Maharashtra (Marathi:Mahārāṣṭra,pronounced[məɦaːˈɾaːʂᵊʈᵊɾə],^ⓘ) is astate in thewestern peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of theDeccan Plateau. It is bordered by theArabian Sea to the west, the Indian states ofKarnataka andGoa to the south,Telangana to the southeast andChhattisgarh to the east,Gujarat andMadhya Pradesh to the north, and the Indianunion territory ofDadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu to the northwest.^[18] Maharashtra is thesecond-most populous state in India, the third most populous country subdivision inSouth Asia and thefourth-most populous in the world.

Maharashtra
State
State of Maharashtra
Ajanta Caves Kailasa Temple Gateway of India Statue ofShivaji atRaigad Fort Shaniwar Wada Hazur Sahib Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Pratapgad Fort
Emblem of Maharashtra
Etymology: "mahā" (Great) and Sanskritized form of "Ratta dynasty"
Nickname:  "Gateway of India"
Motto(s):  Pratipaccandralēkhēva vardhiṣṇurviśva vanditā Mahārāṣṭrasya rājyasya mudrā bhadrāya rājatē (The glory of Maharashtra will grow like the first day moon. It will be worshipped by the world and will shine only for the well-being of people)
Anthem:Jai Jai Mahārāṣṭra Mājhā[1] ("Victory to My Maharashtra!")[2]
Location of Maharashtra in India
Coordinates:18°58′N72°49′E / 18.97°N 72.82°E /18.97; 72.82
Country	India
Region	West India
Before was	State of Bombay (1950–1960)
Formation (by bifurcation)	1 May 1960
Capital	Mumbai Nagpur (winter)
Largest city	Mumbai
Largest metro	Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Districts	36 (6 divisions)
Government
• Body	Government of Maharashtra
• Governor	C. P. Radhakrishnan
• Chief minister	Devendra Fadnavis (BJP)
• Deputy chief minister	Eknath Shinde (SHS) Ajit Pawar (NCP)
State Legislature	Bicameral Maharashtra Legislature
• Council	Maharashtra Legislative Council (78 seats)
• Assembly	Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (288 seats)
National Parliament	Parliament of India
• Rajya Sabha	19 seats
• Lok Sabha	48 seats
High Court	Bombay High Court
Area
• Total	307,713 km2 (118,809 sq mi)
• Rank	3rd
Dimensions
• Length	870 km (540 mi)
• Width	605 km (376 mi)
Elevation [3]	100 m (300 ft)
Highest elevation (Kalsubai[4])	1,646 m (5,400 ft)
Lowest elevation (Arabian Sea)	−1 m (−3 ft)
Population  (2011)[5]
• Total	112,374,333
• Rank	3rd
• Density	370/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
• Urban	45.22%
• Rural	54.78%
Demonym	Maharashtrian
Language
• Official	Marathi[6][7]Hindi[6][7]
• Official script	Devanagari script
GDP [8][9][10]
• Total(2024–25)	₹45.32 trillion (US$548.67 billion)
• Rank	(1st)
• Per capita	₹343,609 (US$4,100) (12th)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	IN-MH
Vehicle registration	MH
HDI(2022)	0.688Medium[11] (9th)
Literacy(2017)	84.8% (14th)
Sex ratio(2021)	966♀/1000♂[12] (23rd)
Website	maharashtra.gov.in
Symbols of Maharashtra
Emblem of Maharashtra
Song	Jai Jai Mahārāṣṭra Mājhā[1] ("Victory to My Maharashtra!")[2]
Foundation day	Maharashtra Day
Bird	Yellow-footed green pigeon[13]
Butterfly	Blue Mormon[14]
Fish	Silver Pomfret
Flower	Jarul[13][15]
Mammal	Indian giant squirrel[13]
Tree	Mango tree[13][16]
State highway mark
State highway of Maharashtra MH SH1-MH SH368
List of Indian state symbols
^TheState of Bombay was split into two States i.e. Maharashtra and Gujarat by theBombay Reorganisation Act 1960[17] †† Common high court

The state is divided into 6divisions and 36districts.Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra due to its historical significance as a majortrading port and its status as India'sfinancial hub, housing key institutions and a diverseeconomy. Additionally, Mumbai's well-developedinfrastructure andcultural diversity make it a suitable administrative center for the state, and themost populous urban area in India, withNagpur serving as the winter capital.^[19] TheGodavari andKrishna are the state's two major rivers, and forests cover 16.47% of the state's geographical area. The state is home to sixUNESCO World Heritage Sites:Ajanta Caves,Ellora Caves,Elephanta Caves,Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus), theVictorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai and theWestern Ghats, a heritage site made up of 39 individual properties of which four are in Maharashtra.^[20][21]

Theeconomy of Maharashtra is thelargest in India, with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of₹42.5 trillion (US$500 billion) and GSDP per capita of₹335,247 (US$4,000);^[9] it is the single-largest contributor toIndia's economy, being accountable for 14% of all-India nominalGDP.^[22][23][24] The service sector dominates the state's economy, accounting for 69.3% of the value of the output of the country. Although agriculture accounts for 12% of the state GDP, it employs nearly half the population of the state.

Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised states in India. The state's capital, Mumbai, is India'sfinancial and commercial capital.^[25] TheBombay Stock Exchange, India's largest stock exchange and the oldest in Asia, is located in the city, as is theNational Stock Exchange, which is the second-largest stock exchange in India and one of world's largestderivatives exchanges. The state has played a significant role in the country'ssocial andpolitical life and is widely considered a leader in terms ofagricultural andindustrial production, trade and transport, and education.^[26] Maharashtra is theninth-highest ranking among Indian states in thehuman development index.^[27]

The region that encompasses the modern state has a history going back many millennia. Notable dynasties that ruled the region include theAsmakas, theMauryas, theSatavahanas, theWestern Satraps, theAbhiras, theVakatakas, theChalukyas, theRashtrakutas, theWestern Chalukyas, theSeuna Yadavas, theKhaljis, theTughlaqs, theBahamanis and theMughals. In the early nineteenth century, the region was divided between the Dominions of thePeshwa in theMaratha Confederacy and theNizamate of Hyderabad.

After two wars and the proclamation of the Indian Empire, the region became a part of theBombay Province, theBerar Province and theCentral Provinces of India under direct British rule and theDeccan States Agency under Crown suzerainty. Between 1950 and 1956, the Bombay Province became the Bombay State in the Indian Union, and Berar, the Deccan states and the Gujarat states were merged into the Bombay State. Aspirations of a separate state for Marathi-speaking peoples were pursued by theUnited Maharashtra Movement; their advocacy eventually borne fruit on 1 May 1960, when the State of Bombay was bifurcated into the modern states of Maharasthra andGujarat.

The modernMarathi language evolved fromMaharashtri Prakrit,^[28] and the wordMarhatta (later used for theMarathas) is found in theJain Maharashtrian literature. The term Maharashtra along with Maharashtrian, Marathi, and Maratha may have derived from the same root. However, their exact etymology is uncertain.^[29]

The most widely accepted theory among the linguistic scholars is that the words Maratha and Maharashtra ultimately derived from a combination ofMahā andRāṣṭrikā,^[29][30] the name of a tribe or dynasty of chiefs ruling in theDeccan region.^[31] An alternate theory states that the term is derived frommahā ("great") andratha/rathi ("chariot"/"charioteer"), which refers to a skilful northern fighting force that migrated southward into the area.^[31][30]

In theHarivamsa, theYadava kingdom calledAnaratta is described as mostly inhabited by theAbhiras (Abhira-praya-manusyam). TheAnartta country and its inhabitants were calledSurastra and the Saurastras, probably after the Rattas (Rastras) akin to the Rastrikas of Asoka's rock Edicts, now known as Maharastra and theMarattas.^[32]

An alternative theory states that the term derives from the wordmahā ("great") andrāṣṭra ("nation/dominion").^[33] However, this theory is somewhat controversial among modern scholars who believe it to be the Sanskritised interpretation of later writers.^[29]

NumerousLate Harappan orChalcolithic sites belonging to theJorwe culture (c. 1300–700 BCE) have been discovered throughout the state.[34]^[35] The largest settlement discovered of the culture is atDaimabad, which had a mud fortification during this period, as well as an elliptical temple with fire pits.^[36][37] In theLate Harappan period there was a large migration of people from Gujarat to northern Maharashtra.^[38]

Maharashtra was ruled byMaurya Empire in the fourth and third centuries BCE. Around 230 BCE, Maharashtra came under the rule of theSatavahana dynasty which ruled it for the next 400 years.^[39] The rule of Satavahanas was followed by that ofWestern Satraps,Gupta Empire,Gurjara-Pratihara,Vakataka,Kadambas,Chalukya Empire,Rashtrakuta Dynasty, andWestern Chalukya and theYadava Dynasty. TheBuddhistAjanta Caves in present-dayAurangabad display influences from the Satavahana and Vakataka styles. The caves were possibly excavated during this period.^[40]

