Maharashtra is a state located in western India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh, third largest state by area in India and the richest state in India contributing to approximately 25% of the country's industrial output and to 23.2% of its GDP in 2010-11.
Maharashtra encompasses an area of 308,000 km² (119,000 mi²), and is the third largest state in India. It is bordered by the states of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, Karnataka to the south, and Goa to the southwest. The state of Gujarat lies to the northwest, with the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli sandwiched in between. The Arabian Sea makes up Maharashtra's west coast.
The Western Ghats better known as Sahyadri are a hilly range running parallel to the coast, at an average elevation of 1,200 metres (4,000 ft). Kalsubai, a peak in the Sahyadris, near Nashik City is the highest elevated point in Maharashtra. To the west of these hills lie the Konkan coastal plains, 50–80 kilometres in width. To the east of the Ghats lies the flat Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats form one of the three watersheds of India, from which many South Indian rivers originate, notable among them being Godavari River, and Krishna, which flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal, forming one of the greatest river basins in India.
The State has 35 districts which are divided into six revenue divisions (Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur) for administrative purposes and eight educational division (Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Latur) These 35 districts are further divided into 109 sub-divisions of the districts and 355 talukas. The State has a long tradition of having very powerful bodies for planning at the district / local level. For local self-governance in rural areas, there are 33 Zilla Parishads, 355 panchayat samities and 27,993 Gram Panchayat. The urban areas are governed through 23 Municipal Corporations, 222 Municipal Councils and 4 Nagar Panchayat.
Geological Profile
Maharashtra has the largest road network (7% of total Indian road network) in the country and 97.5 % of the villages are well connected with all weather roads in the state and 2% are connected with fair weather roads. The state encompasses 2 major railway zone headquarters; the Central and Western Railway Zone headquarters. State has 9.2 % of total railway network of the country. Maharashtra is also well connected to major cities in the USA, EU, Asia and other Indian metropolitan cities by air route. The state has the highest number of airports in the country (6%).
Maharashtra encompasses an area of 308,000 km² (119,000 mi²), and is the third largest state in India. It is bordered by the states of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Andhra Pradesh to the southeast, Karnataka to the south, and Goa to the southwest. The state of Gujarat lies to the northwest, with the Union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli sandwiched in between. The Arabian Sea makes up Maharashtra's west coast.
The Western Ghats better known as Sahyadri are a hilly range running parallel to the coast, at an average elevation of 1,200 metres (4,000 ft). Kalsubai, a peak in the Sahyadris, near Nashik City is the highest elevated point in Maharashtra. To the west of these hills lie the Konkan coastal plains, 50–80 kilometres in width. To the east of the Ghats lies the flat Deccan Plateau. The Western Ghats form one of the three watersheds of India, from which many South Indian rivers originate, notable among them being Godavari River, and Krishna, which flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal, forming one of the greatest river basins in India.
The State has 35 districts which are divided into six revenue divisions (Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati and Nagpur) for administrative purposes and eight educational division (Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati, Nagpur, Kolhapur and Latur) These 35 districts are further divided into 109 sub-divisions of the districts and 355 talukas. The State has a long tradition of having very powerful bodies for planning at the district / local level. For local self-governance in rural areas, there are 33 Zilla Parishads, 355 panchayat samities and 27,993 Gram Panchayat. The urban areas are governed through 23 Municipal Corporations, 222 Municipal Councils and 4 Nagar Panchayat.
Geological Profile
Climate
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Maharashtra has typical monsoon climate, with hot, rainy and cold weather seasons. Summer (March to May), Monsoon (June-September), Post Monsoon (October-November), Winter (January- March)
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Natural resources
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The various mineral resources found in the state include manganese, coal, iron ore, limestone, copper, bauxite, silica sand, and common salt. Districts like Yavatmal, Nagpur, and Chandrapur are rich in coal deposits. The undersea oil deposits were discovered near Bombay High oil field in 1970.
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Geographic features
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Maharashtra is divided into Deccan plateau, which is separated from the Konkan coastline by 'Ghats'. The Ghats are a succession of steep hills, periodically bisected by narrow roads. Most of the famous hill stations of the state are at the Ghats. Sahyadri range with an elevation of 1000 meters is known for its crowning plateaus. Konkan is narrow coastal lowland, just 50 km wide and with an elevation below 200 meters. The third important region is the Satpura hills along the northern border, and the Bhamragad-Chiroli-Gaikhuri ranges on the eastern border form physical barriers preventing easy movement. These ranges also serve as natural limits to the state.
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Major Rivers
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Godavari River, Krishna River, Tapi River are the three major rivers in the state.
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Flora & Fauna
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The forests are mainly evergreen deciduous type. Majority of the forests are in the eastern and Sahyadri regions of the state.
Maharashtra has five national parks, three game reserves, and 24 wildlife/bird sanctuaries. Different kinds of animals found are tigers, panthers, bison, deer and antelopes, wild boars, bears and blue bull.
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Source: GoI, Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2010-11
Maharashtra has the largest road network (7% of total Indian road network) in the country and 97.5 % of the villages are well connected with all weather roads in the state and 2% are connected with fair weather roads. The state encompasses 2 major railway zone headquarters; the Central and Western Railway Zone headquarters. State has 9.2 % of total railway network of the country. Maharashtra is also well connected to major cities in the USA, EU, Asia and other Indian metropolitan cities by air route. The state has the highest number of airports in the country (6%).
