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Nanded

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Nanded is a significant urban center located in the Maharashtra state of west-central India. It serves as the district headquarters for the Nanded district. Within the state, it ranks as the tenth largest city. It is also the second largest city in the Marathwada region. The city is situated on the banks of the Godavari River. This river divides the urban area into two distinct sections. Old Nanded occupies the north bank of the river. New Nanded is located to the south and includes the Waghala neighborhood.

The physical foundation of Nanded is quite ancient. The city is built upon the Deccan Traps. These are massive lava flows from the upper Cretaceous to lower Eocene eras. These horizontal lava flows are covered by thin layers of alluvial deposits. The lava flows consist of two distinct units. One unit is a highly weathered vesicular trap. The other is an underlying massive trap that is jointed and fractured. These specific geological layers create the main water-yielding zones for the area. The soil is mostly formed from these igneous rocks. It is characterized as black, medium black, shallow, and calcareous.

The history of Nanded spans many centuries and different empires. In the 1st century CE, the Andhrabhrtyas and Satvahanas held power here. Earlier, during the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, the Nanda dynasty ruled the region. By the 3rd century BCE, Nanded was part of the Maurya Empire under Ashoka. In the 10th century CE, the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III is credited with constructing the Kandhar Fort. From 1636, Nanded became the center of governance for the Nizam State. It was also an imperial province of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Later, in 1725, it became part of Hyderabad State. After India gained independence in 1947, the Indian Armed Forces annexed Hyderabad during Operation Polo. Nanded joined the Bombay Presidency in 1956. Finally, on May 1, 1960, it became part of Maharashtra.

Nanded holds immense religious importance, especially for the Sikh community. Guru Gobind Singh arrived in Nanded in August 1707. He proclaimed himself the tenth and final living guru. He established the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal, living leader. This makes the city home to Hazur Sahib, one of the five Panj Takhts. The Panj Takhts are the seats of higher authority in Sikhi. Maharaja Ranjit Singh commissioned a gurdwara at the site of the Guru's cremation in 1835. This was done with financial aid from Sikander Jah, the third Nizam of Hyderabad. The city also hosts many other sites, such as the Nanded Fort. This fort is encircled by the Godavari River on three sides and is now a garden.

Demographically, Nanded is a diverse and populated area. According to the 2011 census, the population was 550,564. Hinduism is the largest religion, practiced by nearly half the people. One third of the population practices Islam. About 15% are Buddhist, and 2% are Sikh. The city is one of the few Deccani towns where Sikhism is a relatively large religion. Marathi is the primary language at 56%. Urdu is the second largest at 29%. Hindi is spoken by 9% of the residents. The effective literacy rate is 87.40%. This includes a male literacy rate of 92.68% and a female rate of 81.74%.

The economy of Nanded relies heavily on agriculture and tourism. The surrounding land produces cotton, bananas, sugarcane, and mangoes. Other crops include soya beans, sweet limes, grapes, papaya, and sorghum. A Regional Cotton Research Center supports the local cotton industry. Tourism is a major driver, with 10 million annual visitors. Most of these visitors are religious pilgrims. The city is also an educational hub. It is home to the Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University. This university manages colleges across four districts in the Marathwada division.

Transportation connects Nanded to the rest of India through multiple modes. The city is served by three major national highways: NH 61, NH 361, and NH 161. Air travel is available via the Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Airport. This airport provides flights to cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. The railway system is also vital. The Hazur Sahib Nanded Railway Station is part of the South Central Railway Zone.

Nanded Railway Platform
Nanded Railway Platform

This station is a busy hub for the Nanded railway division. Approximately 48 trains arrive or depart from this station every day. Maltekdi is another railway station that serves the city.

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Nanded Railway Platform.jpg
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