Bhandara district General information
BHANDARA, a town and district of British India, in the Nagpur division of the Central Provinces. The town (pop. in 1901, 14,023) is situated on the left a bank of the river Wainganga, 7m from a station on the bengal-Nagpur railway.
Origin of Name
Bhandara is the word derived from "Bhannara".Ratanpur (Dist. Bilaspur) excavation has confirmed the historical status of Bhandara. In the stone inscription of Ratanpur, Bhandara district was in existence in the 11th century. Bhandara district was governed by feudal dynasty of Lanji from 1818 to 1830 and Lanji was the head quarter of the dynasty. Bhandara district with its head quarter at Bhandara was formed in 1821. Bhandara district was again divided and New Gondia district was formed on 1st May 1999. Thus Bhandara & Gondia district have come into existence.
History
Tradition says that at a remote period a tribe of men, called the Gaulis belonged to the Gond raja of Deogarh. In 1743 it was conquered by the Mahrattas,who governed it till 1853, when it lapsed to the British government, the raja of Nagpur having died without an heir.
Bhandara district's known history goes back to 11th Century. shri Chakradhar Mahapraphu the founder of Mahanubhav sect has visited and stayed in different villages of Bhandara district in 11th century, his long stay was at Bhandara and his first disciple Nilkantharai Bhandarekar hailed from Bhandara city. Lila charitra the main religious book of Mahanubhav Sect has several references regarding Bhandara district.
Location
Bhandara district is encircled by Balaghat district (M.P.) in north, Gondia in east, Chandrapur, in South, and Nagpur in the West. Hilly region of the northern side consists of Satpuda range, Bhivsen Koka are small hillocks in this range. Gaymukh, Ambagad, these are the prominent hills in northern hilly region.
Area
The District of Bhandara has an area of 3965 sq. m.
Mountain
The district is bounded on the N., NE. and E. by lofty hills, inhabited by Gonds and other aboriginal tribes, while the W. and N.W. are comparatively open. Small branches of the Satpura range make their way into the interior of the district.
The Ambagarh or Sendurjhari hills, which skirt the south of the Chandpur pargana, have an average height of between 300 and 400 ft. above the level of the plain.
The other elevated tracts are the Balahi hills, the Kanheri hills and the Nawegaon hills.
River
The Wainganga is the principal river in the district, and the only stream that does not dry up in the hot weather, its affluent within the district being the Bawanthari, Bagh, Kanhan and Chulban.
There are 3648 small lakes and tanks in Bhandara district, whence it is called the lake region of nagpur; they afford ample means of irrigation.
Forest
More than one-third of the district lies under jungle, which yields gum, medicinal fruit and nuts, edible fruits, lac, honey and the blossoms of the ma/hat tree (Bassia latifolia), which area eaten by the poorer classes, and used for the manufacture of a kind of spirit.
Tigers, panthers, deer wild hogs and other wild animals abound in the forests, and during the rainy season many deaths occur from snake-bites.
Economy
Iron is the chief mineral product. Gold is also found in the bed of the Sone river. Literate, shale and sandstone occur all over the district.
Native cloth, brass wares, pot-stone wares, cartwheels, straw and reed baskets, and a small quantity of silk, from the only manufactures, the principal crops are rice, wheat, millet, other food-grains, pulse, linseed, and a little super-cane.
It has considerable manufactures of cotton cloth and brass-ware, and a first-grade middle school, with a library.
Access
The district is traversed by the main road from Nagpur to the east, and also by the Bengal-Nagpur railway.
Nature
Bhandara is the rice bowl of Maharashtra state Chinnor, Dubhraj, Kalikammod, these scented rice varieties from Bhandara district are famous in the State. Bhandara district is known as district of lakes. District is rich in forest, beautiful lakes, natural flora & fauna have enhanced natural beauty and grandeur of the dist.
Tourist Place
AMBAGAR FORT :This medieval period fort is situated in tumsar taluka and about 13 km away from tumsar in the dist. Fort was constructed by Raja Khan Pathan , the subhedar of Bakht buland shah ,the ruler of devgadh around 1700 A. D. Later it came under possession of Raja Raghuji Bhosla of Nagpur who used as prison for captives . Later on it had taken over by British.
ANDHALGAON :Andhalgaon also known as Andhalgaon or the dark village, is a village of 5,164 inhabitants in 1971 in Bhandara tahsil lying about 16 miles north of Bhandara and connected with Mohali by a good metalled road. It is one of the principal centers in the district having a considerable weaving industry, silk bordered cloths for women being chiefly produced. The kosa (silk) cloth for which the district is so well-known has become very costly and hence the demand for it has correspondingly declined. A weekly marked is held on Wednesdays to which some cattle are also brought for sale. Andhalgaon has a primary, an allopathic dispensary, a maternity home, a veterinary aid center, asarvodaya sarvodaya center, and a library. There are also a sub-post office and a police outpost.