The Chalukya dynasty ruled the region from the sixth to the eighth centuries CE, and the two prominent rulers werePulakeshin II, who defeated the north Indian EmperorHarsha, andVikramaditya II, who defeated theArab invaders in the eighth century. The Rashtrakuta dynasty ruled Maharashtra from the eighth to the tenth century.^[41] The Arab travellerSulaiman al Mahri described the ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynastyAmoghavarsha as "one of the four great kings of the world".^[42] Shilahara dynasty began as vassals of the Rashtrakuta dynasty which ruled the Deccan plateau between the eighth and tenth centuries. From the early 11th century to the 12th century, the Deccan Plateau, which includes a significant part of Maharashtra, was dominated by theWestern Chalukya Empire and theChola dynasty.^[43] Several battles were fought between the Western Chalukya Empire and the Chola dynasty in the Deccan Plateau during the reigns ofRaja Raja Chola I,Rajendra Chola I,Jayasimha II,Someshvara I, andVikramaditya VI.^[44]

In the early 14th century, theYadava dynasty, which ruled most of present-day Maharashtra, was overthrown by theDelhi Sultanate rulerAlauddin Khalji. Later,Muhammad bin Tughluq conquered parts of the Deccan, and temporarily shifted his capital from Delhi toDaulatabad in Maharashtra. After the collapse of the Tughluqs in 1347, the localBahmani Sultanate of Gulbarga took over, governing the region for the next 150 years.^[45] After the break-up of theBahamani sultanate in 1518, Maharashtra split into fiveDeccan Sultanates:Nizamshah ofAhmednagar,Adilshah ofBijapur,Qutubshah ofGolkonda,Bidarshah ofBidar andImadshah of Elichpur. These kingdoms often fought with each other. United, they decisively defeated theVijayanagara Empire of the south in 1565.^[46] The present area of Mumbai was ruled by theSultanate of Gujarat before its capture byPortugal in 1535 and theFaruqi dynasty ruled theKhandesh region between 1382 and 1601 before finally getting annexed in theMughal Empire.Malik Ambar, the regent of theNizamshahi dynasty ofAhmednagar from 1607 to 1626,^[47] increased the strength and power ofMurtaza Nizam Shah II and raised a large army.Ambar is said to have introduced the concept ofguerrilla warfare in the Deccan region.^[48] Malik Ambar assisted Mughal emperorShah Jahan in Delhi against his stepmother,Nur Jahan, who wanted to enthrone her son-in-law.^[49][50] BothShivaji's grandfather, Maloji and father Shahaji served under Ambar.^[51]

In the early 17th century,Shahaji Bhosale, an ambitious local general who had served theAhmadnagar Sultanate, the Mughals andAdil Shah of Bijapur at different periods throughout his career, attempted to establish his independent rule.^[52] This attempt was unsuccessful, but his son Shivaji succeeded in establishing theMaratha Empire.^[53] Shortly after Shivaji's death in 1680, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb launched a campaign to conquer Maratha territories as well as the Adilshahi and Govalkonda kingdoms.^[54] This campaign, better known asMughal–Maratha Wars, was a strategic defeat for Mughals. Aurangzeb failed to fully conquer Maratha territories, and this campaign had a ruinous effect on Mughal Treasury and Army.^[55] Shortly after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Marathas under PeshwaBajirao I and the generals that he had promoted such asRanoji Shinde andMalharrao Holkar started conquering Mughal Territories in the north and western India, and by 1750s they or their successors had confined the Mughals to city of Delhi.^[56]

After their defeat at the hand ofAhmad Shah Abdali's Afghan forces in theThird Battle of Panipat in 1761, the Maratha suffered a setback. However, they soon reclaimed the lost territories and ruled central and north India including Delhi until the end of the eighteenth century. The Marathas also developed a potentNavy circa in the 1660s, which at its peak under the command ofKanhoji Angre, dominated the territorial waters of the western coast of India from Mumbai toSavantwadi.^[57] It resisted theBritish,Portuguese,Dutch, andSiddi naval ships and kept a check on their naval ambitions. Charles Metcalfe, British Civil servant and later Acting Governor-General, said in 1806:^[58]

India contains no more than two great powers, British and Maratha, and every other state acknowledges the influence of one or the other. Every inch that we recede will be occupied by them.

The BritishEast India Company slowly expanded areas under its rule during the 18th century. TheThird Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) led to the end of the Maratha Empire and theEast India Company took over the empire.^[59][60] TheMaratha Navy dominated till around the 1730s, was in a state of decline by the 1770s and ceased to exist by 1818.^[61]

TheBritish governed western Maharashtra as part of theBombay Presidency, which spanned an area fromKarachi in Pakistan to northern Deccan. A number of theMaratha states persisted asprincely states, retaining autonomy in return for acknowledging Britishsuzerainty. The largest princely states in the territory wereNagpur,Satara andKolhapur State; Satara was annexed to the Bombay Presidency in 1848, and Nagpur was annexed in 1853 to becomeNagpur Province, later part of theCentral Provinces.Berar, which had been part of theNizam ofHyderabad's kingdom, was occupied by the British in 1853 and annexed to the Central Provinces in 1903.^[62] However, a large region calledMarathwada remained part of the Nizam's Hyderabad State throughout the British period. The British ruled Maharashtra region from 1818 to 1947 and influenced every aspect of life for the people of the region. They brought several changes to the legal system,^[63][64][65] built modern means of transport including roads^[66] and Railways,^[67][68] took various steps to provide mass education, including that for previously marginalised classes and women,^[69] established universities based on western system and imparting education in science, technology,^[70] and western medicine,^[71][72][73] standardised the Marathi language,^{[74][75][76][77]} and introduced mass media by utilising modern printing technologies.^[78] The1857 war of independence had many Marathi leaders, though the battles mainly took place in northern India. The modern struggle for independence started taking shape in the late 1800s with leaders such asBal Gangadhar Tilak, JusticeMahadev Govind Ranade,Gopal Krishna Gokhale,Pherozeshah Mehta andDadabhai Naoroji evaluating the company rule and its consequences.Jyotirao Phule was the pioneer of social reform in the Maharashtra region in the second half of the 19th century. His social work was continued byShahu, Raja of Kolhapur and later byB. R. Ambedkar. After the partialautonomy given to the states by theGovernment of India Act 1935,B. G. Kher became the first chief minister of the Congress party-led government of tri-lingual Bombay Presidency.^[79] The ultimatum to the British during theQuit India Movement was given in Mumbai and culminated in the transfer of power and independence in 1947.^{[citation needed]}

After Indian independence, princely states and Jagirs of theDeccan States Agency were merged intoBombay State, which was created from the former Bombay Presidency in 1950.^[80] In 1956, theStates Reorganisation Act reorganised the Indian states along linguistic lines, and Bombay Presidency State was enlarged by the addition of the predominantlyMarathi-speaking regions ofMarathwada (Aurangabad Division) from erstwhileHyderabad state andVidarbha region from theCentral Provinces and Berar. The southernmost part of Bombay State was ceded toMysore. In the 1950s, Marathi people strongly protested against bilingualBombay state under the banner ofSamyukta Maharashtra Samiti.^[81][82] The notable leaders of the samiti includedKeshavrao Jedhe,S.M. Joshi,Shripad Amrit Dange,Pralhad Keshav Atre andGopalrao Khedkar. The key demand of the samiti called for a Marathi speaking state with Mumbai as its capital.^[83] In the Gujarati speaking areas of the state, a similarMahagujarat Movement demanded a separate Gujarat state comprising majority Gujarati areas. After many years of protests, which saw 106 deaths among the protestors, and electoral success of the samiti in 1957 elections, the central government led by Prime ministerNehru split Bombay State into two new states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on 1 May 1960.^[84]

The state continues to have a dispute with Karnataka regarding the region ofBelgaum andKarwar.^[85][86] The Government of Maharashtra was unhappy with the border demarcation of 1957 and filed a petition to the Ministry of Home affairs of India.^[87] Maharashtra claimed 814 villages, and 3 urban settlements of Belagon, Karwar andNippani, all part of then Bombay Presidency before freedom of the country.^[88] A petition by Maharashtra in the Supreme Court of India, staking a claim over Belagon, is currently pending.^[89]

•  
  Late Harappa figure fromDaimabad hoard,Indus Valley civilisation
•  
  2nd century BCEKarla Caves are a group of Buddhist caves nearLonavala.
•  
  Bibi Ka Maqbara, a replica of theTaj Mahal, was built during the reign of Mughal EmperorAurangzeb
•  
  Statue of Shivaji oppositeGateway of India inSouth Mumbai
•  
  The Bombay-Poona Mail Train of theGIPR company in 1907

