Maharashtra http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4c/IndiaMaharashtra.png Date of formation May 1, 1960 Capital Mumbai Auxiliary Capital Nagpur Largest City Mumbai Governor Mohammad Fazal Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil Area 308,000 km² Population  - Total  - Density Ranked 2nd in India 96,752,247 (2001) 322.5/km² Literacy rate:  - Total  - Male  - Female 77.27% 86.27% 67.51% Urbanization: 42.11% GSDP growth rate: 6.9% (2003-04) GSDP in US $: $ 60 Billion (2004) GSDP in US $(Per Capa): $ 3,240 (2004) Maharashtra (महाराष्ट्र) is a state in west-central India. It is one of the richest states of India. Its capital is Mumbai, the economic powerhouse of India. Maharashtra's population was 96,752,247, per the 2001 provisional results of Census of India, making it the second most populous state in India. Only eleven countries of the world have a population greater than Maharashtra. The state was created on May 1, 1960 to satisfy demands of the Marathi linguistic group, who form the majority ethnic group in the state, for their own state. Bombay state, which had been enlarged in 1956 to include Marathi-speaking portions of Hyderabad state and Madhya Pradesh as well as Gujarati-speaking areas to the north, was split into two linguistic states, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Timeline 230 BC to 225 AD: ruled by the Satvahanas 250 to 525: The Vakatakas brought Vidharba under their rule. 550 to 760: Ruled by the Chalukyas 640 Chinese pilgrim Hiun Tsang visited Maharashtra 973: Rashtrakuta rule comes to an end 973 to 1180: Ruled by the Chalukyas 1189 to 1310: Ruled by the Yadavas of Deogiri 1296: Alla-ud-din Khilji, the first Muslim sultan of the north penetrates the Deccan, defeats the Yadavas and carried away a huge booty. 1534 Portuguese occupy Mumbai 1659 Shivaji captures Satara from Sultanate of Bijapur, leads revolt against the Mughal empire 1661: Mumbai transferred from Portugal to Britain 1668: British government transfers Mumbai to British East India Company 1674: Shivaji declares himself King of the Marathas (see Maratha empire) 1680: Shivaji dies 1720: Bajirao I becomes Peshwa (Prime Minister) 1740: Death of Bajirao I 1756: Marathas capture the town of Attock (now in north-west Pakistan). Maratha empire reaches its largest extent. January 14, 1761 Maratha defeat at Third Battle of Panipat. 1775-1782: First Anglo-Maratha War 1803-1805: Second Anglo-Maratha War 1817-1818: Third Anglo-Maratha War June 3, 1818: Peshwa Bajirao II surrenders to the British August 14, 1947: India becomes independent November 1, 1956: Bombay state enlarged to include all of present Maharashtra. May 1, 1960: Bombay state split along linguistic lines into new states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. See also: Shivaji, Social Reform Movement in Maharashtra Geography Maharashtra borders Goa and Karnataka to the south, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the west. The Western Ghats mountains, which run north and south, parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, separate the western coastal portion of Maharashtra from the eastern portion of the state, which lies on the Deccan plateau. Maharashtra has five geographic regions. Konkan is the western coastal region, between the Western Ghats and the sea, which includes Mumbai. Other major cities of Konkan include Thane, Ulhasnagar, and Bhiwandi, north of Mumbai, and Ratnagiri and Chiplun to the south. Kandesh is the northwestern region, lying in the valley of the Tapti River, which flows west off the Deccan plateau into the Arabian Sea at Surat, in Gujarat. Jalgaon, Dhulia and Bhusawal are the major cities. Desh is in the centre of the state, east of the Ghats. Desh is the historic core of the Marathi state, and Pune, the capital of the Marathas, is the second largest city in the state. Other important cities include Nasik, Sangli, Sholapur, and Kolhapur. The Western Ghats in Desh are the source of Deccan's great rivers; the Godavari River rises at Trimbak, between Nasik and Mumbai, and flows eastward through Marathwada to empty into the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna River, which originates at Mahabaleswar and passes through Sangli, and its tributary the Bhima, which rises north of Pune, enter Karnataka state and ultimately empty into the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi, Andhra Pradesh. Marathwada is located in the south-eastern part of the state, and was part of the former princely state of Hyderabad until 1956. Aurangabad is the main city of the region, which also includes the famous sculpture caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Vidarbha is the easternmost region of the state, formerly part of Central Provinces and Berar. Nagpur is the main city in the region. The Penganga and Pranhita, tributaries of the Godavari, are the region's main rivers. Divisions and Districts Maharashtra is divided into 35 districts, which are grouped into six divisions: Aurangabad, Amravati, Konkan, Nagpur, Nashik, and Pune. see Districts of Maharashtra Politics ' Economy Maharashtra is one of the most advanced states in India, with a strong industrialized economy, and the largest power production and consumption in the nation. Mumbai is the financial capital of India, and home to India's film industry. Its GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) was $ 60 billion in 2004. Maharashtra is the top state in India in foreign investment, receiving 17% of all foreign direct investment in India. 