The region was ruled by Marathas and Peshwas - famous among them being Chatrapati Shivaji. During the British rule, the region was part of the Bombay Province (Gujarat+Maharashtra). After independence, the region was called Bombay State. On 1.5.1960, the region was bifurcated into two states viz: Maharashtra (marathi speaking) and Gujarati (Gujarathi speaking) states. Thus, Maharashtra was born on 1.5.1960.

Mumbai, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Sholapur, Bhusawal.

Krishna, Godavari, Bhima.

Richest state in India, contributing 15% of industrial out put and 13.2% of GDP. Industrial, Commercial and Agricultural activity is abundant.

Bal Gangadhar Kher - 1947 -1952 (before bifurcation); Yashwant Rao Chavan 1960 - 1962 (after bifurcation).

1. AKOLA: Edible Oil and Dal Mills.
2. AMARAVATI: Industrial city with cotton Mills.
3. AURANGABAD: An industrial city with Silk and other textile industries dominant. "Paithani" Silk Sarees are very famous. "Bibi Ka Maqbara" a monument built by Azam Shah (Aurangazeb's son) a tribute to his Mother Dilras Bano Begum, Ajantha and Ellora Caves are the places of interest.
4. AHMEDNAGAR: Textile industries are more. Copper and Brass industries are also there. Few Hindu Temples and a fort are the places of interest.
5. BULDHANA: The world's largest hyper velocity meteorite impact crater in Basaltic - the Lonar Crater is located in this district. Couple of sanctuaries and the world's largest Hanuman idol Temple are the places of interest.
6. BEED
7. BHANDAR
8. CHANDRAPUR: It has one of the biggest super thermal power plant in Asia and a few cement factories. Forest and natural resources are there. The district has the largest lime stone reserve in India. Tadoba National Park, few temples around Ankleshwar are the places of interest.
9. DHULE: Cotton Cultivation and Cotton Industries.
10.GADCHIROLI: Tribal and under developed. Bamboo and Tendu leaves are Plenty. Naxalism prone area.
11.GONDIA: Paddy cultivation is dominant and has more than 100 rice mills.
12.HINGOLI: Aundh Nagnath, a Lord Shiva Temple, one of the twelve jyotirlingas is very famous.
13.JALGAON: Bhusawal town in this district is Divisional Headquarters of Central Railway and other railway offices and institutions are located here.A power plant and an ordnance factory are located in this district.
14.JALNA: Industrially, commercially and culturally important district of Maharashtra. Battle of Assaye between Marathas and British took place here in 1803.
15.KOLHAPUR: Famous for "Kolhapuri Chappals" and Mahalaxmi Temple.
16.LATUR: Academically famous for its pattern of education upto higher secondary.Experienced one of the worst earthquake in September 1993 (30.9.1993).
17.MUMBAI CITY
18. MUMBAI SUBURBAN - (later)
19.NANDURBAR
20.NANDED: A gurdwara in this district is a famous pilgrimage centre for Sikhs. It is here the 10th Sikh Guru breathed his last in 1708. The Gurdwara was built between 1832-1837 and is called the Hazur Sahib Gurdwara.
21.NAGPUR: One of the largest, industrially, agriculturally and culturally important city of Maharashtra. Railway Divisional Headquarters, Agricultural Research Centres, few Central Government organizations and Defence units are located here. " Deeksha Bhumi " where Dr.B.R.Ambedkar embraced Buddhism is located in this district. Oranges from this district is very famous. Ramanavami is a famous festival of Nagpur.
22.NASHIK: A picturesque district. River Godavari originates from this district. "Triambakeshwar " one of the Jyotirlinga Temple is located here. Industrially developing district with Security Press, Power Plant, Mahindras, Mico, VIP, Crompton Greaves, Glaxo, L & T, Samsonite, Siemens, Ceat, HAL, and few pharmaceutical industries have their units here. Religiously important district with lot of temples and a few places of interest are also there. The district is famous for "Grapes" and vine yards.
23.OSMANABAD
24.PALGHAR
25. PARBHANI
26.PUNE: Lies on the banks of Bhima river. Industrially, commercially, academically, and for defence, it is an important city not only for Maharashtra but also for the country. Automobile industries, Defence Establishments, Armed Forces Medical College, National Defence Academy, Defence Research Establishments, Film Institute, three military cantonments (Pune, Khadki and Dehu Road) Southern Command, number of forts at Sinhagad, Rajgad, Torna, Shivneri, Chakkan, Tungi, Tikona, Visapur, Lohagad etc., are all located here.
27.RAIGAD: Elephanta Caves, although lies off the Mumbai coast, geographically lies in this district.
28.RATNAGIRI: A backward district. The town itself is famous for "Alphonso" variety of Mangoes. Birthplace of Bal Gangadhara Tilak. Fort Murad is a major attraction.
29.SINDHUDURG: A backward district. A fort on a rocky island on the sea is a major attraction.
30.SANGLI: Was a Princely State during the British Rule. Agriculturally important District and has Asia's largest Turmeric market.
31.SATTARA: Seat of the Maharatta kings - Mahabhaleshwar, a hill station and a Sainik School are located in this district.
32.SOLAPUR: A textile town with Bed Sheets production being very famous. Ginning Mills and Beedi production are sources of employment. Lord Vittala Temple, Pandharpur, Nandhi Dwaj procession on Makara Sankaranthi day, Siddheswara Temple are places of interest.
33.THANE: Called as "City of Lakes" with about 30 lakes.
34.WASHIM
35.WARDHA: Cotton production and trading is very high. Gandhiji's Ashram and historically famous jail are located here.
36.YAVATMAL: Agriculturally important district with cotton, teakwood, orange and lime as major produce.

