Dhule district General information
Dhule District is a district of Maharashtra state in central India. The Dhule district is the northern tip of Maharashtra. The city of Dhule is the administrative headquarter of the district.
The Dhule district previously comprised tracts of land predominantly inhabited by tribal population. The Dhule district was then bifurcated on 1st of July 1998 into two separate districts now known as Dhule and Nandurbar, the later comprising the tribal region. Agriculture remains the basic profession of the population in this district. Most parts of the district are not under irrigation and thus cultivation heavily depends on regular Monsoon or rain water. Apart from wheat, bajra, jowar or jwari, onion the most favored commercial crop is cotton. Majority of the population in the rural area speaks Ahirani (a dialect of Marathi) language, however Marathi is more widely spoken in the urban areas. Around 26.11% population of Dhule district resides in urban area . The Dhule District is a part of Maharashtra's historical region of Khandesh. Although for administrative purpose it is now clubbed to Nashik Division.
History
The District of Dhulia was previously known as West Khandesh district. The ancient name of this region was Rasika. It is bounded on the east by Berar (Ancient Vidarbha) ,on the north by the Nemad district (Ancient Anupa) and on the south by the Aurangabad (Ancient Mulaka) and Bhir ( Ancient Asmaka) districts. Later the country came to be called as Seunadesa after king, Seunchandra of the Early Yadava dynasty, who ruled over it. Subsequently its name was changed to Khandesh to suit the title Khan given to the Faruqi kings by King Ahmad I of Gujarat.
During Aryans penetration to the Deccan ‘Agastya’ was the first Aryan who crossed Vindhya and resides on the bank of Godavari. This territory was included in the empire of Ashoka. Pusyamitra, the founder of Sanga dynasty overthrew Maurya dynasty. Later on Satavahan ruled over the region.
About A.D. 250, the Satavahans were supplanted by the Abhiras in Western Maharashtra (Region Isvarsena). The names of Feudatories of Abhiras that ruled in Khandesh was found from copperplates discovered at Kalachala (Gujarath) and Cave X5II at Ajanta. After downfall of Satavahans the Vakatakas rose to power in Vidarbha. The Vakatakas were over thrown by Rastrakuta family. This region was ruled by Chalukyas of Badami and subsequently Yadavas.
In A.D. 1296, Ala-ud-din Khilji invaded Ramachandra Yadava who agreed to pay a heavy ransom. His son Sankaragana discontinued sending the stipulated tribute to Delhi and then defected and slain by Malik Kafur in A.D. 1318.
In 1345, Devagiri was passed into the hands of Hasan Gangu, the founder of Bahamani dynasty. However, Khandesh formed Southern boundaries of the Tashlug empire.
In 1370, Firoz Taghluq assigned the district of Thalner and Karavanda to Malik Raja Faruqui, the founder of ‘Faruqui’ dynasty. His family claimed the descent from Khaliph Umer Faruq. He established himself at Thalner. The Governor of Gujarat honored Malik Raja with the little ‘Sipahsalar of Khandesh’. From the little Khan the region came to be known as ‘Khandesh’ the country of Khan. During the period, a rich ahir 'Asa' of Asirgad had many storehouses in Gondvana and Khandesh which were opened in order to sell the corn. However his wife was of a charitable disposition persuaded Asa to allow the grains to be distributed to the poor and suffering without payment to which Asa agreed. It was also with a view to employ many of the sufferers as labours that Asa leveled the old wall of Asir and constructed a fort built of masonry. Asa also distributed food to aged and decrepit who were unable to performed manual labour. The Ahir chief in spite of his wealth and strength of this fort, without any struggle acknowledged the supremacy of Malik Raja bequeathed Laling to his elder son Malik Nasir and Thalner to Malik Iftikar.
Malik Nasir had decided that upon seizing Asirgad, he would make it his own capital. He therefore wrote to Asa complaining that he was in great problems as the chief of Baglana, Antur and Kherla were rising against him. Of those; two had collected large forces. Laling, to close to enemy territories was not a safe retreat. He requested Asa to afford his family a safe retreat. Asa ordered suitable apartments to be filled up for the Malik Nasir’s ladies. Shortly after that several covered litters with women were brought to into Asirgad and were visited by Asa’s wife and daughters. Next day another of 200 litters arrived reportedly occupied by Malik Nasir’s family. Asa along with his son went to receive them but to his astonishment instead of women, he found the litters full of armed soldiers who leapt up and murdered Asa and his innocent sons in cold blood. Not a single male child in the family was left alive. The treacherous and cunning Malik Nasir returned from his camp at laling to the Asirgad fort. Shortly after this a disciple of Shaikh Zain Uddin, the tutelary saint of the family came to congratulate Malik Nasir on his success. On his advice, Malik Nasir built two cities on the bank of Tapi, on the east Bank called Zainabad after the Saikh and the other on the west Bank called Burhanpur after Saikh Burhanuddin of Daulatabad. The Burhanpur became the capital of farugui dynasty. IN 1917 Malik Nasir defected his younger brother Malik Iftikar.
