Maharashtra, capital city Mumbai
Area: 307,713 sq kms
Population: 78937187


Introduction
Maharashtra is bordered on the northwest by Gujarat state, on the north by Madhya Pradesh state, on the east by Chattisgarh state, on the south by Andhra Pradesh state, Karnataka state, and Goa state and on the west by the Arabian Sea.
History
The history of Maharashtra can be traced back clearly from the time it became a part of the Mauryan Empire. After the fall of Mauryas, for the next thousand years the state was ruled by a number of Hindu dynasties. Shivaji, the greatest ruler of the state made Maharatha into a powerful nation. In independent India, Bombay, the bilingual state, continued as one state consisting of Maharashtra and Gujarat. But this equation of two linguistic units in one state did not work and therefore on 1st May, 1960,under the Bombay re-organization Act, Maharashtra and Gujrat were divided into separate states. Maharashtra retained the old capital Bombay.
Geography
Maharashtra presents a range of physical diversity. To the west is the narrow Konkan coastal lowland, widest near Bombay, with numerous minor hills dominating the landscape. To the east the Western Ghats run almost continuously for 640 km north to south, with peaks in the north of more than 4,400 feet (1,340 m). The Deccan Plateau—containing the valleys of the Krishna, Bhima, and Godavari rivers—lies east of the Ghats. In the east around Nagpur are undulating uplands and the Wardha-Wainganga valley, part of the larger Godavari River basin.
Places of interest
Mumbai
Gateway to India & capital of Maharashtra, Bombay was once a cluster of seven islands called Heptanasia by Plotemy in AD 150. The word Mumbai (locally called) however, is derived from Mumba Devi or Maha Amba Aai, the patron goddess of the kolis or fisherfolk, who have been its original inhabitants.
Gateway of India
Once a group of seven islands, Mumbai is now one big island connected to the mainland by long, sweeping bridges. The city's main landmark, the Gateway of India, was conceived following the visit of King George V in 1911 and officially opened in 1924.
Elephanta Caves
Across the sea from the Gateway of India is the island of 7th century rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. The most famous sculpture is the Maheshmoorti, representing the three-headed Shiva.
Ellora Caves
Impressive in their own right, the rock-hewn temples and monasteries of Ellora are just 30 kms away from Aurangabad. Among the 30-odd shrines at Ellora, the Kailasa temple is the most remarkable. Chiseled by hand from a single massive rock, it includes a gateway, courtyard, vestibule and tower.
River and Lakes
Krishna, Bhima, and Godavari rivers
Major Crops
The chief crops are rice, wheat, durra, millet, sugarcane, groundnuts, and cotton. The livestock raised include buffalo and other cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry.
Weather and Climate
On the coast the average minimum temperature in January is 16°C, and the average maximum is 32°C. In June the average minimum temperature is 26°C , and the average maximum is also 32°C . Inland the average temperatures range from 14° to 29°C in January and from 25° to 40°C in May. Maharashtra has a monsoon season that accounts for about 80 percent of its annual rainfall.
People
Maharashtra's population is varied and includes the Bhil, Gond, Gowari, Korku, and Warli.
Religion
Most of the population is Hindu, although there are Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian minorities.
Festivals
Nag Panchami
In Hindu mythology, the cobra has a special significance and the earth, it is believed, rests on the head of 'Shesha' - the thousand-hooded cobra. Snake worship is an important ritual of the Maharashtrians, and on the festival of Nag Panchami, clay icons of cobras are venerated in homes. People offer sweets and milk to the snake deity and the day is celebrated with folk dances and songs, especially in the countryside. Snake charmers carry cobras in baskets and collect offerings from the public in the streets. A small village near Sangli, Battis Shirale, is famous for its snake catchers, and people throng the streets to watch the thrilling performances of expert snake charmers.
Narali Pournima
The full moon day of the month of Shravan is celebrated with characteristic fervour in different parts of Maharashtra and is known variously as Narali Pournima, Shravani Pournima, Rakhi Pournima or Raksha Bandhan. 'Naral' means 'coconut', and Narali Pournmia is thus called because people make offerings of coconuts to the sea-god on this day. Narali Pournima also marks the advent of the new fishing season and fishermen appease the sea-god before sailing out in their gaily-decorated boats. The festival is a day of singing and dancing. 
Raksha Bandhan is also observed on this day. Sisters tie 'rakhis' or beautifully decorated threads on their brothers' wrists. The ritual renews the bond of affection between siblings and signifies the brother's responsibility of protecting his sister all her life.
Gokul Ashtami
The birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated on Gokul Ashtami or Janmashtami. Most devotees fast till midnight and when the birth of Lord Krishna is announced, they eat a festive preparation of rice, butter, yogurt, puris and potatoes. Lord Krishna and his playmates in Gokul relished this meal, according to Hindu mythology. Another fun-filled ritual performed on this day is dahi-handi - clay pots filled with curd, puffed rice and milk are strung high up above the streets and groups of enthusiastic young men (and even women) form human pyramids to reach these and break them open, the way Lord Krishna and his friends would, after sneaking into the houses of gopis (milkmaids) to steal and eat butter.