1. Until 1995, it was known as Bombay.Now known as Mumbai.
2. Lies on the Arabian Sea Coast and a natural harbour.
3. Historically, it was ruled by Mauryans, Silharas, Gujarati Kings, Portuguese and by British. Portuguese actually gifted the Bombay region on 11.5.1661 as a wedding gift for the marriage between Charles II of England and Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal.
4.Geographically, as a whole comprises of many islands. However, the city comprises mainly of the following seven islands: a) Isle of Bombay - "Shasti" island.b) Colaba c) Little Colaba or old woman's island. d) Mahim e) Mazagaon f) Parel g) Worli. Two more islands "Trombay" and "Salcette" have also been connected to make it Greater Mumbai.
5. Few more islands around are: a)Elephanta island also called as Gharapuri island. b)Butcher island. c)Middle Ground Coastal Battery. d)Oyster rock e) East Ground.
6. Considered as the commercial and industrial capital of India.
7. Highly industrialized with Textiles,Plastics, Shipyard & building, Real Estates and has the headquarters of many a company.
8. On the financial side, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange of India, Stock Exchange Board of India are all located here.
9. On the entertainment side, the cinema industry, called as Bollywood - One of the largest in the world is here with huge employment resource and revenue earning.
10. Gateway of India, Elephanta Caves, Siddhi Vinayak Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple, ISKCON Temple and Beaches are the places of interest.
11. Board of Control for Cricket in India is headquartered here.
12. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Indian Institute of Technology and a whole lot of educational institutions are here.
13. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Nuclear Power Reactors are there.
14. Rail network for passengers in India started here on 16th April 1853 from Thane to Boribunder (now CST).

Shiv Sena Leader Bal Thackeray.

1. Vineyards 2. One of the biggest telescopes in the world is located here. 3. Birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj.

1. Walchand Hirachand Dosh: First to start modern shipyard, a car Factory, an aircraft factory. Born at Solapur, Premier Automobiles, Hindustan Shipyard at Visakhapatnam are his major contributions.
2. Abasaheb Garware: Founder of Garware groups.
3. Dhirubhai, Anil and Mukesh Ambanis: Reliance Groups.
4. Ratan Tata: Tata Groups.
5. Shantanurao Laxman Rao Kirloskar: Kirloskar Groups.
6. Bal Thackeray, Manohar Joshi, Sharad Pawar, Suresh Kalmadi, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Narayan Rane and many more politicians.
7. Kapoor Family, Dutt Family, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachan and Family, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham, Madhuri Dixit, Shreedevi and a lot of other cine actors/actresses.
8. Anjali Bhagawat - Shooter. 9. Bhagyashree Thipsay - Chess 10. Sachin Tendulkar, Ajit Wadekar, Ajit Agarkar, Anshuman Gaekwad, Chandrakant Pandit, Chandu Borde, Dilip Vengasarkar, Ravi Shastri, Kiran More, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandip Patil, Sanjay Manjrekar, Vijay Hazare, Vinod Kambli, Vijay Merchant and many more cricketers.