32% of all exports from India are from the state of Maharashtra, per economic survey of Government of Maharashtra in 2002-03. Main items of export from Maharashtra gems and jewelry readymade garments sugar cotton yarn turmeric made-up fabrics machinery and instruments metal products agro-based products wine Specialized Industrial Parks in Maharashtra Krishna Valley Wine Park, Palus, Sangli Nasik Wine Park, Nasik Sangli Food Park, Mane-Rajuri, Sangli Nagpur Food Park, Nagpur Infotech /IT Parks SEEPZ, Mumbai Millennium Business Park, Navi Mumbai Hinjawadi IT Park, Hinjawadi, Pune Sangli IT Park, Vishrambag, Sangli Nagpur IT Park, Nagpur World Famous Turmeric of Maharashtra The country's sole turmeric exchange in Sangli city (Maharashtra) boasts of secrets gained through a centuries-old practice -- storing turmeric in pits. These underground pits for storing turmeric stretch out in the open fields of the villages of Haripur and Sangalwadi in the Sangli. It is possibly the most unique agri-commodity storing system in the country. After clearing the loose soil covering the pit, it is left open for about two to three hours. One cannot enter the pit until one finds out if there is any oxygen within. To ascertain this, a lantern is lowered into the pit. If the lantern does not go off, it is safe to enter the pit. It is this ingenious storing system, devised probably 200 years ago that has turned Sangli into a major trading centre for turmeric. Today, the country's sole turmeric exchange is in Sangli. Measuring 18 to 20 feet deep, the pits are considered the best storing areas for turmeric. Raw turmeric sold by farmers is stored in these underground pits for three to four years. These pits provide the best storage facility for turmeric as the quality of the commodity remains unchanged. This storage system has an added advantage in that the turmeric hardens and matures while in storage. Today, more than 90% of Turmeric trade in India takes place in Sangli. That’s why Turmeric City of Sangli is the undoubted Capital of Turmeric Trade in Asia. Demographics See: Konkani, Marathi language Culture The Indian film industry, commonly called Bollywood (the largest film industry in the world), is centered here. It has a rich history, and has given birth to great warriors, like Shivaji, and Bajirao, and to national leaders, including Veer Savarkar, M. G. Ranade and Lokamanya Tilak. Mumbai was home to B. R. Ambedkar, India's most prominent Untouchable leader of the 20th century, for most of his life. Maharashtra is still the center of neo-Buddhist movement that he founded. Transport and communications Total road length: 266,000 km. Total railroad length: 5,459 km. (8.6% of total railroad length in India) Number of telephone lines: 6.074 million Tourism List of prominent shrines in Maharashtra Maharashtra landscape Dehu Alandi Ghrishneshwar Temple Khuldabad Pandharpur Siddhivinayak Temple Jejuri Shegaon - Sant Gajanan Maharaj Temple Shirdi Ganapati Temple of Sangli Sangameshwar Shiva Temple, Haripur, Sangli Audumbar Near Sangli Khidrapur Meherabad Anwa Temple Ashta Vinayak Trimbakeshwar Narasimha Wadi Near Sangli Mahalaxmi Temple, Mumbai Bhimashankar Saptashringi Devi Temple Haji Ali Shrine Meherabad and Meherazad, near Ahmednagar, India List of hill stations Khandala Lonavala Malshej Ghat Matheran Mahabaleshwar Panchgani Dandoba, Sangli Natural areas Maharashtra is home to several National Parks, including Sanjay Gandhi National Park (Borivali National Park) in Mumbai, Chandoli Wildlife Sanctuary in Sangli District, Tadoba National Park in Chandrapur District, Panch National Park in Nagpur District, Nawegaon National Park in Bhandara District and Gugmal National Park in Amravati District. There are also a number of wildlife sanctuaries and nature preserves, including Sagareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary near Sangli. Others are Andhari, Aner Dam, Bhimashankar, Bor, Chandoli, Chaprala, Gautala Autramghat, Great Indian Bustard, Jaikwadi, Kalsubai Harishchandra, Katepurna, Koyana, Malvan, Melghat, Nagzira, Nandur, Madmeshwar, Painganga, Phansad, Radhangiri, Tansa, and Yawal. Miscellaneous List of people from Maharashtra Government resources Official website Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Colleges and universities Armed Forces Medical College, Pune University of Pune Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT), Pune. VIT website Pune Institute of Enginnering and Technology, Pune Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. IIT-B University of Mumbai, Bombay Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli PVP Institute of Technology, Sangli ADCET Engineering College RIT Engineering College Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Management Vasantdada Patil Institute of Management Deccan Education Society Institute of Management Patangrao Kadam College Government Medical College, Miraj, Sangli Government Polytechnic, Nagpur Victoria Jubilee Technological Institute,Bombay. VJTI V.G.Vaze College of Science,Mulund,Bombay. |Kelkar College Urban Agglomerations with over 0.5 Million Population Mumbai Pune Nagpur Nashik Sangli Aurangabad Kolhapur Solapur FAVORITE ARTICLES: History of the World    History of the United States    History of Europe    Ancient History    History    Military History    World War I    Bombing of Dresden    California    US Constitution    Frank Sinatra    Boston    Marbury v. 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