Maharashtra, State in western India
Description
This state extends from the Arabian Sea coastline through coastal plains to the Deccan Plateau highlands, encompassing 307,713 square kilometers (118,809 square miles) of mountains, forests, rivers and agricultural lands that include different climate zones and vegetation types across its territory.
History
Various dynasties controlled this region over centuries, including the Satavahanas, Chalukyas and Delhi Sultanate, before the Maratha Empire gained power and expanded in the 17th century under Shivaji, until British colonial rule arrived and fundamentally reshaped administrative structures.
Culture
Marathi language permeates public life through schools, government offices and theater stages, where traditional performance forms like Tamasha and Lavani have conveyed everyday experiences through artistic expression for centuries, maintaining their relevance in contemporary society and connecting generations through shared cultural practices.
Practical
Mumbai serves as the capital and main transportation hub with international flight connections, while the best visiting period runs from October through March, when temperatures moderate and monsoon rains have subsided, making exploration across all regions more manageable and transportation routes more reliable.
Did you know?
The state houses both Bollywood as the country's foremost film industry and the highest number of World Heritage Sites in India, including Ajanta and Ellora Caves and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, underscoring its cultural importance on a national scale.
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Statue of Unity
332.8 km
Antilia
1.1 km
Ajanta Caves
349.5 km
Gateway of India
5.6 km
Charminar
624.3 km
Ellora Caves
274.1 km
Elephanta Caves
11.8 km
Kailasa Temple, Ellora
273.9 km
Haji Ali Dargah
1.8 km
Ramoji Film City
648.8 km
Sardar Sarovar Dam
332.8 km
Bandra–Worli Sea Link
7.4 km
Raigad Fort
105.1 km
Shaniwar Wada
120.1 km
Sinhagad
119.4 km
Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple
130.5 km
Bibi Ka Maqbara
282.3 km
Mallikarjuna Temple
718.3 km
Gol Gumbaz
390 km
University of Mumbai
11.8 km
Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai
5.3 km
Marine Drive
2.9 km
Murud-Janjira
76.1 km
Deccan Traps
95.4 km
Lodha World One
3.7 km
Statue of Equality
616.3 km
Bombay High Court
4.5 km
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
3.7 km
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