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Maharashtra is India's
third largest state in area
(about the size of Italy) and
second largest in population,
9.4% of India. Located in
western India, Maharashtra is
bordered by the states of
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Goa and the Union
territory of Dadra and Nagar
Haveli. The Arabian Sea makes up
the state's western coast.
Mumbai, the capital city of
Maharashtra, is India's largest
city and a prime centre of
economy and culture. Nagpur is
the second capital of the state.
Pune is regarded as the cultural
capital of the state and has
also emerged as the IT hub of
the state.
The
Maratha Empire expanded to cover
most of northern India and
existed for more than a century.
After the third Anglo-Maratha
war, the empire ended and most
of Maharashtra became part of
Bombay state under a British Raj.
After Indian independence,
Maharashtra Samyukta Maharashtra
Samiti demanded unification of
all Marathi speaking regions
under one state.
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