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, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik. 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. 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.