Dhule
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Dhule (धुळे in Marathi) is a city in northwestern state Maharashtra of India. It is the administrative headquarter of Dhule District. Dhule lies in the Khandesh region, which forms the northwest corner of southern India's Deccan Plateau, in the valley of the Tapi river. Dhule is situated on the banks of the river Panzara (पांझरा). It is bordered by neighbouring districts Jalgaon, Nashik, and Nandurbar. Dhule became part of the Mughal Empire in 1601, during the reign of Akbar. In the 18th century Dhule came under Maratha rule. In 1818, Dhule was annexed by the British, and was included in the Bombay Presidency. Dhule city is a well planned city, and it is believed that it was planned by Capt. James Briggs (Please see note below). After Indian independence in 1947, Bombay Presidency became Bombay State, which in 1960 was divided along linguistic lines into the new states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The city population according 2001 census is nearly 333,980. In hey-days it was a one of the major center for textile industry, with both spinning and weaving operations. Textile industry is still alive here though at much smaller scale than past. The nearest international airport is Mumbai, though it also has its own domestic airport at Gondur (in dismal condition). Dhule also has a distinction of having railway terminus, which is connected to nearest railway junction at Chalisgaon.
While this portion of Maharashtra is of no great significance from point of economics, the single most reason for importance of Dhule to India and Maharashtra is because of its geographical location for road transport industry. Dhule is the city from which the most strategic roads of India criss-cross each-other. This is the singular point for road transportation vis-a-vis to Bhusaval or Nagpur in case of Indian Railways. The national highway number 3, popularly known as Mumbai-Agra highway, virtually connects southern India with northern India. And the national highway number 6 on its part connects western India with eastern India.
Rajwade Sanshodhan Mandal in Dhule is a famous museum established in 1932 where there is a big collection of articles collected by famous historian V.K.Rajwade. There are many historical articles of mughal and Rajput period. In which, there are coloured pictures, coins, historical copper plates,stone and metal statues, old hand written documents, historical documents, stone apparatuses, pots etc. pre-historical articles, historical apparatuses and art gallery on history related subjects. There is a good reference library containing more than 2000 books.
Dhule city in particularly is affected by water scarcity and bad water management though situation is changing. Dhule city is also famous due the sheer number of educational institutes it hosts. To name few of them here are: SSVPS college of engineering, SES college of engineering, and Gangamai college of engineering (affiliated to the North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon); Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College and A.C.P.M Medical College (affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik).
Old Dhule or June Dhule is central place or heart of the City, Subhash Nagar is considered as business place, the other places of attraction includes Tower Bag, Hanuman Tekdi(The Holy Mount). Pach-Kandil is the main whole sale market of fruits and vegetables, even pat-bazar(channel market) does.
[#1] According to the information that I have, Dhule city was planned by Captain Briggs. I remember to have read this in marathi encyclopedia (मराठी विश्वकोष). Some people say it was designed by Vishveswarrayya, but it is not correct. The information on this should be verified by experts.
[#2] Another informal part of dhule city is the student crowd of the city which comprises of students from all over India, if you want to see a sea of engineers making nuisance could be found on the area of Dutta Mandir Chowk. You can find a flock of students having tea, wada pav and chatting about everything except studies in this area.
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Dhule is also the current site for the construction and operation of the world's largest wind farm having an output of 1000MW. This project is being undertaken by Suzlon Energy Limited, the world's fourth largest wind turbine company.