Maharashtra with a total area of 307,713 km² (118,809 sq mi), is thethird-largest state by area in terms of land area and constitutes 9.36% of India's total geographical area. The State lies between 15°35' N to 22°02' N latitude and 72°36' E to 80°54' E longitude. It occupies thewestern and central part of the country and has a coastline stretching 840 kilometres (520 mi)^[90] along theArabian Sea.^[91] The dominant physical feature of the state is its plateau character, which is separated from the Konkan coastline by the mountain range of the Western Ghats, which runs parallel to the coast from north to south. TheWestern Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Range, has an average elevation of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft); its slopes gently descending towards the east and southeast.^[92] TheWestern Ghats (or the Sahyadri Mountain range) provide a physical barrier to the state on the west, while theSatpura Hills along the north and Bhamragad-Chiroli-Gaikhuri ranges on the east serve as its natural borders.^[93] This state's expansion from North to South is 720 km (450 mi) and East to West is 800 km (500 mi). To the west of these hills lie theKonkan coastal plains, 50–80 km (31–50 mi) in width. To the east of the Ghats lies the flatDeccan Plateau. The main rivers of the state are theKrishna, and its tributary,Bhima, the Godavari, and its main tributaries,Manjara, andWardha-Wainganga and theTapi, and its tributaryPurna.^[91][94] Maharashtra is divided into five geographic regions. Konkan is the western coastal region, between the Western Ghats and the sea.^[95]Khandesh is the north region lying in the valley of the Tapti,Purna river.^[94]Nashik,MalegaonJalgaon,Dhule andBhusawal are the major cities of this region.^[96]Desh is in the centre of the state.^[97]Marathwada, which was a part of the princelystate of Hyderabad until 1956, is located in the southeastern part of the state.^[91][98] Aurangabad andNanded are the main cities of the region.^[99]Vidarbha is the easternmost region of the state, formerly part of the Central Provinces and Berar.^[100]

The state has limited area under irrigation, low natural fertility of soils, and large areas prone to recurrent drought. Due to this the agricultural productivity of Maharashtra is generally low as compared to the national averages of various crops. Maharashtra has been divided in to nine agro-climatic zones on the basis of annual rainfall soil types, vegetation and cropping pattern.^[101]

Maharashtra experiences atropical wet and dry climate with hot, rainy, and cold weather seasons. Some areas more inland experience a hotsemi arid climate, due to a rain shadow effect caused by the Western Ghats.^[102] The month of March marks the beginning of the summer and the temperature rises steadily until June. In the central plains, summer temperatures rise to between 40 °C or 104.0 °F and 45 °C or 113.0 °F. May is usually the warmest and January the coldest month of the year. The winter season lasts until February with lower temperatures occurring in December and January. On the Deccan plateau that lies on eastern side of the Sahyadri mountains, the climate is drier, however, dew and hail often occur, depending on seasonal weather.^[103]

The rainfall patterns in the state vary by the topography of different regions. The state can be divided into four meteorological regions, namely coastal Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha.^[104] Thesouthwest monsoon usually arrives in the last week of June and lasts till mid-September. Pre-monsoon showers begin towards the middle of June and post-monsoon rains occasionally occur in October. The highest average monthly rainfall is during July and August. In the winter season, there may be a little rainfall associated with western winds over the region. The Konkan coastal area, west of the Sahyadri Mountains receives very heavy monsoon rains with an annual average of more than 3,000 millimetres (120 in). However, just 150 km (93 mi) to the east, in the rain shadow of the mountain range, only 500–700 mm/year will fall, and long dry spells leading to drought are a common occurrence. Maharashtra has many of the 99 Indian districts identified by the Indian Central water commission as prone to drought.^[105] The average annual rainfall in the state is 1,181 mm (46.5 in) and 75% of it is received during the southwest monsoon from June–to September. However, under the influence of the Bay of Bengal, eastern Vidarbha receives good rainfall in July, August, and September.^[106] Thane,Raigad,Ratnagiri, andSindhudurg districts receive heavy rains of an average of 2,000 to 2,500 mm or 80 to 100 in and the hill stations ofMatheran andMahabaleshwar over 5,000 mm (200 in). Contrariwise, the rain shadow districts ofNashik,Pune,Ahmednagar,Dhule,Jalgaon,Satara,Sangli,Solapur, and parts ofKolhapur receive less than 1,000 mm (39 in) annually. In winter, a cool dry spell occurs, with clear skies, gentle air breeze, and pleasant weather that prevails from October to February, although the eastern Vidarbha region receives rainfall from the north-east monsoon.^[107]

The state has three crucial biogeographic zones, namelyWestern Ghats,Deccan Plateau, and theWest coast. The Ghats nurture endemic species, Deccan Plateau provides for vast mountain ranges and grasslands while the coast is home to littoral and swamp forests. Flora of Maharashtra is heterogeneous in composition. In 2012 the recorded thick forest area in the state was 61,939 km² (23,915 sq mi) which was about 20.13% of the state's geographical area.^[108] There are three main Public Forestry Institutions (PFIs) in the Maharashtra state: theMaharashtra Forest Department (MFD), the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) and the Directorate of Social Forestry (SFD).^[109] The Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, constituted by the Government of Maharashtra in January 2012 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, is the nodal body for the conservation of biodiversity within and outside forest areas in the State.^[110][111]

Maharashtra is ranked second among theIndian states in terms of the recorded forest area. Recorded Forest Area (RFA) in the state is 61,579 sq mi (159,489 km²) of which 49,546 sq mi (128,324 km²) is reserved forests, 6,733 sq mi (17,438 km²) is protected forest and 5,300 sq mi (13,727 km²) is unclassed forests. Based on the interpretation of IRSResourcesat-2 LISS III satellite data of the period Oct 2017 to Jan 2018, the State has 8,720.53 sq mi (22,586 km²) under Very Dense Forest(VDF), 20,572.35 sq mi (53,282 km²) under Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) and 21,484.68 sq mi (55,645 km²) under Open Forest (OF). According to theChampion and Seth classification, Maharashtra has five types of forests:^[112]

• Southern Tropical Semi-Evergreen forests: These are found in the western ghats at a height of 400–1,000 m (1,300–3,300 ft).Anjani,Hirda,Kinjal, andMango are predominant tree species found here.
• Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous forests: These are a mix of MoistTeak bearing forests (Melghat) and Moist Mixed deciduous forests (Vidarbha and Thane district). Commercially important Teak,Shishum, andbamboo are found here. In addition to evergreen Teak, some of the other tree species found in this type of forest includeJambul,Ain, andShisam.^[113]
• Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests: these occupy a major part of the state. Southern Tropical Thorn forests are found in the low rainfall regions ofMarathwada,Vidarbha,Khandesh, and Western Maharashtra. At present, these forests are heavily degraded.Babul,Bor, andPalas are some of the tree species found here.
• Littoral andSwamp forests are mainly found in the Creeks ofSindhudurg and Thane districts of the coastal Konkan region. The state harbours significant mangrove, coastal and marine biodiversity, with 304 km² (117 sq mi) of the area under mangrove cover as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) of the Forest survey India in the coastal districts of the state.

The most common animal species present in the state are monkeys, wild pigs,tiger,leopard,gaur,sloth bear,sambar,four-horned antelope,chital,barking deer,mouse deer,small Indian civet,golden jackal,jungle cat, andhare.^[114] Other animals found in this state include reptiles such aslizards, scorpions and snake species such ascobras andkraits.^[115] The state provides legal protection to itstiger population through six dedicatedtiger reserves under the precincts of theNational Tiger Conservation Authority.

The state's 720 km (450 mi) of sea coastline of theArabian Sea marks the presence of various types of fish and marine animals. TheZoological Survey of India (ZSI) found 1527 marine animal species, includingmolluscs with 581 species, manycrustacean species including crabs, shrimps, and lobsters, 289 fish species, and 141 species types ofannelids (sea worms).^[116]

Maharashtra has following geographical regions:

1. North Maharashtra
2. Konkan
3. Marathwada
4. Vidarbha
6. Desh or Western Maharashtra

It consists of six administrative divisions:^[117]

1. Amravati
2. Aurangabad
3. Konkan
4. Nagpur
5. Nashik
6. Pune

The state's six divisions are further divided into 36districts, 109 sub-divisions, and 358talukas.^[118] Maharashtra's top five districts by population, as ranked by the 2011 Census, are listed in the following table.

Each district is governed by adistrict collector or district magistrate, appointed either by theIndian Administrative Service or the Maharashtra Civil Service.^[119] Districts are subdivided intosub-divisions (Taluka) governed by sub-divisional magistrates, and again intoblocks.^[120] A block consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities.^[121][122] Talukas are intermediate level panchayat between theZilla Parishad (district councils) at the district level andgram panchayat (village councils) at the lower level.^[120][123]

Out of the total population of Maharashtra, 45.22% of people live in urban regions. The total figure of the population living in urban areas is 50.8 million. There are 27Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra.^[124]

According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, Maharashtra was at that time the richest state in India and thesecond-most populous state in India with a population of 112,374,333. Contributing to 9.28% of India's population, males and females are 58,243,056 and 54,131,277, respectively.^[126] The total population growth in 2011 was 15.99%, while in the previous decade it was 22.57%.^[127][128] Since independence, the decadal growth rate of population has remained higher (except in the year 1971) than the national average. However, in the year 2011, it was found to be lower than the national average.^[128] The 2011 census for the state found 55% of the population to be rural with 45% being urban-based.^[129][130] Although, India hasn't conducted a caste-wise census since Independence, based on the British era census of 1931, it is estimated that theMaratha and theMaratha-kunbi numerically form the largest caste cluster with around 32% of the population.^[131] Maharashtra has a largeOther Backward Class population constituting 41% of the population. The scheduled tribes includeAdivasis such asThakar,Warli,Konkana andHalba.^[132] The 2011 census foundscheduled castes andscheduled tribes to account for 11.8% and 8.9% of the population, respectively.^[133] The state also includes a substantial number ofmigrants from other states of India.^[134]Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka account for the largest percentage of migrants to the Mumbai metropolitan area.^[135]

