females per 1,000 males.

Literacy Rate

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023–24, Maharashtra recorded an overall literacy rate of 87.3%. The literacy rate for Maharashtra's population aged 7 and above is:

Overall Literacy Rate – 87.3%
Male Literacy Rate – 92.7%
Female Literacy Rate – 81.6%

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population

Scheduled Caste Population

11.8%

Scheduled Tribe Population

9.4%

Others

78.8%

Maharashtra has a significant tribal population, mainly concentrated in the Nandurbar, Gadchiroli, Palghar, Nashik, Dhule, Chandrapur, and Amravati districts, making it one of the leading tribal-populated states in India.

Tribes of Maharashtra and their habitat

Bhil – Nandurbar, Dhule, Nashik, and Jalgaon
Gond – Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia, and Nagpur
Warli (Varli) – Palghar, Thane, and Nashik
Kokna (Kokni) – Nashik, Palghar, and Dhule
Katkari – Raigad, Thane, Palghar, Pune, and Raigad
Korku – Amravati and Melghat (Amravati District)
Kolam – Yavatmal, Nanded, Chandrapur, and Adilabad border region
Madia (Maria Gond) – Gadchiroli and Chandrapur
Thakur – Palghar, Thane, Nashik, and Raigad
Pawra – Nandurbar and Dhule
Andh – Yavatmal, Nanded, and Parbhani
Mahadev Koli – Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar, and Thane

Universities of Maharashtra

S.No.	University	Location
1	University of Mumbai	Mumbai
2	Savitribai Phule Pune University	Pune
3	Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University	Nagpur
4	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
5	Shivaji University	Kolhapur
6	Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University	Jalgaon
7	Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University	Amravati
8	Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University	Nanded
9	Solapur University (Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Solapur University)	Solapur
10	Gondwana University	Gadchiroli
11	SNDT Women's University	Mumbai
12	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University	Lonere, Raigad
13	Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS)	Nashik
14	Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU)	Nagpur
15	Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth	Rahuri, Ahmednagar
16	Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth	Akola
17	Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth	Parbhani
18	Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth	Dapoli, Ratnagiri
19	Central University of Maharashtra	Gadchiroli
20	Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Deemed)	Mumbai
21	Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)	Mumbai
22	Symbiosis International (Deemed University)	Pune
23	Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed University)	Pune
24	D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth	Pune
25	Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth	Navi Mumbai
26	Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth	Pune
27	Sandip University	Nashik
28	MIT World Peace University	Pune
29	FLAME University	Pune
30	Somaiya Vidyavihar University	Mumbai
31	Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (Deemed)	Pune
32	Homi Bhabha National Institute (Deemed)	Mumbai
33	Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research (Deemed)	Wardha
34	Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed)	Loni, Ahmednagar
35	Sri Balaji University	Pune
36	Vishwakarma University	Pune
37	Ajeenkya DY Patil University	Pune
38	MGM University	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)
39	K. K. Wagh University	Nashik
40	Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU)	Nashik

State Symbols of Maharashtra

State Animal – Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru)
State Bird – Yellow-footed Green Pigeon (Hariyal)
State Tree – Mango (Mangifera indica)
State Flower – Jarul (Pride of India) (Lagerstroemia speciosa)
State Fruit – Mango

Religion in Maharashtra (Census 2011)

Hinduism – 79.83%
Islam – 11.54%
Buddhism – 5.81%
Jainism – 1.25%
Christianity – 0.96%
Others (Sikhism, Tribal religions, etc.) – 0.61%

Official Language of Maharashtra

Marathi

Other Languages Spoken

Hindi
Urdu
English
Gujarati
Kannada
Telugu
Konkani
Bhili

Legislature of Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a bicameral legislature.

Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha)

Total Seats – 288 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), all directly elected from single-member constituencies.

Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad)

Total Seats – 78 Members (MLCs), elected through indirect elections and nominations.

Judicature of Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court has jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra and Goa, and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
The Principal Seat of the High Court is in Mumbai.
The Bombay High Court was established in 1862, making it one of the oldest High Courts in India.

Dance Forms of Maharashtra

Lavani
Tamasha
Koli Dance
Lezim
Dhangari Gaja
Povada

State Song of Maharashtra

Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha

Folklore of Maharashtra

Folk songs
Powada (heroic ballads)
Bharud folk theatre
Gondhal ritual performances
Koli folk traditions
Legends of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Marathas

Number of Districts of Maharashtra with Headquarters

S.No.	District	Headquarters	Established In	Area (sq. km.)	Population (2011)	Population Density (per sq. km.)
1	Ahmednagar	Ahmednagar	1818	17,048	4,543,159	266
2	Akola	Akola	1864	5,431	1,813,906	334
3	Amravati	Amravati	1858	12,210	2,888,445	237
4	Beed	Beed	1956	10,693	2,585,962	242
5	Bhandara	Bhandara	1867	3,895	1,198,810	308
6	Buldhana	Buldhana	1866	9,661	2,586,258	268
7	Chandrapur	Chandrapur	1964	11,443	2,204,307	193
8	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	1981*	10,100	3,701,282	365
9	Dhule	Dhule	1906	8,061	2,050,862	254
10	Gadchiroli	Gadchiroli	1982	14,412	1,072,942	74
11	Gondia	Gondia	1999	5,431	1,322,507	253
12	Hingoli	Hingoli	1999	4,526	1,177,345	261
13	Jalgaon	Jalgaon	1906	11,765	4,229,917	360
14	Jalna	Jalna	1981	7,687	1,959,046	255
15	Kolhapur	Kolhapur	1949	7,685	3,876,001	504
16	Latur	Latur	1982	7,157	2,454,196	343
17	Mumbai City	Mumbai	1990	69	3,085,411	44,315
18	Mumbai Suburban	Bandra (East)	1990	369	9,356,962	25,357
19	Nagpur	Nagpur	1866	9,892	4,653,570	470
20	Nanded	Nanded	1958	10,502	3,361,292	319
21	Nandurbar	Nandurbar	1998	5,955	1,648,295	276
22	Nashik	Nashik	1869	15,530	6,109,052	393
23	Dharashiv (Osmanabad)	Dharashiv	1982*	7,569	1,660,311	219
24	Palghar	Palghar	2014	5,344	2,990,116	560
25	Parbhani	Parbhani	1956	6,251	1,835,982	294
26	Pune	Pune	1832	15,643	9,429,408	603
27	Raigad	Alibag	1981	7,152	2,634,200	368
28	Ratnagiri	Ratnagiri	1961	8,208	1,615,069	197
29	Sangli	Sangli	1948	8,572	2,822,143	329
30	Satara	Satara	1960	10,480	3,003,922	287
31	Sindhudurg	Oros	1981	5,207	849,651	163
32	Solapur	Solapur	1838	14,895	4,317,756	290
33	Thane	Thane	1869	4,214	11,060,148	2,624
34	Wardha	Wardha	1866	6,309	1,300,774	206
35	Washim	Washim	1998	5,150	1,197,160	232
36	Yavatmal	Yavatmal	1905	13,594	2,772,348	204

Important District Facts (Maharashtra)

Total Number of Districts: 36
Largest District (Area): Ahmednagar (17,048 sq. km.)
Smallest District (Area): Mumbai City (69 sq. km.)
Most Populous District: Thane (11,060,148)
Least Populous District: Sindhudurg (849,651)
Highest Population Density: Mumbai City (44,315 persons per sq. km.)
Lowest Population Density: Gadchiroli (74 persons per sq. km.)

