Maharashtra is a state in the western and central peninsular region of India. It is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdivision globally. Maharashtra is the third largest state in India after Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. It covers an area of 307,713 km2 and is bordered by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Goa. The state is a significant part of the famous Deccan plateau with the Sahyadri range or the Western Ghats forming the physical backbone as well as the coastal belt of the state.