The 2011 census reported the human sex ratio is 929 females per 1000 males, which were below the national average of 943. The density of Maharashtra was 365 inhabitants per km² which was lower than the national average of 382 per km². Since 1921, the populations of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg shrank by −4.96% and −2.30%, respectively, while the population of Thane grew by 35.9%, followed by Pune at 30.3%. The literacy rate is 83.2%, higher than the national rate at 74.04%.^[136] Of this, male literacy stood at 89.82% and female literacy 75.48%.^[137]

According to the 2011 census,Hinduism was the principal religion in the state at 79.8% of the total population.Muslims constituted 11.5% of the total population. Maharashtra has the highest number of followers ofBuddhism in India, accounting for 5.8% of Maharashtra's total population with 6,531,200 followers.Marathi Buddhists account for 77.36% of allBuddhists in India.^[139]Sikhs,Christians, andJains constituted 0.2%, 1%, and 1.2% of the Maharashtra population respectively.^[138]

Maharashtra, and particularly the city of Mumbai, is home to two tiny religious communities. This includes 5000Jews, mainly belonging to theBene Israel, andBaghdadi Jewish communities.^[140]Parsi is the other community who followZoroastrianism. The 2011 census recorded around 44,000 parsis in Maharashtra.^[141]

Marathi is the official language although different regions have their own dialects.^{[6][143][144]} Most people speak regional languages classified as dialects of Marathi in the census.Powari,Lodhi, andVarhadi are spoken in the Vidarbha region, Dangi is spoken near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border,Bhil languages are spoken throughout the northwest part of the state,Khandeshi (locally known as Ahirani) is spoken in Khandesh region. In the Desh and Marathwada regions,Dakhini Urdu is widely spoken, although Dakhini speakers are usually bilingual in Marathi.^[145]

Konkani, and its dialect Malvani, is spoken along the southern Konkan coast. Telugu and Kannada are spoken along the border areas of Telangana and Karnataka, respectively. At the junction of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh a variety of Hindi dialects are spoken such as Lodhi andPowari. Lambadi is spoken through a wide area of eastern Marathwada and western Vidarbha. Gondi is spoken by diminishing minorities throughout Vidarbha but is most concentrated in the forests of Gadchiroli and the Telangana border.^{[citation needed]}

Marathi is the first language of a majority or plurality of the people in all districts of Maharashtra exceptNandurbar, whereBhili is spoken by 45% of its population. The highest percentage ofKhandeshi speakers areDhule district (29%) and the highest percentage ofGondi speakers are inGadchiroli district (24%).^[142]

The highest percentages of mother-tongue Hindi speakers are in urban areas, especially Mumbai and its suburbs, where it is mother tongue to over a quarter of the population. Pune and Nagpur are also spots for Hindi-speakers. Gujarati and Urdu are also major languages in Mumbai, both are spoken by around 10% of the population.^[142]Urdu and its dialect, theDakhni are spoken by the Muslim population of the state.^[146]

TheMumbai metropolitan area is home to migrants from all over India. In Mumbai, a wide range of languages are spoken, including Telugu, Tamil, Konkani, Kannada, Sindhi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tulu, and many more.^[142]

The state is governed through aparliamentary system ofrepresentative democracy, a feature the state shares with other Indian states. Maharashtra is one of the six states in India where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising theVidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) and theVidhan Parishad (Legislative Council).^[147] The legislature, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, consists of elected members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members. TheLegislative Assembly consists of 288 members who are elected for five-year terms unless the Assembly is dissolved before to the completion of the term. TheLegislative Council is a permanent body of 78 members with one-third (33 members) retiring every two years. Maharashtra is the second most important state in terms of political representation in theLok Sabha, or the lower chamber of the Indian Parliament with 48 seats which is next only toUttar Pradesh which has the highest number of seats than any other Indian state with 80 seats.^[148] Maharashtra also has 19 seats in theRajya Sabha, or the upper chamber of the Indian Parliament.^[149][150]

Thegovernment of Maharashtra is a democratically elected body in India with theGovernor as its constitutional head who is appointed by thePresident of India for a five-year term.^[151] The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as thechief minister by the governor, and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the governor on the advice of the chief minister.^[152] The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. Thecouncil of ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a Minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of theIndian Administrative Service, the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serves as the administrative head of the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary, etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary.^{[citation needed]}

For purpose of administration, the state is divided into 6 divisions and 36districts. Divisional Commissioner, an IAS officer is the head of administration at the divisional level. The administration in each district is headed by aDistrict Magistrate, who is an IAS officer and is assisted by several officers belonging to state services. Urban areas in the state are governed byMunicipal Corporations,Municipal Councils,Nagar Panchayats, and sevenCantonment Boards.^[128][153] TheMaharashtra Police is headed by an IPS officer of the rank ofDirector general of police. A Superintendent of Police, an IPS officer assisted by the officers of the Maharashtra Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues in each district. The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to theIndian Forest Service, manages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers of Maharashtra Forest Service and Maharashtra Forest Subordinate Service.^[154]

The judiciary in the state consists of the Maharashtra High Court (The High Court of Bombay), district and session courts in each district and lower courts and judges at the taluka level.^[155] The High Court has regional branches atNagpur andAurangabad in Maharashtra andPanaji which is the capital of Goa.^[156] The state cabinet on 13 May 2015 passed a resolution favouring the setting up of one more bench of the Bombay high court inKolhapur, covering the region.^[157] The President of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Maharashtra judiciary on the advice of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the Governor of Maharashtra.^[158] Other judges are appointed by the chief justice of the high court of the judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice.^[159] Subordinate Judicial Service is another vital part of the judiciary of Maharashtra.^[160] The subordinate judiciary or the district courts are categorised into two divisions: the Maharashtra civil judicial services and higher judicial service.^[161] While the Maharashtra civil judicial services comprises the Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and civil judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate, the higher judicial service comprises civil and sessions judges.^[162] The Subordinate judicial service of the judiciary is controlled by the District Judge.^[159][163]

The politics of the state in the first decades after its formation in 1960 was dominated by theIndian National Congress party or its offshoots such as theNationalist Congress Party. At present, it has been dominated by four political parties, theBharatiya Janata Party, theNationalist Congress Party, theIndian National Congress and theShivsena.The politics of the state in the last five years has seen long-term alliances breaking up like that of undivided Shivsena and BJP, new ones being formed between Congress, NCP, and the Shivsena, regional parties like the Shivsena and NCP splitting up, and majority of their legislators joining a new alliance government with the BJP.^{[164][165][166][167]}

Just like in other states in India, dynastic politics is fairly common also among political parties in Maharashtra.^[168] The dynastic phenomenon is seen from the national level down to the district level and even village level. The three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj created in the state in the 1960s also helped to create and consolidate this phenomenon in rural areas. Apart from controlling the government, political families also control cooperative institutions, mainlycooperative sugar factories and districtcooperative banks in the state.^[169] TheBharatiya Janata Party also features several senior leaders who are dynasts.^[170][171] In Maharashtra, theNCP has a particularly high level of dynasticism.^[171]

In the early years, the politics of Maharashtra was dominated by Congress party figures such asYashwantrao Chavan,Vasantdada Patil,Vasantrao Naik, andShankarrao Chavan.Sharad Pawar, who started his political career in the Congress party, has been a towering personality in state and national politics for over forty years. During his career, he has split the Congress twice with significant consequences for the state politics.^[172][173] The Congress party enjoyed a near unchallenged dominance of the political landscape until 1995 when theShiv Sena and theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured an overwhelming majority in the state to form a coalition government.^[174] After his second parting from the Congress party in 1999,Sharad Pawar founded theNCP but then formed a coalition with the Congress to keep out the BJP-Shiv Sena combine out of the Maharashtra state government for fifteen years until September 2014.Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress party was the lastChief Minister of Maharashtra under the Congress-NCP alliance.^{[175][176][177]} For the2014 assembly polls, the two alliances between NCP and Congress and that between BJP and Shiv Sena respectively broke down over seat allocations. In the election, the largest number of seats went to the Bharatiya Janata Party, with 122 seats. The BJP initially formed a minority government underDevendra Fadnavis. The Shiv Sena entered the Government after two months and provided a comfortable majority for the alliance in theMaharashtra Vidhansabha for the duration of the assembly.^[178] In the2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured 41 seats out of 48 from the state.^[179] Later in 2019, the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance fought the assembly elections together but the alliance broke down after the election over the post of the chief minister.Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena then formed an alternative governing coalition under his leadership with his erstwhile opponents from NCP, INC, and several independent members of the legislative assembly.^[180][181] Thackeray served as the 19thChief minister of Maharashtra of theMaha Vikas Aghadi coalition until June 2022.^{[182][183][184]}

