Maharashtra is a western state of India, with Mumbai as its capital. Maharashtra is the largest industrial and retail market globally which is a unique thing about Maharashtra. It plays a vital role in both the social and political environments of India. It is an influential state in India in industrial and agricultural output, exchange and transport, and even education. The following article will provide you with interesting facts about Maharashtra in detail. The term “Maharashtra” came from the word “Maharishi (great chariot driver)”.

History of Maharashtra

Officially, the state emerged on 1st May 1960. The state is linguistically separated. Most of the people in northern Maharashtra speak Gujarati, and the people in the southern part speak Marathi. The revolt of 1960 led to the creation of the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat to its north. 

Maharashtra location

Maharashtra occupies a significant part of the “Deccan plateau”, the “western peninsular”, which is part of the Indian subcontinent. There are primarily three states to Maharashtra’s east, north, and south boundaries. The boundary includes Gujarat in the northwest, Telangana in the southeast, Madhya Pradesh in the north, Chhattisgarh in the east, and Karnataka in the south. Additionally, Goa is situated in the southwest, and in the west, it is the Arabian Sea. 

Some fun facts about Maharashtra you never knew

These interesting facts about Maharashtra make the state individual from the rest of the states in India. 

  • Maharashtra holds a prosperous history and a powerful cultural exposition. The state is experiencing growth in varied fields, including fitness, enterprise, education, etc. Travelling both the length and the breadth of Maharashtra, one will encounter compelling visions.
  • The state is the second-most populated state. It is home to about 124.7 million people and is the third-biggest state in India. The state also covers around 307,713 sq. km.
  • 1960 is the most valuable date in the history of the state because it was in this year that the state of Maharashtra officially came into being with the passing of the Bombay Reorganisation Act.
  • Maharashtra, geographically, has 720 km of coastline, i.e., the Konkan territory. It extends towards the Western Ghats, with the hills of Satpura forming its northern border. In the east, it is bounded by the Bhamragad-Chiroli-Gaikhuri ranges. These are the natural boundaries of the state, along with the Deccan Plateau that stands in between. 
  • Maharashtra independently provides more than 15% of the entire country’s GDP and more than 20% of the country’s overall exports. It has accounted for nearly 30% of FDI undertakings in India over the past 20 years.
  • The state maintains a massive network of highways in the country. Its 18 national highways cover around 17,757 km.
  • Moreover, the state has the maximum number (6) of “UNESCO World heritage sites” compared to the rest of the Indian states.
  • Among around 1200 ancient caves in India, Maharashtra conserves nearly 800 caves in about 65 varied areas. The age of some of these caves is around 1500-2200 years. 
  • Maharashtra also possesses the highest number of old forts, which is 450. 
  • The state is home to around 49 incredible wildlife sanctuaries, 6 National Parks, and 7 conservation reserves.
  • Maharashtra has 11 active airports.

Language

Marathi and Konkani are the main dialects of Maharashtra. The development of the language can be traced to the “Maharashtri Prakrit”, which is again the dialect of the Prakrit language. The language has been around in both the western and southern parts of India since ancient and mediaeval times (from 500 BCE to 500 CE) for over 1000 years.

Culture

The State of Maharashtra is widely known for its “purogami culture,” which refers to progressive culture. Over 80% of Maharashtrians are Hindus. Apart from this, there are other communities like Muslims, Christians, and Buddhist groups. This is another unique thing about Maharashtra.

Art and craft

The glory of Maharashtra’s tradition lies in the span of the state’s conventional arts and crafts. There are numerous magnificent handicrafts like Paithani, the best offering in Maharashtra. The state is filled with sarees, elegant fabric works, mural paintings, leatherware, and the exceptional jewellery of Kolhapur.  

Geographical facts

Rice is the main crop of Maharashtra. Other important crops include cashews, vegetables, cotton, tobacco, mangoes, and oilseeds. 

The climate in Maharashtra is mainly tropical monsoon in nature. Seasonal rains in Maharashtra are too heavy, sometimes about 400 cm in some areas. The warm summer in Maharashtra starts from March and lasts till the end of October. However, winter is mild here. 

Rainforests comprise around 17% of the whole territory of Maharashtra. The majority of the wilderness lies in the eastern part and Sahyadri Province.

Godavari, Krishna, Tapti-purna, Bhima, and Wardha-Wainganga are the most important rivers in Maharashtra. Some other geographical facts about Maharashtra are:

  • There are 6 states on the state’s border: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Goa.
  • There are five geographically diverse parts distinguishing the state into “Konkan”, “Khandesh”, “Marathwada”, “Vidarbha”, and “Paschim Maharashtra”. 
  • The Godavari is the primary source of water in Maharashtra. The rest of the rivers also provide the people with water. 
  • The highest peak of Maharashtra is Kalsubai which is in the Sahyadri range. Its altitude is 1646 m.
  • The largest district of Maharashtra is Ahmednagar in terms of area. However, in terms of population, Suburban Mumbai is the largest one.

Conclusion 

The natural beauty of Maharashtra lies in the position of the Arabian Sea in the west and the Sahyadri range in the north. There are around 8 beautiful areas according to interesting facts about Maharashtra. These are white-sand sea beaches, greenery, population-free hilly areas, ancient temples, and caves. Variety in culture and nature comes automatically here and is the unique thing about Maharashtra. It is also known as “the land of scholars, saints, and actors” because maximum people in Maharashtra have attained their success in those fields of work.