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Akola

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This article is about the municipal corporation in Maharashtra, India. For its namesake district, see Akola district.
For other uses, see Akola (disambiguation).
Akola
अकोला
City
Dr. PDKV, Akola - Agricultural University
Dr. PDKV, Akola - Agricultural University
Nickname: 
Cotton City
Country India
StateMaharashtra
RegionVidarbha
Government
 • BodyAkola Municipal Corporation (AMC)
 • MayorJyotsna Gawai (Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha)
 • Municipal CommissionerDeepak Chaudhary
Area
 • City54.31 km2 (20.97 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • City427,146
 • Density7,865/km2 (20,370/sq mi)
 • Metro
699,985
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
444 00x
Telephone code0724
Vehicle registrationMH 30, MH 37
Literacy87.55%
Distance from Mumbai600 kilometres (370 mi)
Distance from Nagpur250 kilometres (160 mi)
Distance from Aurangabad, Maharashtra265 kilometres (165 mi)
Websiteakola.nic.in

Akola is a city in Akola district in Vidarbha region in the state of Maharashtra in central India. It is about 600 km east of Mumbai (former "Bombay") and 250 km west of Nagpur. Akola is the headquarters of Akola District located in Amravati Division.

Akola district has an area of about 5431 square kilometers and population of 1,818,617 (2011 census). Akola is the third largest city in Vidarbha region after Nagpur and Amravati. Marathi is the most popular spoken language, though Hindi, English and Urdu are also used. Akola District is bordered on the north and east by Amravati District, on the south by Washim District, and on the west by Buldhana District.

Akola, also called Cotton City, is known for its cotton production and is the largest cotton-producing district in India. The city is also famous for its pulses (dal), oil, and textile mills.

History

Akola Fort - a part of history preserved.

Akola District along with the rest of the Berar province was part of the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha mentioned in the Mahabharata. Barar also formed part of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Asoka (272 to 231 BCE). Berar later came under the rule of the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE), the Vakataka dynasty (3rd to 6th centuries), the Chalukya dynasty (6th to 8th centuries), the Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th to 10th centuries), the Chalukyas again (10th to 12th centuries) and finally the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri (late 12th to early 14th centuries). A period of Muslim rule began when Ala ud din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the region in the early 14th century. The region was part of the Bahmani Sultanate, which broke away from the Delhi Sultanate in the mid-14th century. The Bahmani Sultanate broke up into smaller sultanates at the end of the 15th century, and in 1572 Berar became part of the Nizam Shahi sultanate, based at Ahmadnagar. The Nizam Shahis ceded Berar to the Mughal Empire in 1595. The Mughals ruled the BBerar province during 17th century. As Mughal rule started to unravel at the start of the 18th century, Asaf Jah I, Nizam of Hyderabad seized the southern provinces of the empire (including Berar) in 1724, forming an independent state.

But the rise of Maratha Empire (from 1674 to 1760) under the command of Chhatrapati Shivaji succeeded by his son Sambhaji and grandson Shahu brought the whole Berar province including Akola district under the Maratha Empire around 1734. In 1749 at the time of his death, Shahu appointed the Peshwa as the head of the Maratha Empire with certain conditions to follow. The loss in the third battle of Panipat in 1761 weakened the Maratha Empire and corrupted the power of Peshwa forever. The Berar province remained under the Marathas.

The Battle of Argaon, (or Adgaon near Akot) in took place on the 28th of November 1803 between the British under the command of Governor Arthur Wellesley and the forces of Maratha under Bhonsle of Nagpur during Second Anglo-Maratha War. In the third Anglo-Maratha War, the last Peshwa Baji Rao II, was defeated by the British. In 1853, Akola district together with the rest of Berar came under the administration of the British East India Company. Berar was divided into East and West Berar with Akola district being included in West Berar. In 1903, Berar was leased to the Nizam of Hyderabad by the British East India Company in return of the debt.

Sundarabai Khandelwal Tower is a landmark of Akola city.