In late June 2022,Eknath Shinde, a seniorShiv Sena leader, and the majority ofMLAs from Shiv Sena joined hands with the BJP.^{[164][165][166]} GovernorBhagat Singh Koshyari called for a trust vote, an action that would later on be described as a "sad spectacle" bySupreme Court of India,^[185] and draw criticism from Political Observers.^[186]Uddhav Thackeray resigned from the post as chief minister well as a MLC member ahead ofno-confidence motion on 29 June 2022.^[187] Shinde subsequently formed a new coalition with the BJP, and was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 30 June 2022.^[188] BJP leader,Devendra Fadnavis was given the post ofDeputy Chief Minister in the new government.^[188]Uddhav Thackeray filed a lawsuit inSupreme Court of India claiming thatEknath Shinde and his group's actions meant that they were disqualified underAnti-defection law, withEknath Shinde claiming that he has not defected, but rather represents the true Shiv Sena party.^[189][190] TheSupreme court delivered its verdict in May 2023. In its verdict the five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme court ruled that the Maharashtra governor and assembly speaker did not act as per the law.^[191] However, the court said that it cannot order the restoration of the Uddhav Thackeray government as Thackeray resigned without facing a floor test.^{[192][189][190]} Supreme Court also asked the Assembly Speaker to decide on the matter of disqualification of 16 MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.^[193][194] The case for decision on which faction has rights to use Shiv Sena Name and Symbol is currently being heard by Supreme Court.^[195][196]

In July 2023,NCP leaderAjit Pawar, and a number of NCP state assembly members joined the Shivsena- BJP government led by Eknath Shinde.^[197] Sharad Pawar, the founder of NCP, condemned the move and expelled the rebels. Ajit Pawar received support from majority of party legislators and office holders of the party.His faction was declared the official NCP and received the right to use the NCP election symbol of clock by theElection Commission of India.^[198]

In the2024 Loksabha elections, theINDIA grouping which includes the Mahavikas aghadi won a resounding victory with the majority of the state Loksabha seats, however in the Vidhan sabha elections held November 2024 had the opposite result with the Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Shivsena (Shinde), and NCP (Ajit Pawar) winning 80% of the Vidhan sabha seats.^[199][200] In December 2024, Devendra Phadnavis became the chief minister of the mahayuti government with Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar being appointed as deputy chief ministers. Election analysts have credited the Ladki Bahin Yojana that made cash transfers to women before the election as attracting a larger number of female voters to opt for the Mahayuti. Other factors cited by analysts including greater participation by the RSS in ground level campaigning, continued popularity of Narendra Modi, and dog-whistle call for Hindu unity using slogans such as Batenge to katenge (divided we fall).^[201]

The economy of Maharashtra is driven by manufacturing, international trade,Mass Media (television, motion pictures, video games, recorded music), aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel, and tourism.^[203] Maharashtra is the most industrialised state and has maintained the leading position in the industrial sector in India.^[204] The State is a pioneer in small scale industries.^[205] Mumbai, the capital of the state and thefinancial capital of India, houses the headquarters of most of the major corporate and financial institutions. India's mainstock exchanges and capital market and commodity exchanges are located in Mumbai. The state continues to attract industrial investments from domestic as well as foreign institutions. Maharashtra has the largest proportion oftaxpayers in India and its share markets transact almost 70% of the country's stocks.^[206]

According to most recent data, Maharashtra is considered the richest state in India. As of 2024, Maharashtra is the richest state in India, with a projected GSDP of ₹42.67 lakh crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year.^[207]

Theservice sector dominates the economy of Maharashtra, accounting for 61.4% of the value addition and 69.3% of the value of output in the state.^[208] The state's per-capita income in 2014 was 40% higher than the all-India average in the same year.^[209] The gross state domestic product (GSDP) at current prices for 2021–22 is estimated at $420 billion and contributes about 14.2% of the GDP. The agriculture and allied activities sector contributes 13.2% to the state's income. In 2012, Maharashtra reported a revenue surplus of₹1524.9 million (US$24 million), with total revenue of₹1,367,117 million (US$22 billion) and spending of₹1,365,592.1 million (US$22 billion).^[208] Maharashtra is the largest FDI destination of India. FDI inflows in the State since April 2000 to September 2021 totalled ₹9,59,746 crore, which was 28.2% of total FDI inflows at the all-India level. With a total of 11,308 startups, Maharashtra has the highest number of recognised startups in the country.

Maharashtra contributes 25% of the country's industrial output^[210] and is the most indebted state in the country.^[211][212] Industrial activity in state is concentrated in Seven districts:Mumbai City,Mumbai Suburban,Thane,Aurangabad,Pune,Nagpur, andNashik.^[213] Mumbai has the largest share in GSDP (19.5%), both Thane and Pune districts contribute about same in the Industry sector, Pune district contributes more in the agriculture and allied activities sector, whereas Thane district contributes more in the Services sector.^[213] Nashik district shares highest in the agricultural and allied activities sector, but is behind in the Industry and Services sectors as compared to Thane and Pune districts.^[213] Industries in Maharashtra include chemical and chemical products (17.6%), food and food products (16.1%), refined petroleum products (12.9%), machinery and equipment (8%), textiles (6.9%), basic metals (5.8%), motor vehicles (4.7%) and furniture (4.3%).^[214] Maharashtra is the manufacturing hub for some of the largest public sector industries in India, includingHindustan Petroleum Corporation,Tata Petrodyne andOil India Ltd.^[215]

Maharashtra is the leading Indian state for manyCreative industries includingadvertising,architecture,art,crafts,design,fashion,film,music,performing arts,publishing,R&D,software,toys andgames,TV andradio, andvideo games.^{[citation needed]}

Maharashtra has an above-averageknowledge industry in India, withPune Metropolitan Region being the leading IT hub in the state. Approximately 25% of the top 500 companies in the IT sector are based in Maharashtra.^[216] The state accounts for 28% of the software exports of India.^[216]

Maharashtra and particularly Mumbai is a prominent location for the Indian entertainment industry, with many films, television series, books, and other media being set there.^[217] Mumbai is the largest centre for film and television production and a third of all Indian films are produced in the state. Multimillion-dollarBollywood productions, with the most expensive costing up to₹1.5 billion (US$18 million), are filmed there.^[218]Marathi films used to be previously made primarily inKolhapur, but now are produced in Mumbai.^[219]

The state houses important financial institutions such as theReserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, theNational Stock Exchange of India, theSEBI and the corporateheadquarters of numerousIndian companies andmultinational corporations. It is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes likeBARC,NPCL,IREL,TIFR,AERB,AECI, and theDepartment of Atomic Energy.^[213]

With more than half the population being rural, agriculture and allied industries play an important role in the states's economy and source of income for the rural population.^[220] The agriculture and allied activities sector contributes 12.9% to the state's income. Staples such asrice andmillet are the mainmonsoon crops. Importantcash crops includesugarcane,cotton, oilseeds, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, and spices such asturmeric.^[93] Animal husbandry is an important agriculture-related activity. The State's share in the livestock and poultry population in India is about 7% and 10%, respectively. Maharashtra was a pioneer in the development ofAgricultural Cooperative Societies after independence. It was an integral part of the then GoverningCongress party's vision of 'rural development with local initiative'. A 'special' status was accorded to thesugar cooperatives and the government assumed the role of a mentor by acting as a stakeholder, guarantor, and regulator,^{[221][222][223]} Apart from sugar, cooperatives play a crucial role in dairy,^[224] cotton, and fertiliser industries.

The banking sector comprisesscheduled and non-scheduled banks.^[216] Scheduled banks are of two types, commercial and cooperative. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in India are classified into five types:State Bank of India and its associates, nationalised banks,private sector banks,Regional Rural Banks, and others (foreign banks). In 2012, there were 9,053 banking offices in the state, of which about 26% were in rural and 54% were in urban areas. Maharashtra has amicrofinance system, which refers to small-scale financial services extended to the poor in both rural and urban areas. It covers a variety of financial instruments, such as lending, savings, life insurance, and crop insurance.^[225] The three largest urbancooperative banks in India are all based in Maharashtra.^[226]

The state has a large, multi-modal transportation system with the largest road network in India.^[227] In 2011, the total length of surface road in Maharashtra was 267,452 km (166,187 mi);^[228] national highways accounted for 4,176 km (2,595 mi),^[229] and state highways 3,700 km (2,300 mi).^[228] TheMaharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) provides economical and reliable passenger road transport service in the public sector.^[230] These buses, popularly called ST (State Transport), are the preferred mode of transport for much of the populace. Hired forms of transport include metered taxis andauto-rickshaws, which often ply specific routes in cities. Other district roads and village roads provide villages, accessibility to meet their social needs as well as the means to transport agricultural produce from villages to nearby markets. Major district roads provide a secondary function of linking between main roads and rural roads. Approximately 98% of villages are connected either via the highways or modern roads in Maharashtra. Average speed on state highways varies between 50–60 km/h (31–37 mph) due to the heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as 25–30 km/h (16–19 mph).^[231]

The first passenger train in India ran from Mumbai to Thane on 16 April 1853.^[232] Rail transportation is run by theCentral Railway,Western Railway,South Central Railway, andSouth East Central Railway zones of theIndian Railways with the first two zones being headquartered in Mumbai, atChhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSMT) andChurchgate respectively.Konkan Railway is headquartered inNavi Mumbai.^[233][234] TheMumbai Rajdhani Express, the fastestRajdhani train, connects the Indian capital ofNew Delhi to Mumbai.^[235]Thane andCSMT are the busiest railway stations in India,^[236] the latter serving as a terminal for both long-distance trains and commuter trains of the Mumbai Suburban Railway.