Note: Maharashtra currently has 36 districts, grouped into 6 administrative divisions—Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and Nagpur. The newest district is Palghar, created in 2014 by bifurcating Thane district. Additionally, Aurangabad and Osmanabad were officially renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Dharashiv, respectively, in 2023.

Map of Maharashtra (District Map)

Sub-Divisions of Maharashtra

S.No.	District	District Headquarters	Key Civil Sub-divisions within the District
1	Ahmednagar	Ahmednagar	Ahmednagar, Shrirampur, Sangamner, Karjat
2	Akola	Akola	Akola, Akot, Murtizapur
3	Amravati	Amravati	Amravati, Achalpur, Morshi, Daryapur
4	Beed	Beed	Beed, Ambajogai, Parli, Majalgaon
5	Bhandara	Bhandara	Bhandara, Tumsar, Sakoli
6	Buldhana	Buldhana	Buldhana, Khamgaon, Malkapur, Mehkar
7	Chandrapur	Chandrapur	Chandrapur, Warora, Ballarpur, Rajura
8	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Vaijapur, Kannad, Gangapur
9	Dhule	Dhule	Dhule, Shirpur, Sakri
10	Gadchiroli	Gadchiroli	Gadchiroli, Aheri, Desaiganj
11	Gondia	Gondia	Gondia, Tirora, Deori
12	Hingoli	Hingoli	Hingoli, Kalamnuri, Sengaon
13	Jalgaon	Jalgaon	Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Amalner, Chalisgaon
14	Jalna	Jalna	Jalna, Ambad, Partur
15	Kolhapur	Kolhapur	Kolhapur, Gadhinglaj, Ichalkaranji
16	Latur	Latur	Latur, Udgir, Nilanga, Ahmedpur
17	Mumbai City	Mumbai	Mumbai City (No Revenue Sub-divisions)
18	Mumbai Suburban	Bandra (East)	Kurla, Andheri, Borivali
19	Nagpur	Nagpur	Nagpur Urban, Nagpur Rural, Katol, Umred
20	Nanded	Nanded	Nanded, Deglur, Kinwat, Hadgaon
21	Nandurbar	Nandurbar	Nandurbar, Shahada, Akkalkuwa
22	Nashik	Nashik	Nashik, Malegaon, Niphad, Kalwan
23	Dharashiv	Dharashiv	Dharashiv, Tuljapur, Paranda
24	Palghar	Palghar	Palghar, Dahanu, Vasai, Jawhar
25	Parbhani	Parbhani	Parbhani, Gangakhed, Jintur
26	Pune	Pune	Pune City, Haveli, Baramati, Junnar, Shirur
27	Raigad	Alibag	Alibag, Panvel, Pen, Mangaon
28	Ratnagiri	Ratnagiri	Ratnagiri, Chiplun, Khed
29	Sangli	Sangli	Sangli, Miraj, Tasgaon, Jat
30	Satara	Satara	Satara, Karad, Wai, Phaltan
31	Sindhudurg	Oros	Kankavli, Kudal, Sawantwadi
32	Solapur	Solapur	Solapur North, Solapur South, Pandharpur, Barshi
33	Thane	Thane	Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi
34	Wardha	Wardha	Wardha, Arvi, Hinganghat
35	Washim	Washim	Washim, Karanja, Mangrulpir
36	Yavatmal	Yavatmal	Yavatmal, Pusad, Wani, Umarkhed

Number of Villages in Maharashtra

43,665 villages (Census 2011)

Number of Blocks

355 Community Development Blocks (Development Blocks)
358 Talukas (Tehsils) (Administrative Sub-divisions)

Lok Sabha Seats of Maharashtra

48 Lok Sabha Seats

Parliamentary Constituencies

Ahmednagar
Akola
Amravati (SC)
Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
Baramati
Beed
Bhandara–Gondia
Bhiwandi
Buldhana
Chandrapur
Dhule
Dindori (ST)
Gadchiroli–Chimur (ST)
Hatkanangle
Hingoli
Jalgaon
Jalna
Kalyan
Kolhapur
Latur (SC)
Madha
Maval
Mumbai North
Mumbai North Central
Mumbai North East
Mumbai North West
Mumbai South
Mumbai South Central
Nagpur
Nanded
Nandurbar (ST)
Nashik
Osmanabad (Dharashiv)
Palghar (ST)
Parbhani
Pune
Raigad
Ramtek (SC)
Ratnagiri–Sindhudurg
Raver
Sangli
Satara
Shirdi (SC)
Shirur
Solapur (SC)
Thane
Wardha
Yavatmal–Washim

Rajya Sabha Seats of Maharashtra

19 Rajya Sabha Seats

Vidhan Sabha Seats of Maharashtra

288 Assembly Constituencies

Main Towns of Maharashtra

S.No.	City/Town	District	Population (Census 2011)
1	Mumbai	Mumbai City	12,442,373
2	Pune	Pune	3,124,458
3	Nagpur	Nagpur	2,405,665
4	Thane	Thane	1,841,488
5	Pimpri-Chinchwad	Pune	1,729,359
6	Nashik	Nashik	1,486,973
7	Kalyan-Dombivli	Thane	1,247,327
8	Vasai–Virar	Palghar	1,221,233
9	Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	1,175,116
10	Navi Mumbai	Thane	1,120,547
11	Solapur	Solapur	951,118
12	Mira-Bhayandar	Thane	814,655
13	Bhiwandi	Thane	711,329
14	Amravati	Amravati	646,801
15	Nanded-Waghala	Nanded	550,564
16	Kolhapur	Kolhapur	549,236
17	Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad	Sangli	502,793
18	Jalgaon	Jalgaon	460,468
19	Akola	Akola	427,146
20	Latur	Latur	396,955
21	Dhule	Dhule	376,093
22	Ahmednagar	Ahmednagar	350,905
23	Chandrapur	Chandrapur	320,379
24	Parbhani	Parbhani	307,170
25	Ichalkaranji	Kolhapur	287,570
26	Jalna	Jalna	285,349
27	Ambarnath	Thane	253,475
28	Bhusawal	Jalgaon	210,886
29	Panvel	Raigad	180,464
30	Satara	Satara	120,079
31	Beed	Beed	146,709
32	Yavatmal	Yavatmal	116,551
33	Gondia	Gondia	132,889
34	Ratnagiri	Ratnagiri	76,229
35	Wardha	Wardha	106,444
36	Bhandara	Bhandara	91,845
37	Washim	Washim	78,387
38	Hingoli	Hingoli	85,073
39	Gadchiroli	Gadchiroli	54,570
40	Sindhudurg (Oros)	Sindhudurg	12,000 (approx.)

