West India

West India (Western India) or the Western region of India consists of the states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, along with the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is highly industrialized, with a large urban population. Most of Western India was part of the Maratha Empire before colonization by the British. The regions became part of India on independence, and took their current form after the States Reorganization Act of 1956. The states are roughly bounded by the Thar Desert in the northwest, the Vindhya Range in the north and the Arabian Sea in the west. A major portion of Western India shares the Deccan Plateau with South India. Before the partition of India, Sindh and Balochistan were also included in this region.

History

(For detailed history please read the respective articles of the three western states: Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat)

Parts of Gujarat were the site of Indus Valley Civilization. Sites have been uncovered in Gujarat at Lothal, Surkotada, and around Ghaggar river in Rajasthan. The Western Indian region was ruled by the Maurya Kingdom, Gurjar, Rajputs, Satavahanas, Western Satraps, Indo Greeks etc. in the ancients times. During the medieval age, the region came under Persian influence and also under the Mughal rule. Later, the Maratha Empire which arose in western Maharashtra came to dominate a major portion of the Indian...
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