Dhule

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Dhule v • d • e Maharashtra • India
Dhule
District(s)	Dhule
Coordinates	20.9° N 74.78° E
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 240 m (787 ft)
Population	341,473 (2001)

Coordinates: 20.9° N 74.78° E

Dhule (Marathi : धुळे) is a city and a municipal council in Dhule district in northwestern part of Maharashtra state, India.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Transport
5 To Visit
6 Education
7 Industry
8 References

[edit] Geography

Dhule is located at 20.9° N 74.78° E^[1]. It has an average elevation of 240 metres (787 feet).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 Panzara River (पांझरा).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^GRIndia, Dhule had a population of 341,473. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Dhule has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80% and, female literacy is 69%. In Dhule, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] History

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.

[edit] Transport

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.

[edit] To Visit

Panzara River on a cloudy monsoon day. The photo was taken from the Dhule city side, on the other side is Deopur, which is a suburb of Dhule. The image shows Chhota Pul or small bridge on the left hand side, and Motha Pul or big bridge on the right hand side.

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. Surya Mandir is a oldest temple. Central jail of the city was constructed by British, and many freedom-fighters, which played important role at national level, were imprisoned here.

"Samartha Vagdevata Mandir" is famous for its collection of ancient literature on the great Maharashtrian saint Samartha Ramdas Swami.

Agra road is the main street in the city where many important businesses/shops are located. Old Dhule or June Dhule is central place, Subhash Nagar is a business area with shops adjacent to Old Dhule.

Other places of attraction include Tower Garden, Hanuman Tekdi(The Holy Mount). Pach-Kandil is the main whole sale market of fruits and vegetables, pat-bazar is a vegetable market near an old canal, which used to run along the river side in the past.

Nisargopchar Kendra, Dhule is situated on Malegaon Road at a distance 1.5 km from bus stand and Railway station. In the vicinity of this centre are Mehboob subhani shrine, Gurudwara, Vitthal temple, Dashera Maidan . Across the road is Gandhi Tatva Gyan Mandir (Gandhian Philosophy Centre) and Goshala founded by Vinoba Bhave in 1932.

Ekvira mata temple is very famous in Dhule.

[edit] Education

Dhule city is also famous due the sheer number of educational institutes it hosts. To name few of them here are:

1) SSVPS college of engineering
2) SES college of engineering
3) Gangamai college of engineering (affiliated to North Maharashtra University)
4) Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College
5) A.C.P.M Medical College (affiliated to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences
6) Jai Hind College (Deopur ,Dhule)
7) SSVPS College(Deopur ,Dhule)
8) Vidhya Verdhani College

and many more...

[edit] Industry

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. Dhule is current site for the construction and operation of world's largest wind farm having an output of 1000MW. This project is being undertaken by Suzlon Energy Limited, world's fourth largest wind turbine company. Coordinates: 20°54′N, 74°47′E