Nanded district General information
Nanded District is a district of Maharashtra state in central India. The city of Nanded is the district headquarters.The district has an area of 10,502 km² while according to 2001 census its population is 2,876,259 of which 23.96% were urban.
History
Nanded is one of the historical places in Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. It is situated on the north bank of Godavari river. It is famous for Sikh Gurudwaras. Nanded is a town of great antiquity. It is said that during the Puranic days, Pandavas travelled through Nanded district. Nandas ruled over Nanded through generations.
The mention of Nanded is found in the Lilacaritra, a treatise written about 700 years ago by Mhaimbhatta. It gives the description of the idol of Narsinha in the town. Nanded was formerly known as Nanditat which is confirmed by the copper plate found at Vasim. Nanded District and the adjoining areas were ruled over by the Andhrabhrtyas or Satvahanas during the First Centrury A.D. During the fourth century A.D.Kandhar was the capital of the King Sogadev and at Nanded was ruled by the king Nanddeva of the Chalukya dynasty. That the Rashtrakutas were ruling at Kandhar is established by the inscription at Krishnadev alias Khandardev found at Khandar. Another inscription at Arahapur shows that some dynasty of the Rashtrakutas was also ruling over Degloor. Hottal, a place in Nanded District was the capital of the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas followed by the Yadavas of Devgiri were the last the Hindu dynasties to have ruled of this part. During the very first invasion by the Muhammedans this territory subjugated to them and after a few years it became a part of the fief of Malik kafur, the general of Alauddin Khilji.
With the advent of the Bahamanis, the southern country or the Deccan was divided into four parts or the subhas and Nanded was included in the Subha of Telangana. The famous Vazir or the Prime Minister of the Bahamanis Mahmud Gavan divided the Kingdom into subhas with Nanded forming part of Mahur Balaghat. Resided at Nanded and Kandhar for many days and the Vazirabad part of Nanded town was established by him.
Nanded was the capital of the district of Telangana. When Aurangzeb was appointed the Subhedar of the Deccan. Bidar was the Headguarters of the Subha and named as Ahmadabad. The Subha of Bidar was divided into six sarkars and 76 mahals and Nanded was one of the Sarkars of that subha.
In 1708, the year following the death of Aurangzeb, his son accompained by Guru Govind Singh the tenth spiritual leader of the Sikhs came over to Nanded, his permanent abode. It was he who preached amongst the sikhs that there need not be any spiritual leader for them and they should take Granthsaheb as their leader. A monument has been constructed at place where he breathed his last. A Gurudwara has also been constructed there. It is known as Shri Huzur Abchalnagar Sachkhand Gurudwara.
It became the part of the Hyderabad Kingdom in 1725 when the Nizam permanently opted for the Deccan and continued to be so till 1947. With India getting freedom and the consequent police action against the Hyderabad State, the district forming part of the Marathwada region of the Hyderabad state became part of the bilingual Bombay State and consequent upon the creation of Maharashtra, the district continues to form part of the state of Maharashtra.
Nanded has a great cultural heritage. It is the place of birth of the Saint poets like Vishnupant Sesa and Raguhunath Sesa and Vaman Pandit besides being a Centre for learning Sanskrit.
Demography
Geographical Area : 10,502 km²
Total Population : 28,68,158
Male : 14.76 Lakhs
Female : 13.91 Lakhs
Urban to Total Population : 28.29 %
Normal Rainfall : 901 mm
Taluka : 16
Per Capita Income : Rs.2,123
Population (1991 Census, in 1000s) : 2,330 (Males=1,198 Females=1,132)
Density : 220 per km²
Literacy : 68.52%
Male Literacy : 81.14%
Female Literacy : 55.12 %
Places of interest
Sachkand Gurudwara. The Gurudwara, one the five Takhats, houses the holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib consecrated by the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. The place is visited by more than a million pilgrims and tourists each year. There are eight other beautifully constructed Gurudwaras located along the river in the town connected with the life of the Tenth Guru.
Masjid of Biloli. The Muslim place of worship was constructed in the late 17th century by Sarfaraz Khan, a Siphasilar of the Mughals. The Masjid is famous as the Nawab Sarfaraz Masjid.
Shrikshetra Mahurgadh. A Hindu pilgrimage center and Shaktipeetha is a temple atop a hill just a mile from the town. The beautiful temple in the lap of nature was constructed by the Yadava Rulers in 11th century.
Unkeshvar, the village with hot water springs is located on the banks of Penganga River. The natural springs are believed to possess miracle skin rejuvenating chemicals.
Kandhar Fort is now a dilapidated structure constructed by the King of Malkhed. However the elaborate security design of the architecture with a ditch on its periphery and the Moghul style construction are remarkable.
Nanded Fort, just about two miles from the town railway station, has beautifully landscaped gardens and fountains. The noteworthy aspect is the inherent security provided by River Godavari from three sides. The Fort is now in ruins.
Malegaon. The village is an hour of drive from the town. A big animal fair is organized here in December where millions of live stock is traded in a short ten day period. You can also see the glory of Chalukyan art and architecture in the Siddeshwara Temple of Hottal. The Gurudwara, one the five Takhats, houses the holy book Sri Guru Granth Sahib consecrated by the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. The place is visited by more than a million pilgrims and tourists each year. There are eight other beautifully constructed Gurudwaras located along the river in the town connected with the life of the Tenth Guru.