Maharashtra can be seen as three regions—Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha, and Marathwada. Vidarbha was very famous in ancient times. There are numerous references to this kingdom in the Mahabharata and several other mythological works as well as in folklore. Rukmini, married to Krishna, was a princess of Vidarbha. In the 3rd century B.C. Maharashtra was a part of the Maurya Empire. Sopara (Souparayam) and Choul (Champawati) on the outskirts of the city of Mumbai were not only busy trade centers, but also seats of Buddhist studies. As the Maurya Empire declined, Maharashtra came under the rule of various dynasties like the Satavahanas, the Traikutakas, the Vakatakas, the Chalukyas and the Yadavas.
Significant cultural and artistic activities continued for along period—from 3rd century BC to 9th century AD, during which the remarkable frescos of the Ajanta caves were made. Towards the close of the 13th century, Maharashtra came under Muslim rulers. In the first part of the 17th century the Great Chhatrapati Shivaji emerged who gave the Marathas a new sense of unity and purpose. Not only did he challenge Aurangzeb whose fanaticism was chiefly responsible for the disintegration of the Mughal empire, but also subdued several other powers and brought under his rule a territory that stretched from the Arabian Sea running over the rugged terrain of the Western Ghats, to the plains of central India. Early in the 19th century, Maharashtra came under British domination.
The Mughal dominated much of Central and South India in the 16th century until the Deccan became the epicenter of the Maratha Empire in the 17th century. With a relatively small army, Shivaji established a base in Pune and later Raigarh. From the early 18th century, Maratha Empire was controlled by the Peshwas who retained power until they defeated the English in 1817. Maharashtra also has strong ties with India's Independence and Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was interned by British in Pune for two years after the declaration of Quit India Movement. His ashram in Sevagram is also in Maharashtra.