Geography and History of Maharashtra

Maharashtra or the Great Nation is the third largest state in the country and covers a geographical area of 308, 000 square km.

the great nation has a glorious history behind the doors of the past. The history can be traced to 3rd century BC.

Maharashtra has been ruled by several emperors, all of whom have left their indelible mark on the land.

The rulers include Ashoka, the Vakatakas, and the Delhi Sultanates, the Marathas, the Peshwas and then the British rule.

The historical period of the state can be divided into the following categories:

• Topography
• Rivers & Lakes
• Soil & Vegetation
• Climate
• Maharashtra History
• The British Rule
• Post Independence (1947)

With a population of over 78,937,000 inhabitants, the land is still capable of holding more people. The Sahyadri Range forms the backbone of the state. Apart from that the topography includes hills and plateaus, the most dominating of them being, the Western Ghats which forms the coastal belt, and the Deccan Plateau. The soil which dominates the state is the black soil, also known as the black cotton soil.

The vegetation of the state mainly includes open scrub jungles which form the most important feature of the Deccan region. The forests region of Maharashtra comprises 17% of the total area which are present in the eastern part of the state and the Sahyadri range. There is diversity in the vegetation of the state, due to its climatic and topographical variations. Evergreen deciduous type of forests dominates the landscape.

The main rivers of the state include Krishna, Bhima, Godavari, Tapi-Purna and Wardha-Wainganga. The Western ghats form the drainage area for most of the rivers flowing in the coastal region.

The climate of Maharashtra is of a tropical monsoon type with a searing heat in the summer months, and cold winter. The monsoons have varied influence over different regions, causing heavy rain at some places and mild rainfall in others.


Last Updated on : 21 May 2013