Nanded district is one of the historical places in the Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra. Nanded has a great cultural heritage. Lying along the bank of the Godavari River, it is famous for being home to some of the most famous Sikh Gurudwaras in India. It is the birthplace of a number of famous poets and saints like Vishnupant Sesa and Raguhunath Sesa and Vaman Pandit besides being a centre for learning Sanskrit language. One of the most famous attractions in the district, the Sachkhand Gurudwara at Nanded perpetuates the memory of Guru Gobind Singh. After Amritsar and its Golden Temple, Nanded is the most holy place for the Sikh community, whose members from all corners of the world arrive, constantly in large numbers throughout the year for darshan. Renuka Devi Temple of Mahur, Dattatrya and Anusuya Mata mandir of Dattashikhar and the Malegaon fair are the distinctive features of this district. Also famous are the Lal Kandhari bulls of this district, a sturdy breed always in demand. Cotton and banana are the main produce. The Vishnupuri Irrigation Project has transformed the complexion of the district. Sahastrakund waterfalls, hot water springs at Unkeshwar, Hemandpanthi Mandir of Hottal are among the places of tourist attraction. Further details about the district are discussed below.
Location of Nanded District
The district of Nanded lies between 18 degrees 15 minutes to 19 degrees 55 minutes north latitudes and 77 degree to 78 degrees 25 minutes east longitudes. It covers an area of above 10,332 Sq. Kms. It is located in the south eastern part of the state of Maharashtra. It is bounded on the north by the Yavatmal District, on the south east by the Latur District, on the north west by the Parbhani District of Maharashtra, on the east and south east by Adilabad district and Nizamabad District of Andhra Pradesh and on the south by the Bidar District of Karnataka.
History of Nanded District
Nanded district has had a long and rich history, enriched by the various dynastic rulers who held sway here. Historical evidence shows that the district was formerly known as Nanditat. It has been ruled over by the Nanda dynasty, the Satavahana dynasty as well as the Rashtrakutas dynasty. The last Hindu dynasty to have ruled over the district was the Yadavas of Devagiri, following which it fell to the Muslims during their very first invasion. It became a part of part of the fief of Malik Kafur, the general of Ala-ud-din Khilji. When the Bahamani dynasty established its rule here, it became a part of the Subah of Telengana. It continued to be a part of the Deccan and formed part of the state of Hyderabad till Independence. On the formation of a separate state of Maharashtra, it became a part of the same.
Geography of Nanded District
The area presents undulating topography with uneven hills, plateaus, gentle slopes and valley planes. Physiographically, the district can be divided into 2 major parts, the hilly region on the north and north east and low lying area on the banks of the Godavari river, Manjra river, Manyad river, Penganga river etc. The district has a mostly dry climate except during the time of the south-west monsoon season.
Administration of Nanded District
Nanded district is divided into 16 talukas under 4 revenue sub-divisions. The Collectorate is headed by the District Collector who is in charge of the Revenue administration within the district and co-ordinates the functioning of all other state Government departments within the district. The office of the Collector has several branches or departments which are supervised by various officers of the rank of Deputy-Collector or Tahsildars. The District Collector is supported by the Additional Collector who looks after certain branches of the Collectorate.
Demography of Nanded District
The total population of the district of Nanded is 28, 68,158. There are 14.76 lakh males and 13.91 lakh females. Urban population makes up 28.29 percent of the total population with a majority of the people residing in rural areas. Literacy rates stand at 68.52 percent, with male literacy at 81.14 percent and female literacy at 55.12 percent.
Education in Nanded District
Nanded district is well known for its contribution in the field of Education. Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University established in the year 1994, is located on the outskirts of Nanded city. In a short time the University has become well known for its educational standards and other educational activities. Some of the prominent departments functioning in the University are the School of Earth Sciences, School of Astro physics, School of Life Sciences, School of Management Sciences etc. Nanded has also made its contribution in the field of Technical Education. Some of the well known institutes in the district are Shri Guru Govind Singhji College of Engineering and Technology and the Mahatma Gandhi Missions College of Engineering. The major colleges in the field of medical sciences are Government Medical College and the Government Ayurvedic College. There are some other prominent educational institutions in Nanded. These include Peoples College Nanded, Science College Nanded, Sharda Bhavan Education Society among others.
Tourism in Nanded District
The district has a lot to offer the tourists who visit here. Most of the places of tourist interest here are of a religious nature and include temples, mosques as well as a Gurudwara. In fact one of the most renowned places of tourism located here in the district is the Takhat Sachkhand Shri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Gurudwara, which is the most famous Gurudwara in the district. It is one of the four High seats of Authority of the followers of Sikhism. Apart from this, there are found other places of pilgrimage such as Hottal, Malegaon, Mahur and Masjid of Biloli. There are also two forts located here, namely, Kandhar Fort and Nanded Fort which the tourists can visit.
