Buldana district General information
Buldhana district is located in the central portion of the state of Maharashtra. Rajmata Jeejabai was born at Sindkhedraja in this district, which is a major tourist attraction owing to the ancient Lonar crater, declared a world heritage. Shegaon of Gajanan Maharaj & Sailanibaba’s Dargah are the major places of pilgrimage.
History
It is believed that Buldhana, along with the rest of the erstwhile Berar province, was part of the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha mentioned in the Mahabharata. Berar also formed part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Asoka (272–231 BCE). Berar later came under the rule of the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE), the Vakataka dynasty (3rd to 6th centuries), the Chalukya dynasty (6th to 8th centuries), the Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th to 10th centuries), the Chalukyas again (10th to 12th centuries), and finally the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri (late 12th to early 14th centuries. A period of Muslim rule began when Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the region in the early 14th century. The region was part of the Bahmani Sultanate, which broke away from the Delhi Sultanate in the mid-14th century. The Bahmani Sultanate broke up into smaller sultanates at the end of the 15th century, and in 1572 Berar became part of the Nizam Shahi sultanate, based at Ahmednagar. The Nizam Shahis ceded Berar to the Mughal Empire in 1595. As Mughal rule started to unravel at the start of the 18th century, Asaf Jah I, Nizam of Hyderabad seized the southern provinces of the empire (including Berar) in 1724, forming an independent state.
In 1853, the district together with the rest of Berar came under the administration of the British East India Company. Berar was divided into East and West Berar with Buldhana district being included in West Berar. In 1903, Berar was leased by the Nizam of Hyderabad to the British Government of India.
Location
Buldhana district is located in the central portion of the state of Maharashtra. Akola, Jalgaon, Jalna, Parbhani districts are the adjoining districts to the East, West & South respectively. Nemad district of the Madhya Pradesh is to the North.
The district is mainly covered in Survey of India topographic Sheet No. 55D/8 & partly in 46P and 56 A & lies between 19°51’ to 21°17’ North latitude and 75°57’ to 76°49’ East Longitude.
The district Head Quarters is at Buldhana which is connected to all thirteen talukas by state highway. The state capital of Mumbai is 450 km to the west and is connected to Buldhana by road.
The distances of the other major towns from Buldhana is Aurangabad ( 180 KM ), Pune ( 425 KM ), Amravati ( 200 KM ), Nagpur ( 350 KM ).
Geology
From geological point of view there are no major mineral ores, Some kinds of salts and lead are observed in Lonar Crater but not commercially exploited. The major rock is Basalt hence the major soil type is Regur or Black cotton soil predominantly in Jalgaon Jamod, Sangrampur, Nandura, Shegaon, Malkapur, Khamgaon areas.
Deccan trap covered 80% of the total area of the district and 20% area is covered by alluvium. All the talukas except Jalgaon Jamod, Sangrampur & part of Shegaon talukas are covered by Deccan trap. The trap is classified in, the following categories.1)Weathered basalt of all types 2)Fractured & Jointed basalt.3)Vesicular geologic basalt.4)Compact massive basalt.
In basalt ground water occurs in joints, fractured & other zone of weakens, which serve as loci for the accumulation of groundwater. Percolation of ground water is controlled by the density of joint, fractured, vascular in the Deccan trap.
The flow are separated by a tine gap deposition which is known an intertrappens. In the district redboles occur as a major intertrapean which play very distinct role in the local behavior of groundwater.
Demography
Population :As per 2001 Census the Total population is 22,32,480 Male population :11,47,403 Female population :10,85,077, Near about 78.8% peoples are living in rural area & 21.2% are in town and urban areas The number of Females per One Thousand Males population is 946.
SC/ST Population :As per 2001 Census The percentage of SC population is 10.8% (Total :241,623 Male:123,418 Female:118,205)of total district population.The percentage of ST population is 5.2% (Total:115,156 Male:59,168 Female:55,988)
Literacy :As per 2001 Census Literacy percentage of Buldhana is 75.8 % the total Male literates are 86.9% whereas Female literate are 64.1%
Households&Villages:As per the 2001 Census report the total number of Households are 445,634 and Household size is 5.0. The total number of villages are 1433 & Total Municipal corporations and Municipal Councils are 11.
