Maharashtra is a state in the western region of India. It is India's second-most populous state and third-largest state by area, and includes the major cities of Mumbai, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. The region that comprises the state has a long history dating back to the 4th century BCE, although the present-day state was not established until 1960 CE.

From the 4th century BCE until 875, Maharashtri Prakrit and its Apabhraṃśas (dialects) were the dominant languages of the region. The Marathi language, which evolved from Maharashtri Prakrit, has been the common language from the 9th century. The oldest stone inscriptions in the Marathi language date to around 975 AD,[1] and can be seen at Shravanabelgola in modern-day Karnataka at the foot of the Bahubali Statue.

Maharashtra was historically the name of a region which consisted of Aparanta, Vidarbha, Mulak, Assaka (Ashmaka) and Kuntala. Tribal communities of Bhil people inhabited this area, also known as Dandakaranya, in ancient times. There was also an ancient race called "Rattha" (रठ्ठ in Marathi), who referred to themselves as "Maharattha" (Maha is Great). The name Maharashtra first appeared in the 7th century in the account of a contemporary Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang.

In the early modern period, the region of Maharashtra came under the rule of several Islamic dynasties, including the Deccan Sultanates and Mughal Empire. For part of 17th century and most of 18th century, the region became a base for the Maratha Empire, which conquered large parts of India before being defeated by the British.

The British ruled parts of Maharashtra for more than a century until 1947. After independence from the British, the state of Maharashtra was formed in 1960 after a prolonged campaign to create a Marathi speaking state in the 1950s.

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