Main Crops of Maharashtra

Rice (Paddy)
Jowar (Sorghum)
Bajra (Pearl Millet)
Wheat
Maize (Corn)
Pulses (Tur, Gram, Moong, Urad)
Oilseeds (Soybean, Groundnut, Sunflower, Sesame)

Main Cash Crops of Maharashtra

Cotton (Largest cash crop of the state)
Sugarcane (Leading commercial crop)
Soybean
Turmeric
Grapes
Orange (Nagpur Orange)
Banana
Pomegranate

Minerals Found in Maharashtra

Coal (Extensively found in Chandrapur, Nagpur, and Yavatmal districts)
Manganese (Nagpur and Bhandara districts)
Limestone (Chandrapur, Yavatmal, and Nanded districts)
Iron Ore (Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, and Gondia districts)
Bauxite (Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Sindhudurg districts)
Dolomite (Chandrapur and Nagpur districts)
Copper (Nagpur district)
Silica Sand (Bhandara and Chandrapur districts)
Quartz (Nashik, Pune, and Raigad districts)
Laterite (Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, and Raigad districts)
Kyanite (Bhandara district)
Fire Clay (Nagpur and Chandrapur districts)

Rivers Flowing Through Maharashtra

S.No.	River Name	Total Length (Approx.)	Length in Maharashtra (Approx.)	Origin Point	Confluence / Endpoint	Key Significance & Features
1	Godavari	1,465 km	700 km	Trimbakeshwar, Nashik	Bay of Bengal	Longest river in peninsular India; known as the Dakshin Ganga.
2	Krishna	1,400 km	306 km	Mahabaleshwar, Satara	Bay of Bengal	Major river of southern India; supports irrigation and hydropower.
3	Tapi (Tapti)	724 km	208 km	Multai, Madhya Pradesh	Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat)	One of the few west-flowing rivers of India.
4	Bhima	861 km	451 km	Bhimashankar, Pune	Joins Krishna River (Karnataka)	Major tributary of Krishna; lifeline of western Maharashtra.
5	Wardha	528 km	528 km	Satpura Hills, Madhya Pradesh	Joins Wainganga to form Pranhita	Important river of Vidarbha; irrigation source.
6	Wainganga	579 km	483 km	Seoni, Madhya Pradesh	Joins Wardha to form Pranhita	Flows through dense forests including Tadoba region.
7	Penganga	676 km	584 km	Ajanta Hills, Maharashtra	Joins Wardha River	Forms the boundary between Maharashtra and Telangana.
8	Purna	373 km	373 km	Ajanta Hills, Maharashtra	Joins Tapi River	Important tributary of the Tapi.
9	Pravara	208 km	208 km	Western Ghats, Ahmednagar	Joins Godavari River	Home to Bhandardara Dam.
10	Mula	163 km	163 km	Mulshi Hills, Pune	Joins Mutha River	Supplies water to Pune city.
11	Mutha	116 km	116 km	Western Ghats, Pune	Joins Mula River	Flows through Pune; supports urban water supply.
12	Koyna	130 km	130 km	Mahabaleshwar	Joins Krishna River	Famous for the Koyna Hydroelectric Project.
13	Panchganga	80 km	80 km	Near Kolhapur	Joins Krishna River	Important river of western Maharashtra.
14	Indrayani	103 km	103 km	Lonavala Hills	Joins Bhima River	Sacred river associated with Sant Tukaram and Alandi.
15	Sina	180 km	180 km	Ahmednagar District	Joins Bhima River	Supports agriculture in drought-prone regions.
16	Girna	262 km	262 km	Western Ghats, Nashik	Joins Tapi River	Important irrigation river of North Maharashtra.
17	Kundalika	81 km	81 km	Sahyadri Hills	Arabian Sea	Popular for white-water rafting.
18	Savitri	110 km	110 km	Mahabaleshwar	Arabian Sea	Short west-flowing coastal river.
19	Vaitarna	154 km	154 km	Trimbak Hills, Nashik	Arabian Sea	Major drinking water source for Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
20	Ulhas	122 km	122 km	Sahyadri Hills	Arabian Sea (Thane Creek)	Important river for Thane and Mumbai region.
21	Damanganga	131 km	40 km	Sahyadri Hills, Nashik	Arabian Sea	Forms part of the Maharashtra–Gujarat region.
22	Nira	180 km	180 km	Mahabaleshwar	Joins Bhima River	Supports irrigation through Nira dams.
23	Manjara	724 km	250 km	Balaghat Range, Beed	Joins Godavari River	Major tributary of Godavari in Marathwada.
24	Dudhna	156 km	156 km	Ajanta Hills	Joins Purna River	Important tributary in the Godavari basin.
25	Kanhan	275 km	275 km	Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh	Joins Wainganga River	Supports irrigation and coal belt of Vidarbha.

Important Facts

Longest river in Maharashtra: Godavari
Longest river originating in Maharashtra: Godavari
Largest river basin: Godavari Basin
Major west-flowing rivers: Tapi, Vaitarna, Ulhas, Kundalika, Savitri, Damanganga
Major east-flowing rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Bhima, Wardha, Wainganga, Penganga, Manjara
Highest hydroelectric project: Koyna Hydroelectric Project on the Koyna River
Godavari is popularly known as the "Dakshin Ganga" (Ganga of the South).
Krishna River originates from Mahabaleshwar in Satara district.
Godavari River originates from Trimbakeshwar in Nashik district.