The CONGRESS's proposed linguistic provinces plan before the Independence of India had positioned Akola as the Headquarters of the Berar region.[1] [2]

After India gained its Independence in 1947, the states and provinces were reorganized in 1956. Berar was divided among different states. Akola became a part of bilingual Bombay state which was further divided into two states in 1960. Akola became a part of the new Maharashtra State. The Narnala fort, Akot fort, Akola fort and Balapur Fort are some of the famous monuments in Akola.

Geography and climate

Akola is located at latitude 20.7° North and longitude 77.07° East. It is at an altitude of 925 ft (282m) above sea level. The climate is tropical, and people predominately wear cotton clothes. Akola has a National Weather Station which serves as the local weather center. Annual temperatures range from a high of 48°C (118°F) to a low of 10°C (50°F). Akola lies on the Tropic of Cancer and becomes very hot during the summer, especially in May. Although it can be very hot in the day, it is cool at night. The annual rainfall averages 850 mm. Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season between June and September, but some rain does fall during January and February.

On the north, Akola is bordered by the Melghat Hills and forest region. Morna River flows through Akola. Purna River forms a part of the north border of the district, and the top north portion of the district lies within its watershed along with Aas River and Shahnur River. Vaan River forms a part of the northwest boundary of the district after entering from the Amravati district. Maan River drains the southwestern portion of the district. Morna River drains the mid-south portion of the district, while the southeast is drained by the Katepurna and Uma rivers.

Some of the rivers in Akola and their tributaries are Purna, Uma, Katepurna, Shahnur, Morna, Man, Aas and Vaan. There are many dams in Akola district. Mahan, on Katepurna river is one of them. There have been floods in 1978, 1992, and 2003.

Climate data for Akola
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8) 		33.2
(91.8) 		37.2
(99.0) 		40.7
(105.3) 		42.1
(107.8) 		37.4
(99.3) 		32.0
(89.6) 		30.5
(86.9) 		32.1
(89.8) 		38.8
(101.8) 		31.5
(88.7) 		29.4
(84.9) 		34.6
(94.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.5
(56.3) 		15.7
(60.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		24.8
(76.6) 		28.0
(82.4) 		26.1
(79.0) 		24.1
(75.4) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.0
(73.4) 		20.1
(68.2) 		15.9
(60.6) 		13.2
(55.8) 		20.7
(69.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 7.8
(0.31) 		4.5
(0.18) 		11.0
(0.43) 		5.1
(0.20) 		6.6
(0.26) 		146.3
(5.76) 		210.7
(8.30) 		199.7
(7.86) 		122.0
(4.80) 		45.4
(1.79) 		19.5
(0.77) 		14.2
(0.56) 		792.8
(31.22)
Source: IMD

Medical facilities

Akola is well known for its medical facilities. It is a major center for advanced medical treatments, such as the Elizarov Technique, IVF. Akola city has largest number of Hospitals and Clinics. Major hospitals in Akola include:

  • Civil Hospital
  • Chaudhary Hospital
  • Akola Critical Care Unit
  • Ozone Hospital
  • Icon Hospital
  • Orbit Hospital
  • Sant Tukaram Cancer Hospital
  • Government Cancer Hospital (Under construction).

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[3] Akola city had a population of 427,146. Of the total population, males constitute about 52% and females about 48%. Thirteen percent of the total population is under the age of 6.

Akola has an average literacy rate of about 87.55%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; 55% of the males and 45% of females are literate.

Local government

The local administration body is the Municipal Corporation. Akola Municipal Corporation is headed by the Municipal Commissioner and an elected mayor.As of now The Municipal Corporation is been Permanently Dissolved and early elections are being declared. Mrs Jyotsna Gawai is the mayor of Akola city. There are 73 electoral wards in Akola. Akola Municipal Transport (AMT) runs Akola's public transport service. Akola Municipal Corporation has launched its web-site from 29-Dec-2011,

Industry & Economy

Mahabeej Bhavan, Akola.

