Hingoli district of Maharashtra is one of the newest districts in the state. It came into existence as a result of the division of Parbhani district on 1st May 1999. It consists of two sub divisions namely Hingoli and Basmath and five Talukas namely Hingoli, Basmath, Kalamnuri, Aundha Nagnath and Sengaon. Initially, the district served as a military base for the Nizams being close to the border of Vidharba. The district covers a total area of about 4,526 square kilometres, and has a population of roughly one million (as per the 2001 census reports). With an average rainfall of about 900 mm, the district is well known for the production of cotton and jowar crops. Bharud, Gondhal and Shahiri are folk arts typical to the region.
Location of Hingoli District
Hingoli district is situated in the northern part of Marathwada in the state of Maharashtra. It is bordered by Akola and Yavatmal district on the northern side, Parbhani in the western side and Nanded district in the south-eastern side. The district lies between the latitude and longitude of 19.43 north and 77.11 east respectively.
History of Hingoli District
Marathwada was initially under the rule of the Nizam, and a part of the Parbhani district. It served as the military base of the Nizam as it bordered Vidharba. Military troops, hospitals and even veterinary hospitals all functioned from Hingoli. Residents of Hingoli had experienced two big wars between Tipu Sultan and the Marathas in 1803 and in 1857 between Nagpurkar and Bhosale. Some of the names like Pultan, Risala, Tophkhana, Pensionpura, Sadar Bazaar are famous even today. When the state was reconstructed in 1956 post independence, Marathwada was attached to Mumbai state. In 1960, Hingoli became a part of the state of Maharshtra as part of the Parbhani district. Later, on the 1st of May, 1999, Hingoli district came in to existence by the division of Parbhani district.
Geography of Hingoli District
Hingoli district is situated in the Northern side of Marathwada. The tehsils of Sengaon, Hingoli, Kalmnuri and Aundha are scattered on this hilly tract. The mountain ranges run in an east-west direction. The average height height from mean sea level is 500 to 600 metres. The major rivers flowing through the district of Hingoli are the Penganga River, the Purna River and the Kayadhu River. The Kayadhu is the main river of the district. It flows through Sengaon, Hingoli, Aundha Nagnath and Kalamnuri. It meets the Penganga River in the Nanded district. The Penganga River flows through the northern region of the district passing through the Sengaon taluka and the Kalamnuri taluka. The Purna River flows from the southern side of Sengaon. It flows further south from Aundha and Basmat. The district is primarily agricultural. Among the major crops grown here, cotton, jowar, mango, pulses, rice, groundnut etc are the autumnal crops, whereas wheat, jowar, gram etc are the Rabi crops. There are three main dams that have been constructed in the district. These are the Upper Penganga dam built on the Penganga River, the Yeldari dam on the Purna River and the Siddeshwar dam which is also constructed on the Purna River.
