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Khanpur, Gujarat

Overview

Khanpur is a town in the Mahisagar district of the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the headquarters of Khanpur taluka, one of the administrative subdivisions of the district. The town lies in the eastern part of Gujarat, in a region historically associated with the former princely territories of central India and the Panchmahal area.

Key facts

Country India
State Gujarat
District Mahisagar
Taluka Khanpur
Type Town and taluka headquarters
Official language Gujarati

Geography

Khanpur is situated in eastern Gujarat, in a tract that forms part of the Mahi river basin. The wider Mahisagar district takes its name from the Mahi river, which flows through the region and gives the area its characteristic riverine and undulating terrain. The taluka comprises Khanpur town along with a number of surrounding villages.

Administration

Khanpur taluka is one of the administrative talukas of Mahisagar district, which was carved out of the erstwhile Panchmahal district in 2013, with Lunawada designated as the district headquarters. As a taluka headquarters, Khanpur hosts local revenue and administrative offices that serve the villages within its jurisdiction. Local self-government in the rural areas is exercised through gram panchayats, while the taluka panchayat oversees development functions at the block level.

Background

The region around Khanpur was historically part of the Panchmahals, a tract that came under different rulers over the centuries, including the Sultanate of Gujarat, the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, and later the British, who administered parts of the area through the Bombay Presidency along with several small princely states in central Gujarat. After the reorganisation of states in 1960, the area became part of the new state of Gujarat, and was placed within Panchmahal district until the creation of Mahisagar district.

Demography and economy

The local population is predominantly Gujarati-speaking, with a significant presence of tribal and other rural communities typical of eastern Gujarat. The economy is largely agrarian, with cultivation of crops such as maize, paddy, pulses and cotton, supported by animal husbandry. Small-scale trade, services and government employment associated with the taluka headquarters also contribute to the local economy.

Transport

Khanpur is connected by state and district roads to other towns in Mahisagar district, including Lunawada, and to neighbouring districts. The nearest major rail and road junctions lie in the broader Panchmahal–Mahisagar region, linking the area with cities such as Godhra and Vadodara.

References