The Akola MIDC Industrial Area has three prominent industrial zones on the outskirts of the city.Cotton and Jowar are the predominant crops grown in the district. Oil and Dal mills are also rampant. The economy is mostly agriculture based. Nowadays, soyabean crop is an important crop as major soyabean plants have come up in the area. The total land under Akola MIDC Industrial area is 6.25  km2. There are about 25 factories (3 large factories and 22 small factories) currently in production and another 10 small factories are in the process of being constructed. Maharashtra Government has sanctioned growth centres close to Akola MIDC area. An application of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) for setting up an Agro- processing Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Akola district has been approved. Maharashtra State Seeds corporation (Mahabeej) has headoffice at Akola

Banking And Financial Services

In the first decade of the 21st century, Akola has seen a spurt in financial activities, with almost all public sector and private banks have opened up branches including the State Bank of India, State Bank of Hyderabad, Axis Bank, Akola Urban Co-op Bank, Vidarbha Co-Operative Bank, Akola, Canara Bank, Saraswat Bank, Citi Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of India, HDFC Bank, IDBI Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Bank of Baroda, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Allahabad Bank etc.

Media and communication

  • Newspapers: Dainik Deshonnati, one of the most circulated Marathi newspapers in the Vidharbha region, originated from Akola. Other prominent newspapers published from Akola include Lokmat, Dainik Matrubhumi, Mumbai Chaufer, Maharashtra Times, Etc.
  • Radio: Akola Aakashwani All India Radio, Radio City 91.1 FM, etc.
  • Internet: Internet facilities are provided by several suppliers, Now All City is Wi-Max (WI-FI), City Channel Broadband, BSNL is leading internet facilities provider.

Entertainment

Talkies & Multiplexes:

Hindi, Marathi and English movies are screened in cinema halls in Akola city. List of Cinema Halls in Akola:

  • New Radha Krishna BIG Cinemas (4 Screen Multiplex), Nagpur Road
  • Uday Talkies, Tilak Road
  • Manek Talkies
  • Vasant Talkies
  • Shalini Talkies
  • New Regal Talkies

are some of the talkies in Akola city.

Auditoriums:

Marathi dramas starring prominent actors are frequently enacted in

  • Pramilatai Oak Hall and
  • Open Air Theatre located on Mahtma Gandhi Road.

Akola has its own FM radio channel run by All India Radio (AIR). Recently a private FM radio channel Radio City 91.1 FM has also started broadcasting. The city has a Television Relay Centre and re-broadcasts on its Channel-1 the National Programmes from Delhi & Sahyadri Mumbai's Marathi programmes. Also it re-broadcast (DD-II's) DD News programmes from Delhi on its Channel-2. The Television Centre is managed by the Doordarshan Maintenance Centre, Akola, a circle centre headed by a senior officer designated as the Station Engineer. It also broadcasts narrow-casting programmes for the farmers of the region. The software for which is supplied by DDK-Nagpur through recording programmes at PKV-Akola and various Departments of the State Government of Maharashtra.

Shopping

Lifestyle brands have a retail presence in the city. Additionally other retail brands like Adidas, Reebok, Levi Strauss, Nike, Siyaram's, Peter England, John Players, Raymond, D'Cot, Cottonking, Titan Watches & Eye-wear, Nokia, Samsung operate stores.

Education

Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) Akola - Agricultural University.

Higher education

Akola has a famous Agricultural University Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth founded by Late Dr Gopalrao Khedkar (PDKV or PKV). The university attracts students from far distances for its Agricultural Engineering and Technology courses. All other professional colleges in Akola are affiliated with Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University. Other courses are offered such as Engineering at

Medical Science colleges as

Other prominently known colleges of Akola city are

School education

Mount Carmel School, Akola

Most schools in Akola are affiliated to Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. The Municipal Corporation controls all public schools in the city. Some reputed schools, which have produced meritorious students, including state and division toppers include:

*New English High School

Sports

Famous sports in Akola city include Cricket, Football, Hockey, Volleyball Kabaddi, etc.

Stadiums & Playgrounds:

As compared to the population of the city, the number of playgrounds are very less.[5]

Agriculture

A full grown cotton plant.

Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in rural parts of the region. Cotton, soybean and Jawar (Sorghum) are the essential crops grown in the district. Other important crops of the region are wheat, sunflower, canola, peanut, Bajra (Pearl Millet), Harbara (Chick Peas), Toor (Pigeon Peas), Urad and Moong (Green Gram), etc. Most crops are dependent on the monsoon. Only 15% of Maharashtra's gross cropped area is irrigated, compared with the national average of 32.9% in 1989–90. Vidarbha's Amravati division's (including Akola District) share of gross cropped area under irrigation of 9%.Akola is a Cotton City.

Considered one of Maharashtra's least developed regions, Vidarbha has seen not only farmer's suicides but also deaths caused by malnutrition. In some tribal are major reasons [clarification needed] of recent suicide deaths of farmers in the Akola region and other surrounding parts of Vidarbha, which has rang alarming bells in the Maharashtra State Government and Government of India. Bharat Krishak Samaj, one of the leading organization of farmers in India, is very active in Akola region. It has played a crucial role in promoting the voice of the common farmers of the Vidarbha region to the attention of the Indian Government under the chairmanship of Prakash Shriram Mankar . Vidarbha region has long demanded a separate state to support the economy and agriculture of this region, which has been neglected by the Maharashtra State Government in all sectors [citation needed]. The Government of India's intervention has failed to provide government aid packages and has also failed to bring any change in the working conditions of the farmers of this region [citation needed]. Oil and Dal mills are becoming rampant in this region because of the crops taken. Textile mills are also increasing to support the cotton growing industry.

Transport

Akola has the vehicle registration code of 30.

Air

Akola Airport (also known as Shivani Airport) (IATA: AKD, ICAO: VAAK) is the domestic airport of Akola city at an elevation of 999 ft (304 m) and has one runway (4,600×145 ft). The airport is just 7 km away from the city on National Highway No. 6. The nearest international airport is at Nagpur (250) and at Aurangabad, Maharashtra (265). Renovation and operation of Akola airport is taken by Airport Authority of India.

Road

National Highway No.6 Passes Through Akola

The "NH6" runs through Akola from Hazira (Surat) to Kolkata. NH6 is a part of Asian Highway 46. Maharashtra state transport buses are most commonly used by people to travel to rural parts of the region. They are the cheapest means of transport. State-owned and private air-conditioned bus services run daily to most major cities to and from Akola. The bus frequency is good. Bus service is available for cities like Nagpur, bhopal, Indore, Hyderabad, Nanded, Amravati, Mumbai, Nashik, Jabalpur.

Bus

Akola Municipal Transport (AMT) runs Akola's public transport service. Autorickshaw is also widely used in Akola city for city transport. Traffic is generally a problem, in the form of congestion due to increasing number of vehicles, bad roads, stray animals, and a general disregard of traffic rules. Road accidents are often fatal and are very common. The municipal corporation is trying to improve the roads in Akola city through IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Planning). This may create a new face of the city.

Railway

Mount Carmel School Chowk - Railway Station Road, Akola.

Akola has good railway connectivity with direct trains to Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Okha, Surat, Nanded Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Kolhapur, Pune, Kamakhya, Indore, Mhow, Ujjain, Khandwa, Ratlam, Bhopal, Chittorgarh, Nagpur, Gondia, Bilaspur, Howrah, Hatia, Puri, Madras, Hingoli, Purna, Parli Vaidnath, Tirupati, Ganganagar, Secundarabad and Nampally, Hyderabad.

Akola railway junction, situated on both the Mumbai-Bhusawal-Wardha-Nagpur-Howrah rail line and the Kacheguda-Jaipur meter gauge line, is an important junction for passengers from North and South India and also for freight trains. Broadgauging of Akola-Purna, Akola - Indore Junction MG and Akola - Indore Junction BG - Ratlam railway line under Unigauge has recently completed and passenger train have started running on this route. Important railway stations in Akola region with their codes are Paras, Gaigaon, Akola Junction (AK), Murtizapur Junction (MZR) and are under Bhusawal-Badnera Section of Bhusawal Division of Central Railway.