The two principal seaports,Mumbai Port andJawaharlal Nehru Port, which is also in the Mumbai region, are under the control and supervision of the government of India.^[237] There are around 48 minor ports in Maharashtra.^[238] Most of these handle passenger traffic and have a limited capacity. None of the major rivers in Maharashtra are navigable, and thus river transport does not exist in the state.^{[citation needed]}

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (formerly Bombay International Airport), is the state's largest airport. The four other international airports arePune International Airport,Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport atNagpur,Nashik Airport andShirdi Airport.Aurangabad Airport,Kolhapur Airport,Jalgaon Airport, andNanded Airport are domestic airports in the state. Most of the State's airfields are operated by theAirports Authority of India (AAI) whileReliance Airport Developers (RADPL), currently operates five non-metro airports atLatur,Nanded,Baramati,Osmanabad andYavatmal on a 95-year lease.^[239] TheMaharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) was set up in 2002 to take up development of airports in the state that are not under the AAI or theMaharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). MADC is playing the lead role in the planning and implementation of theMulti-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) project.^[240] Additional smaller airports includeAkola,Amravati,Chandrapur,Ratnagiri, andSolapur.^[241]Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro), headquartered in Nagpur is aJoint Venture establishment ofGovernment of India &Government of Maharashtra headquartered inNagpur, India. Maha Metro is responsible for the implementation of all Maharashtra state metro projects, except theMumbai Metropolitan Region.Mumbai Metro is operational since 8 June 2014.^{[citation needed]}

Census of 2011 showed literacy rates in the state for males and females were around 88.38% and 75.87% respectively.^[242]

Regions that comprise the present day state of Maharashtra have been known for their pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. Scottish missionaryJohn Wilson, American Marathi mission, Indian nationalists such asVasudev Balwant Phadke andBal Gangadhar Tilak, social reformers such asJyotirao Phule,Dhondo Keshav Karve andBhaurao Patil played a leading role in the setting up of modern schools and colleges during the British colonial era.^{[243][244][245][246]} The forerunner ofDeccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute was established in 1821. TheShreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, the oldest women's liberal arts college in South Asia, started its journey in 1916.College of Engineering Pune, established in 1854, is the third oldest college in Asia.^[247]Government Polytechnic Nagpur, established in 1914, is one of the oldest polytechnics in India.^[248] Most of the private colleges including religious and special-purpose institutions were set up in the last thirty years after the State Government ofVasantdada Patil liberalised the Education Sector in 1982.^[249]

Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts, including religious institutions. The medium of instruction in most of the schools is mainly Marathi, English, or Hindi, thoughUrdu is also used. The secondary schools are affiliated with theCouncil for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), theCentral Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), theNational Institute of Open School (NIOS), and theMaharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Under the10+2+3 plan, after completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in ajunior college, also known as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with theMaharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education or any central board. Students choose from one of three streams, namelyliberal arts, commerce, or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or professional degree programs.^{[citation needed]}

Maharashtra has 24 universities with a turnout of 160,000 Graduates every year.^[250][251] Established during the rule ofEast India company in 1857 as Bombay University, TheUniversity of Mumbai, is the largest university in the world in terms of the number of graduates.^[252] It has 141 affiliated colleges.^[253] According to a report published by The Times Education magazine, 5 to 7 Maharashtra colleges and universities are ranked among the top 20 in India.^{[254][255][256]} Maharashtra is also home to notable autonomous institutes asIndian Institute of Technology Bombay,Indian Institute of Information Technology Pune,College of Engineering Pune (CoEP),Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University,Institute of Chemical Technology,Homi Bhabha National Institute,Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli, andVeermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI),Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE).^[257] Most of these autonomous institutes are ranked the highest in India and have very competitive entry requirements. TheUniversity of Pune (nowSavitribai Phule Pune University), theNational Defence Academy,Film and Television Institute of India,Armed Forces Medical College, andNational Chemical Laboratory were established in Pune soon after the Indian independence in 1947. Mumbai has anIIT, anIIM and alsoNational Institute of Industrial Engineering and Nagpur hasIIM andAIIMS. Other notable institutes in the state are:Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur (MNLUN),Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLUM),Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad (MNLUA),Government Law College, Mumbai (GLC),ILS Law College, andSymbiosis Law School (SLS)^{[citation needed]}

Agricultural universities includeVasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University,Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth,Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, andDr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth,^[258] Regional universities viz.Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University,Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,North Maharashtra University,Shivaji University,Solapur University,Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, andRashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University are established to cover the educational needs at the district levels of the state.deemed universities are established in Maharashtra, includingSymbiosis International University,Tata Institute of Social Sciences, andTilak Maharashtra University.^[259]

Vocational training in different trades such as construction, plumbing, welding, automobile mechanics is offered by post-secondary schoolIndustrial Training Institute (ITIs).^[260] Localcommunity colleges also exist with generally more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition.^[261]

Health indicators of Maharashtra show that they have attained relatively high growth against a background of high per capita income (PCI).^[262] In 2011, the health care system in Maharashtra consisted of 363 rural government hospitals,^[263] 23 district hospitals (with 7,561 beds), 4 general hospitals (with 714 beds) mostly under the MaharashtraMinistry of Health and Family Welfare, and 380 private medical establishments; these establishments provide the state with more than 30,000 hospital beds.^[264] It is the first state in India to have nine women's hospitals serving 1,365 beds.^[264] The state also has a significant number of medical practitioners who hold theBachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery qualifications. These practitioners primarily use the traditional Indian therapy ofAyurveda, nevertheless, modern western medicine is used as well.^[265]

In Maharashtra as well as in the rest of India, Primary Health Centre (PHC) is part of the government-funded public health system and is the most basic unit of the healthcare system. They are essentially single-physician clinics usually with facilities for minor surgeries, too.^[266] Maharashtra has a life expectancy at birth of 67.2 years in 2011, ranking itthird among 29Indian states.^[267] Thetotal fertility rate of the state is 1.9.^[268] TheInfant mortality rate is 28 and thematernal mortality ratio is 104 (2012–2013), which are lower than the national averages.^[269][270]Public health services are governed by theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), through various departments. The Ministry is divided into two departments: the Public Health Department, which includes family welfare and medical relief, and the Department of Medical Education and Drugs.^[271][272]

Health insurance includes any program that helps pay for medical expenses, through privately purchased insurance,social insurance, or asocial welfare program funded by the government.^[273] In a more technical sense, the term is used to describe any form of insurance that protects against the costs of medical services.^[274] This usage includes private insurance and social insurance programs such as National Health Mission, which pools resources and spreads the financial risk associated with major medical expenses across the entire population to protect everyone, as well as social welfare programs such asNational Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the Health Insurance Program, which assist people who cannot afford health coverage.^{[273][274][275]}

Maharashtra was ranked fifth in the Fiscal Health Index (FHI) 2025, with a score of 50.3.^[276]

Although its population makes Maharashtra one of the country's largest energy users,^[277][278] conservation mandates, mild weather in the largest population centres, and strong environmental movements have kept its per capita energy use to one of the smallest of any Indian state.^[279] The high electricity demand of the state constitutes 13% of the total installed electricity generation capacity in India, which is derived mainly from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.^[280]Mahavitaran is responsible for the distribution of electricity throughout the state by buying power from Mahanirmiti, captive power plants, other state electricity boards, and private sector power generation companies.^[279]

As of 2012^[update], Maharashtra was the largest power generating state in India, with an installed electricity generation capacity of 26,838 MW.^[278] The state forms a major constituent of the western grid of India, which now comes under the North, East, West and North Eastern (NEWNE) grids of India.^[277] Maharashtra Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) operatesthermal power plants.^[281] In addition to the state government-owned power generation plants, there are privately owned power generation plants that transmit power through theMaharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company, which is responsible for the transmission of electricity in the state.^[282]

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is established and responsible for implementing various environmental legislations in the state principally including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Cess) Act, 1977 and some of the provisions under Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and the rules framed there under it including, Biomedical Waste (M&H) Rules, 1998, Hazardous Waste (M&H) Rules, 2000, and Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000. MPCB is functioning under the administrative control of the Environment Department of theGovernment of Maharashtra.^[283] The Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products ban became effective as law on 23 June 2018, subjecting plastic users to fines and potential imprisonment for repeat offenders.^[284][285]