Mountains and Hills of Maharashtra

S.No.	Peak / Hill Name	Approx. Elevation	Location (District)	Cultural & Historical Significance
1	Kalsubai Peak	1,646 m	Ahmednagar	Highest peak in Maharashtra; Kalsubai Temple; popular trekking destination.
2	Salher Fort Peak	1,567 m	Nashik	Site of the historic Battle of Salher (1672); important Maratha fort.
3	Harishchandragad	1,424 m	Ahmednagar	Ancient hill fort; famous for Konkan Kada and Hindu temples.
4	Mahabaleshwar Plateau	1,353 m	Satara	Source of the Krishna River; famous hill station and pilgrimage site.
5	Torna Fort (Prachandagad)	1,403 m	Pune	First fort captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1646.
6	Rajgad Fort	1,376 m	Pune	Former capital of the Maratha Empire under Shivaji Maharaj.
7	Raigad Fort	820 m	Raigad	Capital of the Maratha Empire; coronation site of Shivaji Maharaj (1674).
8	Sinhagad Fort	1,312 m	Pune	Famous for the Battle of Sinhagad and Tanaji Malusare's sacrifice.
9	Pratapgad	1,080 m	Satara	Site of the Battle of Pratapgad (1659) between Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan.
10	Lohagad	1,033 m	Pune	Strategic Maratha hill fort; UNESCO tentative heritage significance.
11	Visapur Fort	1,084 m	Pune	Twin fort of Lohagad; important Maratha and British military site.
12	Panhala Fort	845 m	Kolhapur	Residence of Shivaji Maharaj; associated with Baji Prabhu Deshpande.
13	Shivneri Fort	1,050 m	Pune	Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
14	Matheran Hills	800 m	Raigad	Eco-sensitive hill station; famous toy train (UNESCO tentative).
15	Malshej Ghat	700 m	Pune/Thane	Scenic mountain pass; famous for monsoon tourism and flamingos.
16	Bhandardara Hills	750 m	Ahmednagar	Popular tourist destination; near Wilson Dam and Arthur Lake.
17	Ajanta Hills	700 m	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar & Jalgaon	Home to the UNESCO-listed Ajanta Caves.
18	Satmala Hills	1,200 m	Nashik	Contains several historic forts including Salher and Mulher.
19	Balaghat Range	550–750 m	Beed, Latur, Dharashiv	Watershed between the Godavari and Bhima river basins.
20	Sahyadri (Western Ghats)	Up to 1,646 m	Western Maharashtra	UNESCO World Heritage Site; biodiversity hotspot and source of many rivers.
21	Melghat Hills	1,178 m	Amravati	Home to Melghat Tiger Reserve; rich biodiversity.
22	Mahadeo Hills	900–1,100 m	Vidarbha Region	Part of the Satpura Range; forested region with wildlife habitats.
23	Trimbak Hills	700–1,300 m	Nashik	Source of the Godavari River; sacred Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.
24	Ratangad	1,297 m	Ahmednagar	Historic hill fort of the Maratha period; popular trekking site.
25	Anjaneri Hills	1,280 m	Nashik	Believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman; important pilgrimage site.

Important Facts

Highest Peak: Kalsubai (1,646 m) – Ahmednagar district.
Major Mountain Range: Sahyadri (Western Ghats).
UNESCO World Heritage: Western Ghats and Ajanta Caves (located in the Ajanta Hills).
Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Shivneri Fort.
Capital of the Maratha Empire: Raigad Fort.
First Fort Captured by Shivaji Maharaj: Torna Fort.
Source of the Godavari River: Trimbak Hills (Trimbakeshwar, Nashik).
Source of the Krishna River: Mahabaleshwar.

Industries of Maharashtra

S.No.	Sector Type	Major Economic Activities
1	Primary Sector	Agriculture (Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Wheat, Cotton, Sugarcane, Soybean, Pulses, Grapes, Oranges, Bananas, Pomegranate) Horticulture Dairy Farming Fisheries & Aquaculture Animal Husbandry Mining & Quarrying (Coal, Manganese, Iron Ore, Limestone, Bauxite, Dolomite) Forestry & Plantation
2	Secondary Sector	Automobile & Auto Components Textile & Garment Manufacturing Sugar Industry & Ethanol Production Food Processing Industry Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry Chemical & Petrochemical Industry Engineering & Heavy Machinery Electronics & Electrical Equipment Petroleum Refining Cement Industry Paper & Pulp Industry Leather Industry Gems & Jewellery Manufacturing Wine Industry Defence & Aerospace Manufacturing
3	Tertiary Sector	Trade & Commerce Transport, Ports & Logistics Tourism & Hospitality Banking & Financial Services Information Technology (IT) & ITES Film & Entertainment (Bollywood) Education & Healthcare Services Renewable Energy Services

Major Economic Sectors

Agriculture and Allied Activities
Automobile and Auto Components
Information Technology (IT) and IT-enabled Services (ITES)
Banking, Finance and Insurance
Textile and Garment Manufacturing
Sugar and Ethanol Industry
Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
Chemical and Petrochemical Industry
Engineering and Heavy Machinery
Food Processing and Dairy Industry
Film and Entertainment (Bollywood)
Ports, Shipping and Logistics
Tourism and Hospitality
Wine Industry
Renewable Energy (Solar and Wind)
Trade, Commerce and Financial Services

Airports in Maharashtra

S.No.	Airport Name	Location / District
1	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport	Mumbai (Mumbai Suburban)
2	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport	Nagpur
3	Pune International Airport	Pune
4	Nashik Airport (Ozar Airport)	Nashik
5	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
6	Shirdi Airport	Ahmednagar
7	Kolhapur Airport	Kolhapur
8	Solapur Airport	Solapur
9	Jalgaon Airport	Jalgaon
10	Nanded Airport (Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport)	Nanded
11	Gondia Airport (Birsi Airport)	Gondia
12	Amravati Airport	Amravati
13	Akola Airport	Akola
14	Ratnagiri Airport	Ratnagiri
15	Sindhudurg Airport (Chipi Airport)	Sindhudurg
16	Yavatmal Airport	Yavatmal
17	Karad Airport	Satara
18	Baramati Airport	Pune
19	Chandrapur Airport	Chandrapur
20	Dhule Airport	Dhule
21	Latur Airport	Latur
22	Osmanabad Airport (Dharashiv Airport)	Dharashiv
23	Washim Airport	Washim

