Maharashtra, India

Maharashtra is a large state located in west-central India, in the northwestern part of the Indian Subcontinent. It has an area of about 120 thousand square miles and is the state where the large cities of Mumbai, Nashik, and Pune are located. The shores of the Arabian Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean, form the western borders of the state. To the south, Maharashtra shares borders with the states of Goa and Karnataka; to the east, it has borders with the state of Chhattisgarh; and to the north, Maharashtra has borders with the states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Mumbai (formerly Bombay) is the largest city and the capital of the state, as well as a major port and one of the largest metropolitan areas not only in India but on the entire continent.

The state of Maharashtra has one of the longest coastlines, estimated to be about 450 miles long. The main part of the state occupies the Deccan Plateau, with plenty of forests and fertile land. A mountain range known as the Western Ghats is located mainly in the western and southern parts of the state. There are a few rivers crossing the state, including the Godavari, Bhima, Krishna, Tapi, and Purna rivers, among others.

The largest natural parks and protected areas of the state include Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Shri Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Wildlife Sanctuary, Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary, Raigad Fort, and others. Maharashtra is a key economic contributor and industrial region of the country, which makes the state one of the wealthiest and most developed among the other states.