Nanded is a city in the Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra in western India. Situated on the banks of the Godavari river, it is the administrative headquarters of Nanded district and one of the largest urban centres in Marathwada after Aurangabad. Nanded is widely recognised as a major centre of Sikh pilgrimage, being the location of Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, one of the five takhts of Sikhism, where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, spent the final period of his life.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Region | Marathwada |
| District | Nanded |
| River | Godavari |
| Civic body | Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation |
| Languages | Marathi (official), Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi |
| Notable site | Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib |
Nanded lies in the south-eastern part of Maharashtra, close to the border with the state of Telangana. The Godavari river flows through the city, and the surrounding region forms part of the Deccan plateau, characterised by black cotton soil suited to agriculture. The climate is generally semi-arid, with hot summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and mild winters.
The area around Nanded has a long recorded history, having come under successive Deccan dynasties including the Satavahanas, the Chalukyas, the Yadavas of Devagiri, the Bahmani Sultanate, and later the Nizam Shahi and Qutb Shahi rulers. From the 18th century until 1948, Nanded formed part of the princely state of Hyderabad under the Nizams. Following the Hyderabad police action (Operation Polo) in 1948, the region became part of the Indian Union, and with the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1956 and the formation of Maharashtra in 1960, Nanded was incorporated into the new state.
Nanded's most prominent historical association is with Guru Gobind Singh, who travelled to the Deccan in the early 18th century in the company of the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah I. The Guru spent his last days at Nanded, where he is believed to have passed away in 1708. The Gurudwara built at the site, Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of the five seats of temporal authority (takhts) in Sikhism, and draws pilgrims from across India and the Sikh diaspora, particularly during events such as the tercentenary celebrations held in 2008.
The city is administered by the Nanded-Waghala City Municipal Corporation, formed by the merger of Nanded city with the adjoining Waghala area. The corporation is responsible for urban services including water supply, sanitation, roads, and local taxation. Nanded is also the headquarters of the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency.
The economy of Nanded is supported by trade in agricultural produce from the surrounding district, including jowar, cotton, sugarcane, soybean and turmeric. The city functions as a regional commercial hub, with markets, educational institutions, and small-scale industry. Pilgrimage tourism associated with Hazur Sahib contributes significantly to the service economy, supporting hospitality and transport sectors.
Nanded is connected to the rest of India through rail and road networks. The Hazur Sahib Nanded railway station is a major station of the South Central Railway zone and serves as an important junction in the region. The city is served by national and state highways, and Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport provides limited civil aviation services.
Nanded is the seat of Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, established in 1994, which serves as the principal university for several districts of Marathwada. The city also hosts engineering, medical and arts colleges affiliated with the university and other state institutions.
Nanded reflects a composite cultural heritage shaped by Marathi, Telugu, Urdu and Punjabi influences. Festivals associated with Sikhism, such as Gurpurab and Hola Mohalla, are observed alongside Hindu and Muslim festivals. Marathi literature and saint traditions associated with figures such as Sant Vishnupant Shesha and the wider Varkari movement also have roots in the region.