Climate
The district gets rain from south west Monsoons. The rainfall period is from June to September. However rain generally falls in the months of June and July upto the end of October.The district falls under the assured rainfall zone and average rainfall ranging from 500 to 900 mm.
The climate of the Buldhana district is generally dry and hot , Buldhana town itself i.e. district headquarters has a comparatively cool weather and is considered to be the most pleasant place in district .
The general climate of the district is characterised by Hot and Dry summers and cold winters with the seasonal variation in the temperature being pretty large.
Hailstorms are common during February to April and also during the post monsoon period from November to January.
Tourist Place
Lonar Crater : Here's a chance to see India's magnificent hyper-velocity meteorite-impact crater. Lonar ranks amongst the world's five largest craters and the third largest salt water lake in the world.
Lonar Crater is a huge bowl (roughly 7 kms in circumference and 1.6 kms in diameter) carved out Investigations reveal it to be around 50,000 years old. Within the depression lies a saline lake.
It was first discovered in 1823 by British officer, C J E Alexander. Lonar Crater also finds mention in ancient scripts like the Skanda Puran, Padma Puran & Aaina-e-Akbari. During the days of emperor Akbar, Lonar also housed a salt factory.
The small Vishnu temple and most others in the vicinity are constructed in the Hemadpanthi style i.e. without use of cementing agents. While most temples are now permanent abodes of bats and mice, only ones that attract pilgrims have some resemblance to their original selves. Gomukh Temple, along the rim of the crater with a perennial stream is another interesting site.
A fascinating sight is the presence of hundreds of peafowl's which live inside the crater. The crater has potential as a bird sanctuary and also one can sight langoors, snakes, monitor lizards, mongoose, fox and deers. To promote tourism in this area, M.T.D.C. has constructed Crater View Tourist Complex.
Shri.Sant Gajanan Maharaj,Shegaon : Shegaon, is famous for the Samadhi of Shri Gajanan Maharaj - a mystic saint as popular as Saibaba of Shirdi.Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj made his divine appearance on 23-2-1878 and enlightened millions. He attained samadhi on Bhadrapad Shukla Panchmi 08-09-1910.
The Samadhi Sthan (Temple) is visited by millions of devotees from far and near. You'll see a large number of pilgrims here, some coming from various parts of Maharashtra,and across the India. Allegorically, Shegaon can be described as the Pandharpur of Vidarbha.Thousands of devotees pay their respects at the Samadhi every Thursday, which is regarded as a special day
Sindkhed Raja - Birth Place of Rajmata Jijabai : Sindkhed Raja, a small Taluka place in Buldhana district, situated 105 kms. away from district headquarters Buldhana on the State Highway No. 183, is known world wide as the birth place of Rajmata Jijabai, the mother of the great Maratha Warrior and king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
There are a number of monuments in this small township which owe their existence to Rajmata Jijabai and her father Lakhuji Jadhav. These monuments like Kalkat, Rang Mahal, Tomb of Lakhuji Jadhav, Palace of Lakhuji Jadhav, ancient temple of Neelkantheshwar and Rameshwar have great heritage and architectural value.
Worlds Biggest Hanuman Murti, Nandura : Lord Hanuman is son of Pawan (Air) and Anjani (the woman of highly spiritual native). Lord Hanuman is called PAWANSUT (Son of Air) and ANJANIPUTRA (Son of Anjani).
About Murti - Height:105 ft.Chest:70 ft.Base:30 ft.Tail:70 ft.Arm:25 ft.(diameter) Gada 30 ft.Sole 34 ft.Nail of sole:15 ft.
Sailani Baba's Dargah : Wandered the forests and tamed many wild animals such as tigers, lions and other cats. His shrine is located in Buldhana district of Maharashtra, near Aurangabad. The rich dresses worn by most saints are probably an artist's imaginative depiction of the 'rutba' or spiritual stage the saint had attained.
Promises of offerings to the Saint are, therefore , made with various motives, and on fulfilment of the desires, the things promised, such as 'galaf', sweets, etc., are offered.