The economy of Maharashtra is the biggest among all the states in India. Mumbai is called the country’s financial capital and is home to the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.
In agricultural and industrial production, trade and transport, and education, Maharashtra is one of the leading states in India. (Photo credit: News9live)
New Delhi: Every year on May 1, Maharashtra Day or Maharastra Din is celebrated. The day commemorates the formation of Maharashtra from the erstwhile Bombay State on May 1, 1960. On this day, parades, political speeches and ceremonies along with several other public and private events take place as people pay their tribute to this historically, culturally and economically rich state. On the eve of the day, we will take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about Maharashtra in this article.
Nine lesser-known facts about Maharashtra
Second-most populous state
Maharashtra is divided into 6 divisions and 36 districts. People from all over the country go to the state in search of jobs since its economy is the largest in India. Notably, Maharashtra is the second most populous state in India after Uttar Pradesh.
Biggest economy in India
The economy of Maharashtra is the biggest among all the states in India. The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Maharashtra is reportedly around Rs 35.27 trillion and GSDP per capita is Rs 242,247. Also, the economy of the state is dominated by the service sector.
Home to the largest stock exchanges in India
In agricultural and industrial production, trade and transport, and education, Maharashtra is one of the leading states in India. Mumbai is called the country’s financial capital and is home to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in Asia and the largest in India. It also houses the National Stock Exchange, India’s second-largest stock exchange and one of the world’s largest derivatives exchanges.
Largest network of highways
Maharashtra is the third largest state and covers an area of 307,713 sq. km. Due to its massive size, the state has the largest network of highways in India with 18 national highways of 17,757 km in length.
State with most heritage sites
Maharashtra is a state with a rich culture and heritage. It is home to numerous important historical monuments. Infact, it has the most number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: Five. They are Ellora Caves, Ajanta Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco buildings of South Mumbai.
Ancient caves in Maharashtra
There are around 1200 ancient caves in India and among them, Maharashtra has almost 800 caves in about 65 areas. The age of some of these caves is around 1500 to 2200 years. Also, the state has six national parks, seven conservation areas and around 49 wildlife sanctuaries. Also, the state has the highest number of old forts, 450.
A unique lake
There is a lake in Maharashtra located about 79 km from Buldhana city. Known as the Lonar Lake, it was created due to a meteorite impact thousands of years ago. According to experts, the age of the lake is 576,000, give or take 47,000 years. Its water is both saline and alkaline and it became a protected Ramsar site in November 2020.
The biogeographic zones
There are three important biogeographic zones in Maharashtra: The Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau, and the West Coast. While the Ghats nurture endemic species, the Deccan Plateau provides vast mountain ranges and grasslands while the coast is home to swamp forests. When it comes to recorded forest area, Maharashtra sits in second place. Its 720-kilometre sea coastline of the Arabian Sea marks the presence of various types of fish and marine animals.
The divisions in Maharashtra
Maharashtra has five geographical divisions: North Maharashtra, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha and Desh or Western Maharashtra and they have six administrative divisions: Amravati, Konkan, Aurangabad, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. These divisions are divided into 36 districts, 109 sub-divisions, and 358 talukas. According to the 2011 Census, the five most populous districts in Maharashtra are Mumbai City district, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and Thane.
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