Major Railway Stations in Maharashtra

S.No.	Station Name	Station Code	District / Location	Railway Zone / Division	Station Type / Status
1	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)	CSMT	Mumbai	Central Railway / Mumbai	Terminus, UNESCO World Heritage Site
2	Mumbai Central	MMCT	Mumbai	Western Railway / Mumbai Central	Terminus, Major Junction
3	Lokmanya Tilak Terminus	LTT	Mumbai	Central Railway / Mumbai	Terminus
4	Dadar	DR	Mumbai	Central & Western Railway	Major Junction
5	Bandra Terminus	BDTS	Mumbai	Western Railway / Mumbai Central	Terminus
6	Panvel Junction	PNVL	Raigad	Central Railway / Mumbai	Major Junction
7	Thane	TNA	Thane	Central Railway / Mumbai	Major Junction
8	Kalyan Junction	KYN	Thane	Central Railway / Mumbai	Major Junction
9	Pune Junction	PUNE	Pune	Central Railway / Pune	Major Junction
10	Nagpur Junction	NGP	Nagpur	Central Railway / Nagpur	Major Junction
11	Nashik Road	NK	Nashik	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Station
12	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad)	AWB	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	South Central Railway / Nanded	Major Station
13	Solapur Junction	SUR	Solapur	Central Railway / Solapur	Major Junction
14	Kolhapur (Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus)	KOP	Kolhapur	Central Railway / Pune	Terminus
15	Jalgaon Junction	JL	Jalgaon	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Junction
16	Bhusawal Junction	BSL	Jalgaon	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Divisional HQ, Major Junction
17	Akola Junction	AK	Akola	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Junction
18	Amravati Terminal	AMI	Amravati	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Terminus
19	Nanded (Hazur Sahib Nanded)	NED	Nanded	South Central Railway / Nanded	Major Junction, Pilgrimage Station
20	Latur Road Junction	LTRR	Latur	South Central Railway / Nanded	Junction
21	Parbhani Junction	PBN	Parbhani	South Central Railway / Nanded	Major Junction
22	Manmad Junction	MMR	Nashik	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Junction
23	Ahmednagar	ANG	Ahmednagar	Central Railway / Solapur	Major Station
24	Miraj Junction	MRJ	Sangli	Central Railway / Pune	Major Junction
25	Sangli	SLI	Sangli	Central Railway / Pune	Major Station
26	Wardha Junction	WR	Wardha	Central Railway / Nagpur	Major Junction
27	Chandrapur	CD	Chandrapur	Central Railway / Nagpur	Major Station
28	Gondia Junction	G	Gondia	South East Central Railway / Nagpur	Major Junction
29	Badnera Junction	BD	Amravati	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Junction
30	Dhule	DHI	Dhule	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Terminal Station
31	Ratnagiri	RN	Ratnagiri	Konkan Railway	Major Station
32	Kudal	KUDL	Sindhudurg	Konkan Railway	Major Station
33	Sawantwadi Road	SWV	Sindhudurg	Konkan Railway	Major Station
34	Sindhudurg	SNDD	Sindhudurg	Konkan Railway	Major Station
35	Karjat Junction	KJT	Raigad	Central Railway / Mumbai	Major Junction
36	Igatpuri	IGP	Nashik	Central Railway / Bhusawal	Major Junction
37	Daund Junction	DD	Pune	Central Railway / Solapur	Major Junction
38	Lonavala	LNL	Pune	Central Railway / Pune	Major Hill Station Railway Station
39	Wadi Junction*	WADI	Border (Karnataka, serves Maharashtra routes)	South Central Railway	Major Interchange Junction
40	Palghar	PLG	Palghar	Western Railway / Mumbai Central	Major Station

Major Roads and Highways of Maharashtra

S.No.	Highway	Route Segment within Maharashtra	Key Strategic Importance
1	NH 48	Mumbai – Thane – Pune – Satara – Sangli – Kolhapur	Connects Mumbai with Pune and South India.
2	NH 53	Dhule – Jalgaon – Akola – Amravati – Nagpur – Bhandara	Part of the East–West Corridor.
3	NH 44	Nagpur – Hingna – Telangana Border	India's longest national highway.
4	NH 61	Nashik – Ahmednagar – Solapur	Links North Maharashtra with Marathwada.
5	NH 65	Solapur – Telangana Border	Connects Maharashtra with Hyderabad.
6	NH 66	Panvel – Mangaon – Chiplun – Ratnagiri – Sawantwadi	Major coastal highway to Goa and Kerala.
7	NH 160	Nashik – Sinnar – Ahmednagar	Connects Maharashtra with Gujarat.
8	NH 60	Nashik – Dhule	Links North Maharashtra with Madhya Pradesh.
9	NH 752	Jalna – Beed – Dharashiv	Important Marathwada highway.
10	NH 361	Nagpur – Wardha – Yavatmal – Nanded	Connects Vidarbha and Marathwada.
11	Mumbai–Pune Expressway	Mumbai – Navi Mumbai – Lonavala – Pune	India's first access-controlled expressway.
12	Samruddhi Mahamarg	Mumbai – Nashik – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – Amravati – Nagpur	Connects Mumbai and Nagpur.
13	Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu)	Sewri – Nhava Sheva	Connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai and JNPT.
14	Mumbai Coastal Road	Marine Drive – Bandra	Eases traffic in Mumbai.
15	Nagpur–Mumbai Super Communication Expressway	Nagpur – Amravati – Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar – Nashik – Mumbai	Boosts industrial connectivity.
16	Pune Ring Road (Under Development)	Around Pune Metropolitan Region	Reduces urban traffic congestion.
17	Nagpur Outer Ring Road	Around Nagpur	Diverts heavy traffic from the city.
18	NH 52	Solapur – Karnataka Border	Connects Maharashtra with Karnataka.
19	NH 548C	Mumbai – JNPT	Key freight corridor to JNPT Port.
20	State Highway 27 (SH-27)	Pune – Ahmednagar	Important regional connectivity.

Hydroelectric Power Projects of Maharashtra

S.No.	Project Name	Installed Capacity (MW)	River / Stream	Location (District)	Status
1	Koyna Hydroelectric Project (Stages I–IV)	1,960 MW	Koyna River	Satara	Operational
2	Bhira Hydroelectric Project	300 MW	Kundalika River	Raigad	Operational
3	Bhivpuri Hydroelectric Project	75 MW	Ulhas River	Raigad	Operational
4	Khopoli Hydroelectric Project	72 MW	Patalganga River	Raigad	Operational
5	Ghatghar Pumped Storage Project	250 MW	Pravara River	Ahmednagar & Nashik	Operational
6	Tillari Hydroelectric Project	60 MW	Tillari River	Sindhudurg	Operational
7	Vaitarna Hydroelectric Project	276 MW	Vaitarna River	Nashik & Palghar	Operational
8	Bhandardara Hydroelectric Project	39 MW	Pravara River	Ahmednagar	Operational
9	Pench Hydroelectric Project	160 MW	Pench River	Nagpur	Operational
10	Totladoh Hydroelectric Project	160 MW	Pench River	Nagpur	Operational
11	Warna Hydroelectric Project	16 MW	Warna River	Sangli	Operational
12	Dhom Hydroelectric Project	4 MW	Krishna River	Satara	Operational
13	Ujani Hydroelectric Project	12 MW	Bhima River	Solapur	Operational
14	Yeldari Hydroelectric Project	30 MW	Purna River	Hingoli	Operational
15	Isapur Hydroelectric Project	12 MW	Penganga River	Yavatmal	Operational
16	Panshet Hydroelectric Project	18 MW	Ambi River	Pune	Operational
17	Mulshi Hydroelectric Project	150 MW	Mula River	Pune	Operational
18	Radhanagari Hydroelectric Project	10 MW	Bhogawati River	Kolhapur	Operational
19	Bhatghar Hydroelectric Project	45 MW	Velvandi River	Pune	Operational
20	Chaskaman Hydroelectric Project	18 MW	Bhima River	Pune	Operational

