Maharashtra (Rokada Swargaon)

 state, invisible, first-level administrative division

Maharashtra is India's third largest state in area and second largest in population, 9.4% of India. Located in western India, Maharashtra is bordered by the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The Arabian Sea makes up the state's western coast. Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra, is India's largest city and a prime centre of economy and culture. Nagpur is the second capital of the state. Pune is regarded as the cultural capital of the state and has also emerged as the IT hub of the state.

In the 17th Century, the Marathas rose under the leadership of Shivaji Raje Bhosale against the Mughals who were ruling a large part of India. The Maratha Empire expanded to cover most of northern India and existed for more than a century. After the third Anglo-Maratha war, the empire ended and most of Maharashtra became part of Bombay state under a British Raj. After Indian independence, Maharashtra Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti demanded unification of all Marathi speaking regions under one state. The first state reorganization committee created the current Maharashtra state on May 1, 1960 (known as Maharashtra Day). The Marathi-speaking areas of Bombay state, Deccan states and Vidarbha (which was part of Central Provinces and Berar) united to form the current state.

Maharashtra is the second richest state in India with higher per capita income, contributing to 15% of the country's industrial output and 13.2% of its GDP in year 2005-06.

Capital: Mumbai