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Nanded district

Overview

Nanded district is an administrative district in the Marathwada region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Its headquarters is the city of Nanded, which lies on the banks of the Godavari river. The district is best known as the location of Hazur Sahib Sachkhand, one of the five takhts (temporal seats) of Sikhism, marking the place where Guru Gobind Singh spent his final days.

Key facts

State Maharashtra
Region Marathwada
Division Aurangabad division
Headquarters Nanded
Major river Godavari
Official languages Marathi
Notable site Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib

Geography

Nanded district lies in the south-eastern part of Maharashtra, sharing borders with the state of Telangana to the south and east, and with the Maharashtra districts of Yavatmal to the north, Hingoli and Parbhani to the west, and Latur to the south-west. The Godavari is the principal river and flows through the district from west to east; major tributaries in the area include the Manjra, Penganga and Asna. The terrain is largely part of the Deccan plateau, with black cotton soil supporting agriculture.

Administration

The district is part of the Aurangabad revenue division. It is divided into several tahsils (talukas), including Nanded, Mudkhed, Bhokar, Umri, Kandhar, Loha, Hadgaon, Himayatnagar, Ardhapur, Deglur, Mukhed, Biloli, Dharmabad, Naigaon, Kinwat and Mahur. Local urban governance in the headquarters is handled by the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation, while rural administration is overseen by the Nanded Zilla Parishad.

Parliamentary and assembly representation

The district forms the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency and parts of neighbouring constituencies, and contains several Maharashtra Legislative Assembly constituencies covering its talukas.

History

The region around Nanded has a long recorded history, having been ruled successively by the Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Yadavas of Devagiri, the Bahmani Sultanate, the Nizam Shahi rulers and later the Mughals. From the 18th century until 1948 the district formed part of the princely state of Hyderabad under the Nizams. Following the Hyderabad police action (Operation Polo) in September 1948, the area was integrated into the Indian Union as part of Hyderabad State. With the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 and the formation of bilingual Bombay State, the Marathi-speaking districts of the former Hyderabad State, including Nanded, were transferred from Hyderabad State; on 1 May 1960 the district became part of the newly created state of Maharashtra.

Sikh heritage

Nanded city is the site where the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of the Sikhs in 1708, and where he passed away the same year. The Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib gurdwara built at this site is among the most important Sikh pilgrimage centres.

Economy

The economy of Nanded district is predominantly agrarian. Major crops include jowar, cotton, soybean, sugarcane, turmeric, pulses and oilseeds. Banana cultivation is locally significant in irrigated tracts along the Godavari. The district has agro-processing industries such as cotton ginning, oil mills and sugar factories, along with trade activity centred on Nanded city. The Vishnupuri irrigation project on the Godavari supports irrigation around the headquarters.

Transport

Nanded is connected to other parts of Maharashtra and neighbouring states through the South Central Railway, with Hazur Sahib Nanded railway station being a major junction. National Highway 161 and several state highways pass through the district. Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport at Nanded provides limited civilian air services.

Education

The district is home to Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, headquartered in Nanded, which was established in 1994 and serves as the principal affiliating university for the Marathwada region's eastern districts.

Demographics and culture

Marathi is the principal language of the district, with significant numbers of speakers of Urdu, Hindi, Telugu and Lambadi reflecting its position near the Telangana border and its historic links with Hyderabad. The district has a culturally diverse population including Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and other communities. Major festivals include Gurpurab celebrations at Hazur Sahib, Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid, Diwali and the Mahur Renuka temple fair.

Pilgrimage and tourism

  • Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, Nanded.
  • Renuka Devi temple at Mahur, regarded as one of the Shakti Peethas.
  • Mahur fort and the surrounding Sahyadri spurs.
  • Kandhar fort, associated with the Rashtrakuta period.
  • Unkeshwar hot springs in Kinwat tahsil.

References

  • Wikidata: Q692389 — Nanded district.
  • Government of Maharashtra, official district portal of Nanded.
  • Census of India, district handbooks for Nanded.