Maharashtrian cuisine includes a variety of dishes ranging from mild to very spicy ones. Wheat, rice,jowar,bajri, vegetables, lentils and fruit formstaple food of the Maharashtrian diet. Some of the popular traditional dishes includepuran poli,ukdichemodak,Thalipeeth.^[286] Street food items likeBatata wada,Misal Pav,Pav Bhaji andVada pav are very popular among the locals and are usually sold on stalls and in small hotels.^[287] Meals (mainly lunch and dinner) are served on a plate calledthali. Each food item served on thethali is arranged in a specific way. All non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes are eaten with boiled rice,chapatis or withbhakris, made of jowar, bajra or rice flours. A typical vegetarian thali is made ofchapati orbhakri (Indian flat bread),dal, rice (varan bhaat), amti,bhaji orusal,chutney,koshimbir (salad) andbuttermilk orSol kadhi. Abhaji is a vegetable dish made of a particular vegetable or combination of vegetables.Aamti is variant of the curry, typically consisting of a lentil (tur) stock, flavoured with goda masala and sometimes with tamarind or amshul, andjaggery (gul).^[287][288]Varan is nothing but plaindal, a common Indian lentil stew. More or less, most of the dishes use coconut, onion, garlic, ginger, red chili powder, green chilies, and mustard though some section of the population traditionally avoid onion and garlics.^[289][287]

Maharashtrian cuisine varies with the regions. TraditionalMalvani (Konkani), Kolhapuri, and Varhadhi dishes are examples of well known regional cuisines.^[289] Kolhapur is famous for Tambda Pandhra rassa, a dish made of either chicken or mutton.^[290] Rice and seafood are the staple foods of the coastal Konkani people. Among seafood, the most popular is a fish variety called theBombay duck (also known as bombil in Marathi).^{[citation needed]}

Traditionally, Marathi women commonly wore thesari, often distinctly designed according to local cultural customs.^[291] Most middle-aged and young women in urban Maharashtra dress in western outfits such as skirts and trousers orshalwar kameez with the traditionallynauvari or nine-yardlugade,^[292] disappearing from the markets due to a lack of demand.^[293] Older women wear the five-yard sari. In urban areas, the five-yard sari, especially thePaithani, is worn by younger women for special occasions such as marriages and religious ceremonies.^[294] Among men, western dressing has greater acceptance. Men also wear traditional costumes such as thedhoti, andpheta^[295] on cultural occasions. TheGandhi cap is the popular headgear among older men in rural Maharashtra.^{[291][296][297]} Women wear traditional jewellery derived from Maratha and Peshwa dynasties.Kolhapuri saaj, a special type of necklace, is also worn by Marathi women.^[291] In urban areas, western attire is dominant among women and men.^[297]

Maharashtra and Maharashtrian artists have been influential in preserving and developingHindustani classical music for more than a century. Notable practitioners ofKirana orGwalior style called Maharashtra their home. TheSawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival in Pune started byBhimsen Joshi in the 1950s is considered the most prestigious Hindustani music festival in India, if not one of the largest.^[298]

Cities like Kolhapur and Pune have been playing a major role in the preservation of music likeBhavageet andNatya Sangeet, which are inherited from Indian classical music. The biggest form of Indianpopular music is songs from films produced in Mumbai. Film music, in 2009 made up 72% of the music sales in India.^[299] Many the influential music composers and singers have called Mumbai their home.^{[citation needed]}

In recent decades, the music scene in Maharashtra, and particularly in Mumbai has seen a growth of newer music forms such as rap.^[300] The city also holds festivals in western music genres such asblues.^[301] In 2006, theSymphony Orchestra of India was founded, housed at theNCPA in Mumbai. It is today the only professional symphony orchestra in India and presents two concert seasons per year, with world-renowned conductors and soloists.^{[citation needed]}

Maharashtra has a long and rich tradition of folk music. Some of the most common forms of folk music in practice are Bhajan, Bharud, Kirtan, Gondhal,^[302] andKoli Geet.^[303]

Marathi dance forms draw from folk traditions.Lavani is popular form of dance in the state. The Bhajan, Kirtan andAbhangas of theWarkari sect (Vaishanav Devotees) have a long history and are part of their daily rituals.^[304][305]Koli dance (called 'Koligeete') is among the most popular dances of Maharashtra. As the name suggests, it is related to the fisher folk of Maharashtra, who are calledKoli. Popular for their unique identity and liveliness, their dances represent their occupation. This type of dance is represented by both men and women. While dancing, they are divided into groups of two. These fishermen display the movements of waves and casting of the nets during their koli dance performances.^[306][307]

Modern Theatre in Maharashtra can trace its origins to the British colonial era in the middle of the 19th century. It is modelled mainly after the western tradition but also includes forms likeSangeet Natak (musical drama). In recent decades, MarathiTamasha has also been incorporated in some experimental plays.^[308] The repertoire of Marathi theatre ranges from humorous social plays,farces, historical plays, and musical, to experimental plays and serious drama. Marathi Playwrights such asVijay Tendulkar,Purushottam Laxman Deshpande,Mahesh Elkunchwar,Ratnakar Matkari, andSatish Alekar have influenced theatre throughout India.^[309] Besides Marathi theatre, Maharashtra and particularly, Mumbai, has had a long tradition of theatre in other languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, and English.^[310]

TheNational Centre for the Performing Arts (NCP) is a multi-venue, multi-purpose cultural centre in Mumbai which hosts events in music, dance, theatre, film, literature, and photography from India as well other places. It also presents new and innovative work in the performing arts field.^{[citation needed]}

Maharashtra's regional literature is about the lives and circumstances ofMarathi people in specific parts of the state. The Marathi language, which boasts a rich literary heritage, is written in theDevanagari script.^[311] The earliest instance of Marathi literature isDnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by 13th-centuryBhakti SaintDnyaneshwar and devotional poems calledabhangs by his contemporaries such asNamdev, andGora Kumbhar. Devotional literature from theEarly modern period includes compositions in praise of the GodPandurang byBhakti saints such asTukaram,Eknath, andRama byRamdas respectively.^[312][313]

19th centuryMarathi literature includes mainlyPolemic works of social and political activists such asBalshastri Jambhekar,Bal Gangadhar Tilak,Gopal Hari Deshmukh,Mahadev Govind Ranade,Jyotirao Phule, andVishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar.Keshavasuta was a pioneer in modern Marathi poetry. TheHindutva proponent,Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a prolific writer. His work in English and Marathi consists of many essays, two novels, poetry, and plays.

Four Marathi writers have been honoured with theJnanpith Award, India's highest literary award. They include novelists,Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar, andBhalchandra Nemade,Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj) andVinda Karandikar. The last two were known for their poetry as well.^[314] Other notable writers from the early and mid 20th century include playwrightRam Ganesh Gadkari, novelistHari Narayan Apte, poet, and novelistB. S. Mardhekar,Pandurang Sadashiv Sane,Vyankatesh Madgulkar,Pralhad Keshav Atre,Chintamani Tryambak Khanolkar, andLakshman Shastri Joshi.Vishwas Patil,Ranjit Desai, andShivaji Sawant are known for novels based on Maratha history. P. L. Deshpande gained popularity in the period after independence for depicting the urban middle class society. His work includes humour, travelogues, plays, and biographies.^[315]Narayan Gangaram Surve,Shanta Shelke,Durga Bhagwat,Suresh Bhat, andNarendra Jadhav are some of the more recent authors.

Dalit literature originally emerged in the Marathi language as a literary response to the everyday oppressions of caste in mid-twentieth-century independent India, critiquing caste practices by experimenting with various literary forms.^[316] In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used for the first conference ofMaharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha (Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) in Mumbai.^[317]

Maharashtra, and particularly the cities in the state such as Mumbai and Pune are diverse with different languages being spoken. Mumbai is called home by writers in English such asRohinton Mistry,Shobha De, andSalman Rushdie. Their novels are set with Mumbai as the backdrop.^[318] Many eminentUrdu poets such asKaifi Azmi,Jan Nisar Akhtar,Gulzar, andJaved Akhtar have been residents of Mumbai.

Maharashtra is a prominent location for the Indian entertainment industry, with enormous films, television series, books, and other media production companies being set there.^[322] Mumbai has numerous film production studios and facilities to produce films.^[323] MainstreamHindi films are popular in Maharashtra, especially in urban areas. Mumbai is the largest centre for film and television production and a third of all Indian films are produced in the state. Multimillion-dollarBollywood productions, with the most expensive costing up to₹1.5 billion (US$18 million), are filmed there.^[324]

The first Indian feature-length film,Raja Harishchandra, was made in Maharashtra byDadasaheb Phalke in 1913.^[325] Phalke is widely considered the father ofIndian cinema.^[326] TheDadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema, given annually by theGovernment of India for lifetime contribution toIndian cinema.^[327]

TheMarathi film industry, initially located in Kolhapur, has spread throughout Mumbai. Well known for itsart films, the early Marathi film industry included acclaimed directors such as Dadasaheb Phalke,V. Shantaram,Raja Thakur,Bhalji Pendharkar,Pralhad Keshav Atre,Baburao Painter, andDada Kondke. Some of the directors who made acclaimed films in Marathi areJabbar Patel,Mahesh Manjrekar,Amol Palekar, andSanjay Surkar.