ADYAR :Adyar, with in 1971 a population of 7,496, is a large village in Bhandara tahsil, situated about 14 miles south of Bhandara on the Pauni road. A number of Gandlis are engaged in weaving silk-bordered saries, cloth and dhotis on handlooms on co-operative basis, the silk-bordered saries being particularly known for their fine texture and quality. Bamboo baskets and matting are also made. At the weekly market held on Sundays household goods, provisions and cattle are put up for sale. In fact Adyar is one of the important cattle markets in the district. The agriculture laborers of this village are known for their skill and knowledge of paddy cultivation and hence are sought after by the agriculturists of the neighbouring villages. The village was previously owned by malguzars but the system of malguzari has since been replaced by the ryotvari system.
BONDGAON :Bondgaon, is a small village of 2.148 inhabitants in 1971 in Sakoli tahsil situated about 13 miles south of Sakoli near the Chulband river. In honors of Gangajumna Devi, who is supposed to dwell in a tank in the Village, a fair is held on Chaitra-Paurnima. The fair lasts for a fortnight, the attendance not exceeding 5,000. On Ashvin Shudha 9 another fair is held. The priest of the temple is much revered and goes about on tour in Chaitra. He is believed t possess the gift of divination and prophecy. Bondgaon has a maternity home an ayurvedic dispensary a veterinary aid center, a post office and facilities for education up to the high school level. For the supply of potable water it depend upon wells.
BRAHMI :Brahmi is a small village in Bhandara tahsil lying about 25 miles south of Bhandara. It contains an antique well constructed of long slabs of stone. The local people ascribe its building to the giants or rakshasas. There is a primary school at Brahmi.
CHAUNDESHWARI DEVI : This temple is in Mohadi which is about 20 km distance from Bhandara. Many pilgrims visit during Navaratri. This place has been declared as tourism spot of Bhandara.
COLLECTORATE: In the year 1828, district head quarter of Bhandara was shifted from Lanji in M.P The building that was constructed was having 52 doors, due to which it was called "Bawan Darwajachi Kacheri".This district was again sub-divided into Gondia and Bhandara in 1999.
CHANDPUR :Chandpur is in Tumsar taluka of Bhandara District. It is situated in hilly ranges and surrounded by dense forest. By constructing a huge wall between two relocks a big reservoir has been created. The reservoir is surrounded by hillocks with dense plantation on remain in portion. One can see fantastic scene beauty by standing on the wall of reservoir. One km. In south of the reservoir is water tank and Chandpur.
CHICHGAD :Chichagad or Tamarind fort is a village of 1,324 inhabitants in 1971 in sakoli tahsil situated about 42 miles from Sakoli. It has the headquarters of the Chichgad zamindari and linked with the Bombay Calcutta National Highway by a good road. which near Chichgad runs through a pass in the hills more than three miles in length and bordered by dense bamboo forest. Bidi-making is perhaps the only industry of any note. Drinking water supply is obtain from wells and a tank. The village has a post office, a middle school and a medical dispensary.
DIGHORI:Dighori, is a village of 4,802 inhabitants in 1971 in Sakokli Tahsil situated about 28 miles south-west of Bhandara and 14 miles south of Sakoli. The Chulband river passes within of the village Dighori formerly belonged to the Bhosle Queen Baka Bai and was known as 'Bai Saheb Ki Dighori' ; later on it passed pm Lakshaman Rav Bhosle.
GOSIKHURD PROJECT/INDIRASAGAR DAM :2,50.800 hectares irrigation potential will be created in Nagpur, Bhandara & Chandrapur districts by this project. Original Administrative approval to the project is accorded for Rs. 372.22 cores on 31st March 1983 . 90% of the work has been completed. Rehabilitation- 104 villages from Bhandara, 85 villages from Nagpur and 11 villages from Chandrapur are affected by the submergence of Gosikhurd .
GAIMUKH :Gaimukh, is a small village of 217 inhabitants in 1971 in Bhandara tahsil 20 miles north of Bhandara and six miles from Ambagad. It is so called because a spring issues from the rocks here, and the name gaimukh or cow's mouth is usually applied to such springs the form of a cow's mouth being sometimes carved out of the rock. There is a cave temple ascribed to the Kuramvars.
GONDUMRI :Gondumari is a village of 1516 inhabitants in 1971 in Sakoli tahsil about ten miles distant from Sakoli. Soft matting of sukhavasa grass is manufactured here by the Gonds. The village has a middle school, a dispensary, post office and rest house.Gondumri was the head-quarters of the Gond-Umri zamindari. The forests at koliwara contain good timber. The estate is said to date from the time of Nizam Shah the Gond Raja of Mandla and the family are Kanaujia Brahmans
KOKA :Koka is about 30 km from Bhandara which is covered with dense forest. The trees in this forest are of the age of 100 years. Here the lake is famous for Siberian migrant birds. These birds come in the month of December and return in mid of January.
RAWANWADI :Rawanwadi This place is famous for a more than hundred year old Temple dedicated to Rama constructed by Shri Sitaram Prasad Dube a resident of Gunthara village on a hillock. On Ekadashi/ Amawasya day of kartik month, religious gathering takes place here. On the both sides of the tank there is dense forest which has converted it into not only a tourist & picnic spot but also a bird sanctuary.