Ganesh Chaturthi
Lord Ganesh, the patron deity of Maharashtra, is the God of wisdom. In August, preparations to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi - the auspicious day when Lord Ganesh was born - begin with great enthusiasm all over the state. The 11-day festival begins with the installation of beautifully sculpted Ganesh idols in homes and mandaps (large tents), colourfully decorated, depicting religious themes or current events. The Ganesh idols are worshipped with families and friends. Many cultural events are organised and people participate in them with keen interest. After ten exciting days comes the time to bid farewell to the beloved God. People take Ganesh idols in procession to the accompaniment of music and dance for immersion in the sea or nearby river or lake. 
Gudhi Padwa
'Gudhi' - the bamboo staff with a coloured silk cloth and a garlanded goblet atop - symbolises victory or achievement. Maharashtrians erect gudhis on Padwa, the first day of the Hindu New Year. People welcome the New Year with gudhi worship and distribute prasad comprising tender neem leaves, gram-pulse and jaggery. Gudhi Padwa heralds the advent of a prosperous new year and is considered as a shubh muhurat - one of the most auspicious days - by Hindus.
Pola
Farmers all over Maharashtra celebrate this harvest festival. On this day bullocks, which are an integral part of the agricultural chores and consequently the village economy, are honoured. They are bathed, colourfully decorated and taken out in processions across the village, accompanied by the music of drumbeats and lezhim (a musical instrument made of a wooden rod and an iron chain full of metallic pieces). Pola brings out an important facet of Hindu culture, which does not look upon cattle as mere beasts of burden, but treats them with dignity and gratitude.
Dussehra
According to the great Hindu epic Ramayan, Dussehra is the day on which Lord Ram killed Ravan, the evil king of Lanka. It is considered as a shubh-muharat - a very auspicious day - to start a new venture. It is a symbol of the victory of good over evil. People decorate the entrances of their homes with torans, flower studded strings, and worship the tools of trade, vehicles, machinery, weapons and even books. 
Diwali
Diwali or Deepawali means a row of lights. The most beautiful of all Indian festivals, Diwali is a celebration of lights. Streets are illuminated with rows of clay lamps and homes are decorated with rangoli (coloured powder designs) and aakash kandils (decorative lanterns of different shapes and sizes). People rise at dawn, massage their bodies and hair with scented oil and take a holy bath. Diwali is celebrated with new clothes, spectacular firecrackers and a variety of sweets in the company of family and friends.
Makar Sankrant
Sankrant means the passing of the sun from one Zodiac sign to the other. People exchange greeting and good wishes on this day, which marks the Sun's passage from the Tropic of Dhanu (Sagittarius) to Makar (Capricon). Sweet and crunchy ladoos made of sesame and jaggery are the favourite treats.
Holi
Each year, after a successful winter harvest, people get ready to welcome the spring with Holi - the festival of colours. Holis or bonfires are lit in the night and people gather to worship the fire-god, who is believed to burn away all evil. On the next day, people of all ages come outside and playfully drench each other with coloured water. Brightly coloured powders are applied on faces, and there is plenty of music, dance and sweets to fill the rest of the day. The exuberant display of colours symbolises the advent of a colourful and prosperous spring season.
The Banganga Festival
Legend has it that Lord Ram, on his way to Lanka in search of his wife Sita, stopped on the hillock of Malabar Hill. His followers were worshippers of Shiva and they fashioned a shivalinga from sand and called it Walluka Ishwar - 'walluka' meaning 'sand' and 'Ishwar', 'the God'. Though surrounded by water, the people could not find fresh water to quench their thirst or perform daily puja. Seeing this, Ram shot a ban (arrow) into the ground and the fresh waters of the holy Ganga sprang from that spot. Centuries later, the Shilahara kings built a large and beautiful tank in stone, to store the water of the Banganga. 
The Elephanta Festival
In February Elephanta, a small island near Mumbai, is a favoured destination for culture lovers. It is the site of the Elephanta Festival, the tranquil abode of Lord Shiva, just one-and-a-half-hour's journey by motor launch from Mumbai. Once known as Puri or Gharapuri, the island was the proud capital of a powerful coastal kingdom. It was named Elephanta by the Portuguese, who took possession of it several centuries later, and found a monolithic stone elephant at the place they first landed.
Language
The official language is Marathi, which is spoken by about 90 percent of the population; other languages include Urdu, Hindi, and English.
Culture
The state is a distinct cultural region. Its long artistic tradition is manifested in the ancient cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora, in the remains of its medieval architecture, in its classical and devotional music, and in its theatre. The area's foremost diversion is tamasha, combining music, drama, and dance.
Food 
The cuisine of Maharashtra is largely influenced by the landscape, the people and the crops grown in various regionsTo avoid mixing flavours, each guest is given a bowl of saffron scented water to dip the fingers in before starting on the next course. Typical milk sweets like basundi, masala milk, shreekhand and kheer.
Handicrafts
Maharashtra boasts of a rich treasure trove of handicrafts and textiles. Maharashtrian sarees with their distinctive weave, colour and attractive 'pallus', priceless antiques, leather goods like shoes and handbags, jewellery and the very ethnic Kolhapuri sandals, are just some of the attractions the state has to offer.