The other stations under meter gauge are Hiwarkhed (HWK), Adgaon Buzurg (ABZ), Akot (AKOT), Patsul (PTZ), Ugwe (UGWE), Akola Junction, Shivani Shivpur (SVW), Barshitakli (BSQ), Lohogad (LHD), Aman Vadi (AMW), Jaulka (JUK) are under Purna - Khandwa Section of South Central Railway.

The stations under narrow gauge are Lakhpuri, Murtizapur Junction, Karanja under two Narrow Gauge Branch lines viz Murtizapur-Achalpur and Murtizapur-Yavatmal of Bhusawal Division of Central Railway.

In 2009, a new railway station was built at Shivani-Shivar. It is the modification of narrow gauge station in to broad gauge station. It now connects Purna to Hyderabad through Akola. The city still lacks direct connectivity with Jabalpur, Lucknow,Varanasi,Patna,Somnath,Jaipur,Bangalore,Kanyakumari,Trivandrum and other major Indian cities.

Hotels

Being a Railway Junction and close to pilgrimage center Shegaon, Akola has many hotels. Hotels here range from 5 - star luxury hotels to budget lodges. Some of the well known hotels in Akola city include,

  • Hotel Jasnagra
  • Hotel Welcome-Inn
  • Hotel Venus International
  • Hotel Tushar Executive
  • Hotel Ramlata Palace, etc.

Religion and culture

Akola is city with mix of religions, cultures. One can find peoples of different religions here. There are Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians etc. in Akola. It is a peaceful city where each citizen respects the beliefs of others.

Temples in Akola city:

Raj-Rajeshwar Temple, Akola.
  • Gram-daivat Shree Rajrajeshwar Mandir, Old City
  • Birla Mandir (Ram Temple)
  • Shreenath Dutta Mandir, Ramdas Peth
  • Annapurna Devi Mandir, NH6, Balapur Naka
  • Jain Temple at City Market Place
  • Swami Samarth mutthh (Temple) at Ramdas peth
  • Shree Kala Maruti temple at Old City
  • Shree Bara Jyotirlinga Mandir, Jatharpeth Road
  • Shree Sidhivinayak Temple Jathar peth Nr Prasad Colony Its a Most Popular temple of Lord Ganesha
  • Jalaram Mandir Birla Colony
  • Gurudwara Rly station Road
  • Shri Ram Temple at Tilak Road

Mosques- There are a number of mosques in the town. Important amongst them are the Badi Masjid (Markaz), Masjid Mominpura & Kachchhi Masjid. Other Mosques in Akola city:

  • Jama Masjid Inamdar Pura
  • Raza Masjid Akot File
  • Nagina Masjid Akot Stand
  • Masjid Al-Falah 1600 Plots
  • Akbar-plot Masjid Akot File
  • Chaand Hafiz Masjid
  • Ammajaan Masjid Old City
  • Masjid Turaab Ali Nawab Pura

Church:

  • Mount Carmel Church

Shegaon (in Buldana District), a very famous pilgrimage place of "Gajanan Maharaj is just 35 km away from Akola. Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan is the biggest temple trust in the Vidarbha region and is called "Pandharpur of Vidarbha". The origin of Gajanan Maharaj is untraceable in history. People from all over Maharashtra visit Shegaon and offer their prayers to Gajanan Maharaj.

Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the conference on Marathi Literature, was held twice in Akola city. They were presided by Hari Narayan Apte in 1912 and Gopal Nilkanth Dandekar in 1981.

Akola is known as a colorful city because of its many festivals. Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, MAHA SHIVRATRI, Vijayadashmi, Bauddha Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Dasehra, Diwali, Holi and Bakar Eid are celebrated with special enthusiasm.

References

  1. ^ Partition of India, Dr. B. R.Ambedkar http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ambedkar/ambedkar_partition/101.html
  2. ^ Partition of India, Dr. B. R.Ambedkar http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00ambedkar/ambedkar_partition/tables/101a.html
  3. ^ Template:GR
  4. ^ http://rltsc.org RLT Science College, Akola
  5. ^ http://onlinenews1.lokmat.com/staticpages/editions/today/main/DetailedNews-All.php?nid=AkolaEdition-11-2-28-08-2012-77fa7&ndate=2012-08-29&editionname=akola

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akola.
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