On 6th January 1601 Khandesh came under Akbar regime. Khandesh was fancifully named by Akbar a Dandes after his son Daniyal. In 1634 Khandesh was made into a Suba
On 3rd June 1818 the Peshva surrendered himself before British and Khandesh came under British rule.
Climate
The climate of this district is on the whole dry except during the south-west monsoon season. The year may be divided into four seasons. The cold season from December to February is followed by the hot season from March to May. The south-west monsoon season which follows thereafter lasts till September. October and November constitute the post-monsoon season.
The average annual rainfall in the district is 674.0 mm. (26.53"). The rainfall is heavier in the hilly regions of the western ghats and the Satpuda ranges. Navapur near the western border has an annual rainfall of 1097.1 mm (43.19"). The rainfall during the south-west monsoon constitutes about 88 per cent of the annual rainfall, July being the rainiest month. Some rainfall is received mostly as thunder-showers in the post-monsoon season.
Except during the south-west monsoon season when the humidity is above 70 per cent, the air is rather dry over the district during the rest of the year. The driest part of the year is the summer season when the relative humidity is only 20 to 25 per cent in the afternoons.
From about the latter half of February, temperatures increase steadily till May which is the hottest part of the year with the mean daily maximum temperature at 40.7° C (105.3° F) and the mean daily minimum at 25.80 C (78.4° F). Hot, dry winds blow during April and May and the heat is intense with the maximum temperatures going above 45° C (113.0° F) on some days. Thunder-showers occur during the afternoons and bring welcome-relief from the heat on some days. With the onset of the southwest monsoon by about the second week of June there is an appreciable drop in day temperatures and the weather is pleasant in the south-west monsoon season. By about the beginning of October when the south-west monsoon withdraws, day temperatures begin to rise and a secondary maximum in day temperature is reached in October. The night temperatures, however, steadily decrease. From November, both day and night temperatures drop rapidly till January which is the coldest month with the mean daily maximum temperature at 30.'3° C (86.50 F) and the mean daily minimum at 16.2° C (61.2° F). During the cold season, cold waves which sometimes affect the district in association with western disturbances which pass across north India the minimum temperature may drop down to about 8° to 9° C (46.4° to 48.2° F).
Winds are generally light to moderate with some strengthening in force during the summer and monsoon seasons. During the southwest monsoon season, winds are mainly south-westerly to westerly.
In the post-monsoon season winds are light and variable in directions in the mornings and north-easterly to easterly in the afternoon. In the winter and summer seasons winds are mostly from directions between south-west and north-west, with northerly or north-easterly winds blowing on some afternoons.
Geography
Dhule District is located in northern side of Maharashtra state spread between Latitude 20 38' to 21 61' N and Longitude 73 50' to 75 11' E. It is Located at the the crossing of Three National Highways namely NH-6 (Surat - Nagpur), NH-3 (Mumbai - Agra ) and NH-211 (Dhule - Solapur).
Dhule city is the Headquarter of District Dhule and is located about 340 Km NE of Mumbai while 350 Km Norht of Pune.
District is bounded by district Nandurbar in the North-West , District Nashik in south and District Jalgaon in East.
Places of interest
Ahilyapur:- In Shirpur Taluka known for old and large well built by Ahilyabai Holkar, the queen of Indore.
Amali:- in Sakri Taluka known for the shrine dedicated to Vishnu or Kanhaiyalal Maharaj. The story goes that, once Raja Makardhvaja of Mulher had been a Dakor, a place near port Okha, to pay his respect to that famous deity. The idol to be seen today in the temple at the Amale appeared in his dream and requested the Raja to carry it along with him to Mulher. On Raja’s agreeing, the Lord put the conciliation that the palanqain carrying him should not be put down anywhere on the way. Bhoi’s were engaged to carry the palanqain and the Raja proceeded ahead to get the temple built and make other necessary arrangements. In order to shorten the distance the palanquin bearers cut across jungles and near Amale when they came across a river, they halted to have a dip in it. On being reminded by one of them that if kept down, the Palaguin would stick to the places, they kept it on a pipal tree. But after coming out of the river they were stupefied to find that the palaquin would not move. No amount of proyers moved the Lord and hence the Bhois had to abandon it. Afte the laps of certain period of time the Lord now approached a poor man from the village by name Pavba Bhagat and requested him to Build a small temple for him. Pavba axpressed his inability because of his poverty, but the Lord gave him understand that once made begining he would find the necessary wealth underbe neath the building stone. Pavsa accordintly undertook the task and everything happened as he was told in the dream.
Balasane:- In Sakri Taluka has well preserved caves and a serise of temples in Hemadpanthis and Bahamani style.
Bhamer:- In Sakri Taluka known for its fort and more so for the caves or rather monks dwelling that are in the escarpments of the hills above the village. A remarkable features in the fort is that its building are mostly underground, these escarpment being honey combed with caves, some of them plain and shapeless, but others regular building with pillar-supported roots. There caves are locally known as Gavali Raja’s house.