Durga Khote was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.^[328]Lalita Pawar,Sulabha Deshpande, andUsha Kiran featured in Hindi and Marathi movies. In 70s and 80s,Smita Patil,Ranjana Deshmukh,Reema Lagoo featured in both art and mainstream movies in Hindi and Marathi.Rohini Hattangadi starred in a number of acclaimed movies, and is the only Indian actress to win theBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance asKasturba Gandhi inGandhi (1982).^[329]Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to win an Oscar inBest Costume Design category forGandhi (1982).^[330][331] In 90s and 2000s,Urmila Matondkar andMadhuri Dixit starred in critically acclaimed and high grossing films in Hindi and Marathi.^{[citation needed]}

In earliest days of Marathi cinema,Suryakant Mandhare was a leading star.^[332] In later years,Shriram Lagoo,Nilu Phule,Vikram Gokhale,Dilip Prabhavalkar played character roles in theatre, and Hindi and Marathi films.Ramesh Deo andMohan Joshi played leading men in Mainstream Marathi movies.^[333][334] In 70s and 80s,Sachin Pilgaonkar,Ashok Saraf,Laxmikant Berde andMahesh Kothare created a "comedy film wave" in Marathi Cinema.^{[citation needed]}

The state is home to more than 200 newspapers and 350 consumer magazines. The publishing industry employs more than 250,000 people.^[335] There are number of Marathi news channels in the state vizNews18 Lokmat,ABP Majha. As of December 2016^[update],Sakal, published in Pune and other major cities, is the largest circulated Marathi Newspaper in Maharashtra.^[336] Other major Marathi newspapers includeMaharashtra Times,Loksatta,Nava Kaal,Pudhari,Lokmat andSakal^[337]Saptahik Sakal,Grihashobhika,Lokrajya,Lokprabha, andChitralekha are some of the prominent Marathi magazines.^[338] English language newspapers are confined to urban areas. Some popular among these areDaily News & Analysis,The Times of India,Hindustan Times,The Indian Express,Mumbai Mirror,Asian Age,MiD-DAY andThe Free Press Journal. Some prominent financial dailies likeThe Economic Times,Mint,Business Standard, andThe Financial Express are widely circulated.^[339] Many newspapers in other Indian languages such asNava Bharat in Hindi,Udayavani in Kannada,Mumbai Samachar in Gujarati, andThe Inquilab in Urdu have Mumbai editions.^[340]

The television industry in Maharashtra has been contributing significantly in the state's economy.^[341]Doordarshan, a state-owned television broadcaster runs a channel namedDD Sahyadri. NumerousIndian and international television channels can be watched in Maharashtra through one of thePay TV companies or the local cable television provider. The four major Indianbroadcast networks are all headquartered in Maharashtra:The Times,Disney Star,CNN-News18 andZEEL.Multi-system operators provide a range of Marathi, Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, English, and international channels viacable. There are number of entertainment channels that exclusively streams content in Marathi includingZee Marathi, Zee Yuva,Colors Marathi,Star Pravah,Sony Marathi, andFakt Marathi.^{[citation needed]}

All India Radio airs its content through multiple channels includingAir Marathi,FM Gold, andFM Rainbow. Air India's commercially successful air channelVividh Bharti is headquartered in Mumbai. Private radio stations likeBig 92.7 FM,Radio Mirchi,Red FM,Vasundhara Vahini,Radio Dhamaal 24, andMy FM air in all major cities.^[342]Airtel,BSNL,Jio, andVI networks provide cellular services and have covered most of the Maharashtra. Broadband internet is available in most of the towns, villages, and cities, provided by the state-runMTNL andBSNL and by other private companies.^[343]

Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in Maharashtra. It is played as an exercise and recreational activity. Maharashtra is represented by three teams in Domestic Cricket namelyMaharashtra,Mumbai and Vidarbha cricket team. These teams are governed byMaharashtra cricket association,Mumbai Cricket Association, andVidarbha Cricket Association, respectively.^{[344][345][346][a]} Governing body of Cricket in India, BCCI, has its headquarters inChurchgate, Mumbai. The state also has Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians based in Mumbai which plays its home matches atWankhede Stadium.Brabourne Stadium, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai andNew VCA Stadium, Nagpur are international cricket stadiums, which are the venues for international cricket.^[347][348]

At2023 National games, Maharashtra won highest number of medals among the states and was first in the total medals tally behindServices. Maharashtra won 228 total medals, of which are 80 gold medals.^[349]

Kabaddi,Kho kho,Kushti, andMallakhamba are some of the traditional games that are played in the state.Kusti and bullock cart races are popular in rural areas of South-west Maharashtra, are organised by villagers during the annualfairs.^{[350][351][352]} Amateur wrestling tournamentsHind Kesari,Maharashtra Kesari are held annually.^[353] Badminton, Volleyball, Tennis are played as a recreational activity in urban areas.^[354][355] The beaches of Konkan coast, mountains of the Western Ghats, and the lakes formed by numerous dams in the state facilitate adventure sports such as paragliding, rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering, water sports, and scuba diving and are popular among visitors.^{[356][357][358]}

India's only world class Tennis championshipMaharashtra Open tennis championship are annually organised in Pune by governing body of tennis in the state, 'Maharashtra Lawn Tennis Association' (MLTA). The tournament is part ofATP Tour 250.^{[b][359][360]} Mumbai and Pune holdderby races at theMahalaxmi Racecourse andPune Race Course respectively.^[361][362]Various domestic level leagues for field hockey, chess, tennis, and badminton are organised throughout the state.^{[dubious –discuss][363]} TheMaharashtra football team represents the state in theSantosh Trophy, football tournament.

Many national-level football club are based in this state, such asMumbai Tigers FC,Kenkre FC,Bengal Mumbai FC, andAir India FC.^[364] Two clubs from the state participate inElite Football League of India.^{[365][needs update]}Mumbai Gladiators andPune Marathas are teams based in Mumbai and Pune respectively.^[366][367]Puneri Paltan,U Mumba,Pro Kabbadi, league teams are based in Pune and Mumbai respectively.

Maharashtra has a number of places that attracts national and international tourists. The most popular or well known are Mumbai city,Ajanta,Ellora caves and the Nature reserves in the state.^[368] Ajanta–Ellora are theUNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mumbai, being the biggest and the most cosmopolitan city in India, attracts tourists from all over the world for its many attractions including colonial architecture, beaches,Bollywood, shopping, and an active nightlife.^[369][370] The city attracts three million foreign and forty million domestic tourists annually. The state wants to increase the numbers by allowing retailers and entertainment venues to be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.^[371]

Pune city, along withMTDC, organises many cultural events during Pune festival which coincides with the HinduGaneshotsav festival.^{[372][373][374][375]}Hill stations built during the British rule are popular tourist destinations, especially during the summer months. These includeMahabaleshwar, Lonavala, andMatheran in Western Maharashtra, andChikhaldara in the Vidarbha region.^[376] The mountainous districts of Western Maharashtra are dotted with the ruins of hundreds of mountain forts from the Deccan Sultanate and the Maratha empire eras. These forts and the surrounding hills are popular among people interested in trekking, and hiking, andheritage tourism related to Shivaji. Notable forts popular with tourists includeShivaneri,Rajgad,Sinhagad,Raigad, andPratapgad.^[377]

A number of temples such asTrimbakeshwar,Bhavani ofTuljapur,Shani Shingnapur,Jyotiba Temple,AshtavinayakaGanapati temples,Lord Pandurang temple atPandharpur attract a huge number of Hindu devotees every year.Khandoba temple of GodKhandoba atJejuri in the Pune district attract pilgrims from all over the Maharashtra where worshippers shower each other withBhandar (turmaric powder).^[378]Saibaba temple atShirdi is visited by an average of 25,000 pilgrims a day and during religious festivals, this number can reach up to 300,000.^[379] The places associated with theWarkari sect such asPandharpur,Dehu, andAlandi remain popular throughout the year, and attract huge number of people from all over the state during religious observations.^[380] Situated in Nanded, Sikh Gurudwara ofHazur Sahib, also known as Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of thefive takhts inSikhism. The area around the city of Aurangabad has many ancient and medieval sites including the UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites ofAjanta andEllora caves, theDaulatabad Fort, and theBibi Ka Maqbara.^[381]

The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has numerous nature reserve parks. These includeMelghat Tiger Reserve in Amravati district,Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district,^[382] Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagpur district, theNagzira wildlife sanctuary, andNavegaon National Park (bird sanctuary) of Gondia District.

According to a survey by the government of Maharashtra, in 2009–10, domestic tourists accounted for 98% of the total number of visitors to Maharashtra and the remaining were foreign.^[383] Visitors from the US, UK, Germany, and UAE each form a significant percentage of the foreign tourists.^[383] The state government has established theMaharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) for the systematic development and promotion of tourism in the state. MTDC owns and maintains resorts at all key tourist centres.^[384]

•  
  Night-time skyline of Downtown Mumbai atNariman Point
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  Ganeshotsav festival in Pune
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  Khandoba mandir of LordKhandoba inJejuri
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  Venna Lake atMahabaleshwar
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  Indian Tigers atTadoba Tiger reserve
•  
  Pandharpur, a Hindu pilgrimage centre in the state

• List of Maratha dynasties and states
• List of people from Maharashtra
• List of districts of Maharashtra
• List of villages of Maharashtra
• List of synagogues in Maharashtra
• List of cities in Maharashtra by population
• Make in Maharashtra
• Religion in Maharashtra