Renewable Thermal Energy Projects of Maharashtra

A. Major Thermal Power Projects

S.No.	Project Name	Installed Capacity (MW)	Location	Fuel Type	Status
1	Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station	2,340	Chandrapur	Coal	Operational
2	Koradi Thermal Power Station	1,980	Nagpur	Coal	Operational
3	Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station	1,340	Nagpur	Coal	Operational
4	Bhusawal Thermal Power Station	1,420	Jalgaon	Coal	Operational
5	Paras Thermal Power Station	500	Akola	Coal	Operational
6	Parli Thermal Power Station	1,130	Beed	Coal	Operational
7	Nashik Thermal Power Station	910	Nashik	Coal	Operational
8	Tiroda Thermal Power Plant	3,300	Gondia	Coal	Operational
9	Adani Dahanu Thermal Power Station	500	Palghar	Coal	Operational
10	Trombay Thermal Power Station	930	Mumbai	Coal, Gas & Oil	Operational
11	Amravati Thermal Power Project	1,350	Amravati	Coal	Operational
12	Butibori Thermal Power Plant	600	Nagpur	Coal	Operational

B. Major Renewable Energy Projects

S.No.	Project Name	Installed Capacity (MW)	Location	Fuel Type	Status
1	Dhalgaon Wind Farm	278	Sangli	Wind	Operational
2	Vankusawade Wind Park	259	Satara	Wind	Operational
3	Brahmanvel Wind Farm	528	Dhule	Wind	Operational
4	Patan Wind Farm	86	Satara	Wind	Operational
5	Chalkewadi Wind Farm	183	Satara	Wind	Operational
6	Mozari Solar Power Project	50	Amravati	Solar	Operational
7	Sakri Solar Power Plant	125	Dhule	Solar	Operational
8	Shendra Solar Park	100	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	Solar	Operational
9	Dondaicha Solar Project	50	Dhule	Solar	Operational
10	Osmanabad (Dharashiv) Solar Project	50	Dharashiv	Solar	Operational
11	Bagasse-based Cogeneration Plants (Various Sugar Mills)	800+ (Combined)	Western Maharashtra	Biomass (Bagasse)	Operational
12	Municipal Waste-to-Energy Project	11	Pune	Municipal Solid Waste	Operational

Dams and Reservoirs of Maharashtra

S.No.	Dam Name	River	Location (District)	Status	Key Features
1	Jayakwadi Dam (Nathsagar Reservoir)	Godavari	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar	Operational	Largest reservoir in Maharashtra; irrigation & water supply.
2	Koyna Dam (Shivaji Sagar Reservoir)	Koyna	Satara	Operational	Largest hydroelectric project in the state.
3	Ujjani Dam (Yashwant Sagar Reservoir)	Bhima	Solapur	Operational	Major irrigation project and bird habitat.
4	Isapur Dam	Penganga	Yavatmal	Operational	One of the largest earthfill dams in Vidarbha.
5	Yeldari Dam	Purna	Hingoli	Operational	Irrigation and hydropower generation.
6	Upper Vaitarna Dam	Vaitarna	Nashik / Palghar	Operational	Major drinking water source for Mumbai.
7	Middle Vaitarna Dam	Vaitarna	Palghar	Operational	Supplies drinking water to Mumbai.
8	Bhatsa Dam	Bhatsa	Thane	Operational	Major water supply source for Mumbai.
9	Tansa Dam	Tansa	Palghar	Operational	One of Mumbai's oldest water supply dams.
10	Modak Sagar Dam	Vaitarna	Palghar	Operational	Important reservoir for Mumbai.
11	Khadakwasla Dam	Mutha	Pune	Operational	Main water source for Pune city.
12	Panshet Dam	Ambi	Pune	Operational	Water supply and irrigation.
13	Varasgaon Dam	Mose	Pune	Operational	Part of Pune's water supply system.
14	Temghar Dam	Mutha Basin	Pune	Operational	Supports Pune's drinking water needs.
15	Mulshi Dam	Mula	Pune	Operational	Hydroelectric generation and irrigation.
16	Bhandardara (Wilson) Dam	Pravara	Ahmednagar	Operational	One of the oldest dams; tourism and hydropower.
17	Gangapur Dam	Godavari	Nashik	Operational	Drinking water for Nashik city.
18	Dhom Dam	Krishna	Satara	Operational	Irrigation and drinking water.
19	Warna Dam	Warna	Sangli	Operational	Irrigation and hydropower.
20	Radhanagari Dam	Bhogawati	Kolhapur	Operational	Historic irrigation project.
21	Tillari Dam	Tillari	Sindhudurg	Operational	Irrigation and hydropower.
22	Gosikhurd Dam	Wainganga	Bhandara	Operational	Major irrigation project in Vidarbha.
23	Pench Dam (Totladoh)	Pench	Nagpur	Operational	Irrigation and hydropower.
24	Chaskaman Dam	Bhima	Pune	Operational	Irrigation and water supply.
25	Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam	Godavari	Nashik	Operational	Reservoir and famous bird sanctuary.
26	Mula Dam	Mula	Ahmednagar	Operational	Irrigation and water storage.
27	Nira Deoghar Dam	Nira	Pune	Operational	Irrigation and drinking water.
28	Kukadi Dam	Kukadi	Pune / Ahmednagar	Operational	Supports irrigation in western Maharashtra.
29	Manikdoh Dam	Kukadi	Pune	Operational	Irrigation and flood control.
30	Dhamapur Dam	Dhamapur River	Sindhudurg	Operational	One of Maharashtra's oldest dams.

Museums in Maharashtra

S.No.	Museum Name	Location (District)
1	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)	Mumbai
2	Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum	Mumbai
3	National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai	Mumbai
4	Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum	Mumbai
5	Nehru Science Centre	Mumbai
6	RBI Monetary Museum	Mumbai
7	Museum of Solutions (MuSo)	Mumbai
8	Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum	Pune
9	Mahatma Phule Museum	Pune
10	Tribal Cultural Museum	Pune
11	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum & Memorial	Pune
12	Maratha History Museum	Pune
13	Joshi's Museum of Miniature Railways	Pune
14	Blades of Glory Cricket Museum	Pune
15	Coin Museum (Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies)	Nashik
16	Central Museum (Ajab Bangla)	Nagpur
17	Raman Science Centre	Nagpur
18	Government Museum (Soneri Mahal Museum)	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
19	Paithan Museum	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
20	Ter Museum	Dharashiv
21	Government Museum, Aundh	Satara
22	Government Museum, Satara	Satara
23	Chandrakant Mandare Museum	Kolhapur
24	New Palace Museum (Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Museum)	Kolhapur
25	Government Museum, Sangli	Sangli
26	Ratnagiri Museum	Ratnagiri
27	Sindkhed Raja Museum	Buldhana
28	Mahur Museum	Nanded

Space Research Centre in Maharashtra

Space Research Centre / Institution	Location	Details
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA–TIFR)	Pune	Research in radio astronomy.
Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT)	Khodad, Pune	One of the world's largest radio telescopes.
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)	Pune	Research and education in astronomy.
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)	Mumbai	Advanced research in science and mathematics.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC)	Mumbai	Nuclear science and technology research.
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)	Mumbai	Oversees India's atomic energy programme.
Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE–TIFR)	Mumbai	Promotes science education and Olympiads.
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG)	Navi Mumbai	Research on geomagnetism and space weather.
National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS)	Pune	Research in biotechnology and cell science.
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI)	Pune	Research in biodiversity and biotechnology.

Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks of Maharashtra

S.No.	National Parks	Wildlife Sanctuaries / Tiger Reserves	District	Key Wildlife Species	Notable Features
1	Tadoba National Park	Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve	Chandrapur	Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur	Maharashtra's oldest and most famous tiger reserve.
2	Pench National Park	Pench Tiger Reserve	Nagpur	Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Deer	Inspired The Jungle Book; shared with Madhya Pradesh.
3	Gugamal National Park	Melghat Tiger Reserve	Amravati	Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Forest Owlet	Part of Project Tiger; Satpura landscape.
4	Navegaon National Park	Navegaon–Nagzira Tiger Reserve	Gondia	Tiger, Leopard, Deer, Birds	Known for Navegaon Lake and birdlife.
5	Sanjay Gandhi National Park	—	Mumbai Suburban & Thane	Leopard, Deer, Langur	One of the world's largest national parks within a city.
6	—	Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary	Chandrapur	Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear	Forms core of Tadoba Tiger Reserve.
7	—	Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary	Gondia & Bhandara	Tiger, Leopard, Gaur	Part of Navegaon–Nagzira Tiger Reserve.
8	—	Bor Wildlife Sanctuary / Bor Tiger Reserve	Wardha	Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear	Maharashtra's smallest tiger reserve.
9	—	Sahyadri Tiger Reserve	Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur & Ratnagiri	Tiger, Leopard, Indian Bison	Located in the Western Ghats.
10	—	Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary	Pune, Raigad & Thane	Indian Giant Squirrel, Leopard	Habitat of the state animal (Shekru).
11	—	Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary	Satara	Tiger, Leopard, Gaur	UNESCO Western Ghats region.
12	—	Chandoli Wildlife Sanctuary	Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur & Ratnagiri	Tiger, Leopard, Gaur	Part of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
13	—	Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary	Kolhapur	Indian Bison (Gaur), Leopard	Famous for large gaur population.
14	—	Karnala Bird Sanctuary	Raigad	Hornbills, Kingfishers, Migratory Birds	Popular birdwatching destination.
15	—	Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary	Raigad	Leopard, Giant Squirrel, Birds	Rich coastal biodiversity.
16	—	Rehekuri Blackbuck Sanctuary	Ahmednagar	Blackbuck, Indian Wolf	First blackbuck sanctuary in Maharashtra.
17	—	Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary	Solapur & Ahmednagar	Great Indian Bustard, Blackbuck	One of India's largest bird sanctuaries.
18	—	Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar & Jalgaon	Leopard, Hyena, Deer	Forests, waterfalls, and historic caves.
19	—	Yawal Wildlife Sanctuary	Jalgaon	Leopard, Sloth Bear, Chital	Satpura foothill ecosystem.
20	—	Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary	Palghar & Thane	Leopard, Sambar, Barking Deer	Surrounds Tansa Reservoir.
21	—	Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary	Yavatmal	Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear	Important tiger habitat in Vidarbha.
22	—	Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary	Gadchiroli	Tiger, Wild Dog, Gaur	Dense forests near Chhattisgarh border.
23	—	Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary	Gadchiroli	Tiger, Leopard, Deer	Rich deciduous forests.
24	—	Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary	Yavatmal & Nanded	Tiger, Leopard, Nilgai	Along the Painganga River.
25	—	Umred–Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagpur & Bhandara	Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog	Important tiger corridor in Vidarbha.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Maharashtra

Ajanta Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) – Inscribed in 1983
Ellora Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) – Inscribed in 1983
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai) – Inscribed in 2004
Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (Mumbai) – Inscribed in 2018
Western Ghats (Sahyadri) – Maharashtra Component (Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri & Sindhudurg) – Inscribed in 2012

UNESCO Tentative List Sites in Maharashtra

Maratha Military Landscapes of India (Raigad, Shivneri, Pratapgad, Lohagad, Salher, Panhala, Sindhudurg, Vijaydurg, Suvarnadurg, Khanderi, Rajgad, etc.) – Added to the Tentative List in 2021
Lonar Crater Lake (Buldhana) – Added to the Tentative List in 2021

Festivals of Maharashtra

Ganesh Chaturthi
Gudi Padwa
Makar Sankranti
Gudhi Padwa Shobha Yatra
Pandharpur Wari
Nag Panchami
Dahi Handi (Janmashtami)
Navratri & Durga Puja
Diwali
Ellora–Ajanta Festival
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (Mumbai)
Bail Pola
Shiv Jayanti
Ram Navami (Shirdi)
Bhimthadi Jatra (Pune)
Banganga Festival (Mumbai)
Elephanta Festival (Mumbai)
Konkan Fruit Festival
Strawberry Festival (Mahabaleshwar)
Narali Purnima (Konkan Coast)

Historical Places in Maharashtra

Ajanta Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar): UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for ancient Buddhist caves, murals, and sculptures.
Ellora Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar): UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain rock-cut temples, including the Kailasa Temple.
Raigad Fort (Raigad): Capital of the Maratha Empire and the place of coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674.
Shivneri Fort (Pune): Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and an important Maratha fort.
Shaniwar Wada (Pune): Historical palace that served as the palace of the Peshwa during Maratha Rule.
Daulatabad Fort (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar): An old hill fort constructed by the Yadavas, known for its defensive architecture.
Sindhudurg Fort (Sindhudurg): A sea fort constructed by Shivaji Maharaj to defend the Konkan coast and improve the Maratha Navy.
Pratapgad Fort (Satara): Historical fort where Shivaji Maharaj defeated Afzal Khan in 1659.
Elephanta Caves (Mumbai): UNESCO World Heritage Site noted for rock-cut caves and the Trimurti statue of Lord Shiva.
Gateway of India (Mumbai): A notable colonial-era structure that was erected in 1924, which is located along the Arabian Sea.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai): A UNESCO World Heritage railway station recognized for its Victorian Gothic architecture.
Aga Khan Palace (Pune): Noted historical site connected with Mahatma Gandhi and the struggle for India’s freedom.

