MH Police Bharti · Bite-size lessons
Maharashtra Geography
About 6 min · General Knowledge & Current Affairs · English
Time worked out from the lesson's 322 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.
Maharashtra, India's third-largest state by area and second-largest by population, occupies a strategic position in western-central India.
Key ideas
- Sahyadri Range (Western Ghats) runs north-south along Maharashtra's western edge, forming a natural barrier between the Konkan coast and the Deccan Plateau. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the source of most peninsular rivers.
- Three Natural Divisions: Maharashtra has three distinct regions — Konkan (coastal strip), Western Ghats (Sahyadri), and Deccan Plateau (including Vidarbha and Marathwada).
- River Systems: Most rivers flow west-to-east (Arabian Sea to Bay of Bengal catchment) because the Sahyadri acts as the water divide. The Tapi and short, swift Konkan rivers flow westward into the Arabian Sea.
- Monsoon-Dependent Climate: Maharashtra receives southwest monsoon rainfall (June–September). Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall; eastern regions face rain-shadow effect.
- 36 Districts: As of 2024, Maharashtra has 36 districts grouped under 6 revenue divisions — Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Amravati, and Nagpur.
Watch out for
- Confusing river origins: Students think Godavari originates at Mahabaleshwar → Correct: Godavari originates at Trimbakeshwar (Nashik); Krishna originates at Mahabaleshwar.
- Miscounting districts: Forgetting Palghar (newest district, 2014) → Correct: Maharashtra has 36 districts, not 35.
- Wrong highest peak: Assuming Mahabaleshwar is the highest point → Correct: Kalsubai (1,646 m) is highest; Mahabaleshwar is only 1,438 m.
Quick reference
- Highest Peak: Kalsubai (1,646 m) — Ahmednagar district
- Longest River: Godavari — origin Trimbakeshwar, Nashik
- Total Districts: 36 (across 6 divisions)
- Newest District: Palghar (2014, carved from Thane)
- Rain-shadow Region: Marathwada (drought-prone)
Check yourself: 3 questions
1. Which mountain range runs parallel to the western coast of Maharashtra?
2. The Godavari river basin covers the maximum geographical area in Maharashtra. Which of the following rivers is NOT a tributary of the Godavari in Maharashtra?
3. Maharashtra experiences three main seasons. During which season does the Konkan region receive maximum rainfall?
This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 21 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.
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