MAHARASHTRA

MAHARASHTRA

Area: 3, 07, 713 sq. km

Latitude: 19˚ 48’N

Population: 9,67, 52, 247

Longitude: 76˚E

Principal language: Marathi

Capital: Mumbai

Situation: the state is located in the north centre of Peninsular India, and is bordered by Gujarat in the northwest, Madhya Pradesh in the north, Chhattisgarh in the east, Andhra Pradesh in the south – east, Karnataka and Goa in the south, Arabian Sea Guards the western boundary of Maharashtra.

MUMBAI

·         Located on the low hilly island running southwards known as Bombay Island.

·         Capital city known as ‘cotton polis of India’.

·         It is also the commercial capital of India. It has the largest stock exchange in the country.

·         An important textile centre of India and also an important centre of petrochemical industry.

·         Leading exporter of cut and polished diamond and jewellery.

·         Mumbai is India’s biggest Barbour.

·         Other industries are ship – building, printing, engineering goods, leathers, synthetic an plastic goods, transport and foods, etc.

TROMBAY

·         Situated near Mumbai, has oil refineries and the Bhabha Atomic Research centre establishment.

NHAVA SHEVA PORT

·         Situated 173 km offshore, southwest of Mumbai, where huge amount of Petroleum deposits as discovered in an anticline and hence called ‘High’.

THANE

·         Manufacturing centre of woolen fabrics, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, polyethylene, wax and glassware.

·         15 km north of Thane, noted for cotton textile mill and cotton handloom industry.

TARAPUR

·         Site of nuclear power plant and chemical industry.

NASIK

·         Paper is manufactured and government currency printing centre is located.

RATNAGIRI

·         An aluminum smelting plant of Bharat Aluminum Company Ltd. (BALCO) is located.

·         Alphorns, a variety of mango is produced.

·         An important fair weather port.

·         Reserves of iron and chromites ore are found.

THAL

·         Situated about 100 km south of Mumbai.

·         Large sized gas based nitrogenous fertilizer plant is located.

JALGAON

·         Oil hydrogenation plant is located.

AKOLA

·         Oil hydrogenation plant.

NAGPUR

·         Second most important town of Maharashtra and the tenth most important town of India.

·         India’s chief collecting and packing centre of oranges.

·         An important centre of cotton – handloom, cotton mill and fruit canning industries.

SOLAPUR

·         Situated in the lower valley of the Sina, a tributary of the Bhima River.

·         Cotton textile centre, also famous for traditional handloom industry.

·         Pharmaceuticals and rubber products are also manufactured

·         Engineering industry is also located here.

AURANGABAD

·         A military centre.

·         Manufactures rubber tires for automobiles, two wheeler.

·         Shoes an paper are also manufactured.

AHMEDNAGAR

·         Leading sugar producing district of Maharashtra.

PUNE

·         Ninth most important town of India.

·         An observatory is located which issues weather forecast bulletin.

·         Cotton, plastics, ceramics, sugar and chemicals are also manufactured.

MAHABALESHWAR

·         A hill station in Maharashtra.

VENGURLA

·         An important minor port situated to the south of Ratnagiri.

KOLHAPUR

·         This region is known for its cotton textile and leather industries.

·         An important trading centre of guard and tobacco.

·         Pistons, rings and printing machinery are also manufactured.

·         Deposits of good quality bauxite.