Bodgaon:- In Sakri Taluka formerly known as Bhojpur after the king Bhoj, who is supposed to have rules this region. It is known for several old and in some cased dilapidated temples mostly situated on the bank of the Utavalinala. There are four temples dedicated to Mahadev, one each to Maruti- Ganapati and Bhavani and a twelve pillared Samudhi of a unknown saint popularly known as ‘Bara Khambi Mandir’.
Chikse:- In Sakri Taluka is known for Gangeshvar temple.
Indave:- In Sakri Taluka is known for a small but ancient temple dedicated to Indai Goddess on the bank of the built up lake. Inside of Lake there is built in well holding goodwater through out the year with another built in kand nearby which has a hot water spring.
Laling:- In Dhulia Taluka is known for an old and ruined fort occupying the top of the hill. It is a place of considerable antiquity and the fort is supposed to have been built during the region of Malik Raja Faruqui. Which subsequently granted to has eldest son. It was in this fort that, Nasir Khan and his son Miran Adil Khan were besieged in 1437 by the Bhanrnani general till they were relieved by an army advancing from Gujrath. Laling has also two hemadpanti temples in a decoyed condition and a rained hemadpanti well.
Methi:- In Shindkheda Taluka known for a group of temples built during the times of the Yadava Kings. Of this group the ones dedicated to Balaji and Bhavani are the most important.
Mudavad:- in Shindkhea Taluka renowned for the Kapileshwer shrine built by Ahilyabai Holkar near confluence of Tapi and Panjhara.
Nagpur Kokale:- In Sakri Taluka known for Nagai temple situated on the left bank of the Pajhara river.
Nizampur:- In Sakri Taluka said to have derived to present name for Nizam-ul-Mulle who had halted here for some time known for hemadpati temples.
Patana :- In Shindkheda Taluka known for an antigue temple dedicated to Asapari.Devi built in ‘Samvat’ 1884.
Pimpalner :- In Sakri Taluka known for discovery of Chalukya copper- Plate of 4th centrury.
Shirud :- In Dhulia Taluka known for an antique shrine in hemadpanti style, dedicated to Kalika Goddess.
Songir :- In Dhulia Taluka known for its antique fort. It was previously the chief town of Songir Sub division which was subsequently, abolished and Songir incorporated in Dhule Taluka in 1820. It is of same manufacturing importance with skilled workers in brass and copper. The historic fort has easy access and is entered through a stone gate still in good order. An inscription on this gate dated ‘Shake’ 1497 (1575A.D.) only state that ‘Ugrasen, son of Mansingh was very brave’. Inside the fort there is a handsome old reservoir and a fine old well. Ramnants of broken pipes of the old water systems that must have existed on the fort in the days gone could still be seen.
Thalner :- In Shirpur Taluka was farmer capital of Khandesh known for fort. Accordingly to the local grant in the being of the twelth century, while the country for 32.18 km. round was ‘without a light’ and twenty seven of its forts were deserted. Thalner prospered under Javaji and Govaji of the Tale subdivision of Gavalis or Ahirs. At that time, Dautaltrao son of Bajirao of Daulatabad come to people Khandesh and finding Thalner flourishing etablished. Javaji’s family as head men of town. Late in 1370 Firozshah tughlaq granted Malik Raja Faruqi. On his death in 1399 Malik left Thalner to has second son Malik Iftikar. But 1417 with the aid of Sultan of Malva, Nasir Khan wrested it from his brother. In 1498 Thalner was invested by Mahmood Begada, king of Gujrath, whose army laid waste the district and would not retire till arreas of tripute were paid. In 1511 Mahmood Begada granted Thalner with about one half of Khandesh to Malik Hissamuddin a noble of his court. But is the next year, Hissamuddin was murdered and Thalner restored to Khandesh. In 1566 it was the scene of the defect of the Khandesh Kind Miran Mohammad Khan.
Shri Samartha Vagdevta Mandir :- Shri Samartha vagdevta mandir is an invaluable and priceless treasure house of manuscripts, letters and chronicles of history mportance. It is a glorious branch of the mother Institute - SATKARYOTTEJAK SABHA and is established in 1935.
The founder of this institute, the late Shri. Nana-Sheb Deo then leading legal practitionerof Dhule began his work of collection, research and publication of the literature of about 300 saints is collected, preserved and studied in this institution and hence is a place of worship of Godess of Leterature - Vagdevta.
This treasure of manuscripts contains researched and non-reaserched as well the manuscripts, papers, letters and badas. This collection is kept here to welcome the scholars, the learned and learners comming from all over the country and even from abroad. The manuscripts are in different language scripts and on different subject.
Many scholars have rightly remarked that study of Indian saint of any stream is incomplete without reference to the source material preserved in Samartha Vagdevta Mandir Dhule.