Famous Food and Cuisine of Maharashtra

S.No.	Dish	Description
1	Vada Pav	Potato fritter served in a bun.
2	Misal Pav	Spicy sprout curry with bread.
3	Pav Bhaji	Mixed vegetable curry with buttered pav.
4	Puran Poli	Sweet flatbread stuffed with lentils and jaggery.
5	Poha	Flattened rice cooked with spices.
6	Sabudana Khichdi	Tapioca pearls cooked with peanuts.
7	Thalipeeth	Multigrain spiced flatbread.
8	Zunka Bhakri	Gram flour curry served with millet bread.
9	Pithla Bhakri	Gram flour curry with jowar bhakri.
10	Bharli Vangi	Stuffed brinjal cooked with spices.
11	Kolhapuri Tambda Rassa	Spicy red mutton curry.
12	Kolhapuri Pandhra Rassa	Mild white mutton broth.
13	Saoji Chicken	Very spicy Nagpur-style chicken curry.
14	Malvani Fish Curry	Coconut-based coastal fish curry.
15	Bombil Fry	Crispy fried Bombay duck fish.
16	Kombdi Vade	Chicken curry served with fried bread.
17	Kothimbir Vadi	Steamed and fried coriander snack.
18	Alu Vadi (Patra)	Colocasia leaf rolls with spices.
19	Modak	Sweet dumplings offered to Lord Ganesha.
20	Shrikhand	Sweet strained yogurt dessert.
21	Basundi	Thickened sweetened milk dessert.
22	Solkadhi	Kokum and coconut milk drink.
23	Ukadiche Modak	Steamed rice flour dumplings with coconut filling.
24	Bhel Puri	Tangy puffed rice street snack.
25	Ragda Pattice	Potato patties served with white pea curry.
26	Kanda Bhaji	Crispy onion fritters.
27	Batata Bhaji	Spiced potato vegetable dish.
28	Amti	Tangy Maharashtrian lentil curry.
29	Varan Bhaat	Plain dal served with steamed rice.
30	Mango Mastani	Mango milkshake topped with ice cream.

Traditional Dress of Maharashtra

For Men:

S.No.	Dress	Description
1	Dhoti	Traditional wrapped lower garment.
2	Kurta	Long traditional tunic.
3	Dhotar	Maharashtrian-style cotton dhoti.
4	Bandi (Waistcoat)	Sleeveless traditional jacket.
5	Pheta	Traditional colourful turban.
6	Gandhi Topi	White cotton cap worn on formal occasions.
7	Angarkha	Traditional wrap-style upper garment.
8	Kolhapuri Chappal	Traditional handcrafted leather footwear.

For Women:

S.No.	Dress	Description
1	Nauvari Saree	Traditional nine-yard saree.
2	Paithani Saree	Rich silk saree with zari border.
3	Lugade	Traditional Maharashtrian draped saree.
4	Choli	Traditional fitted blouse.
5	Shalu Saree	Silk saree worn during weddings.
6	Khun Blouse	Traditional blouse made from Khun fabric.
7	Traditional Jewellery	Nath, Kolhapuri Saaj, Thushi, Bangles, etc.

Tourist Places of Maharashtra

Natural Attractions

Mahabaleshwar Hill Station (Satara)
Matheran Hill Station (Raigad)
Lonavala & Khandala (Pune)
Kaas Plateau – Valley of Flowers (Satara)
Tadoba National Park (Chandrapur)
Lonar Crater Lake (Buldhana)
Bhandardara (Ahmednagar)
Harihareshwar Beach (Raigad)
Tarkarli Beach (Sindhudurg)
Amboli Hill Station (Sindhudurg)

Cultural Attractions

Gateway of India (Mumbai)
Ajanta Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
Ellora Caves (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
Elephanta Caves (Mumbai)
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (Ahmednagar)
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga (Nashik)
Shaniwar Wada (Pune)
Raigad Fort (Raigad)
Siddhivinayak Temple (Mumbai)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai)

Wildlife Attractions

Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve (Chandrapur)
Pench Tiger Reserve (Nagpur)
Melghat Tiger Reserve (Amravati)
Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Mumbai)
Navegaon National Park (Gondia)
Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary (Pune)
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (Satara)
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary (Kolhapur)
Karnala Bird Sanctuary (Raigad)
Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary (Solapur & Ahmednagar)

Political Parties of Maharashtra

Political Party	Founder
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)	Atal Bihari Vajpayee & L. K. Advani
Indian National Congress (INC)	Allan Octavian Hume
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)	Sharad Pawar, P. A. Sangma & Tariq Anwar
Shiv Sena	Bal Thackeray
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)	Uddhav Thackeray (formed after the 2022 party split)
Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde)	Eknath Shinde (recognized faction after the 2022 split)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)	Raj Thackeray
Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA)	Hitendra Thakur
Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWP)	Keshavrao Jedhe, Shankarrao More & others
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]	E. M. S. Namboodiripad, P. Sundarayya, Jyoti Basu & others
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)	Arvind Kejriwal
Republican Party of India (Athawale) [RPI(A)]	Ramdas Athawale

First Governor of Maharashtra

Sri Prakasa (1 May 1960 – 16 April 1962)

First Chief Minister of Maharashtra

Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan (1 May 1960 – 19 November 1962)

Great Personalities of Maharashtra

1. Political Leaders & Freedom Fighters

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Lokmanya Tilak)
Jyotirao (Mahatma) Phule
Savitribai Phule

2. Business & Industrial Tycoons

Ratan Tata
J. R. D. Tata Rahul Bajaj Cyrus Poonawalla
Anand Mahindra

3. Science & Innovation Pioneers

Dr. Homi J. Bhabha
Dr. Jayant Narlikar
Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar
Dr. Anil Kakodkar
Dr. Vijay Bhatkar

4. Cultural, Literary & Art Personalities

Lata Mangeshkar
Asha Bhosle Sant Tukaram
Sant Dnyaneshwar
Pu. La. Deshpande

5. Sports Personalities

Sachin Tendulkar
Sunil Gavaskar
Rohit Sharma
Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav
Rahi Sarnobat

Architecture of Maharashtra

Some famous architectural landmarks of Maharashtra are:

Ajanta Caves
Ellora Caves
Elephanta Caves
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)
Gateway of India
Raigad Fort
Shaniwar Wada
Daulatabad (Devagiri) Fort

Sports of Maharashtra

Popular sports in Maharashtra include:

Cricket
Kabaddi
Kho-Kho
Wrestling (Kushti)
Football
Badminton
Hockey
Athletics

Conclusion

Maharashtra is one of the most prosperous and industrially developed states in India. Maharashtra's fame stems from its manufacturing, finance, and IT sectors, as well as its diverse agriculture. In addition, this state has wonderful infrastructure, ports, cultural heritage, and much more. Hence, this state has become an essential region for India's overall economic growth.

Additionally, Maharashtra is home to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, forts, wildlife, pilgrimage destinations, and more. From the historical background of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the city of Mumbai, this state blends history and culture with development. Therefore, this state remains one of the most prominent and influential states in India.

Hence, it can be said that the glorious past of Maharashtra co-exists with its industrial and technological growth.

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