Gangakhed

Gangakhed गंगाखेड گنگاکھیڑ
city
Gangakhed Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°57′N 76°45′E / 18.95°N 76.75°E / 18.95; 76.75Coordinates: 18°57′N 76°45′E / 18.95°N 76.75°E / 18.95; 76.75
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Parbhani
Government
• Type	Municipal council
Elevation	390 m (1,280 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	49,891[1]
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Gangakhed is a city and a municipal council in Parbhani district in the state of Maharashtra, India.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Gangakhed had a population of 40,412. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Gangakhed has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 68%, and female literacy is 52%. In Gangakhed, 16% of the population is under 6 years of age which may have changed significantly through the last decade. It is the largest Taluka in Parbhani district.

History

Gangakhed has great historical background. It is the birthplace of Shree Sant Janabai. As it is situated on the bank of Godawari river it has largest number of various temples on the bank of the holly river. Here we can see the old Rajwada (palace) of the time of Nizam. Shree Balaji temple which is the only temple like Tirupati Balaji in the world having both Balaji and Govinda under a roof. From many years Navratra festival is celebrated with the big event "Rath Yatra". Also, the Chintamani Mandir, of lord ganesha, which is situated 100 mtrs near to the Balaji Temple on the bank of river, giving a nice view of entire Godawari river. People celebrate Cahturthi and other poojas at this place. Some more temples to mention are - Bomblya mahadev, Narsimha mandir that are placed on the river bank, Datta Mandir is also one of the important temple in Gangakhed.

Industry

There is a sugar factory By Ratnakar Gutte with a combined cycle power plant in Gangakhed which caters to the sugarcane farmers in the local region. Several small-scale businesses and business agencies thrive mostly around agricultural sector. There is also edible oil industry which runs by public and private sector; the region is famous for edible oil production and also famous for cotton production and related industries because Gangakhed is located on Deccan Trap and the bank of river Godavari so the regur soil is there and is very useful for cotton production.

Hospitals

There is a Government Hospital and several private hospitals in the town. Patients can get fairly good quality healthcare locally. But for complicated medical diagnoses, treatments and procedures, they have to go to nearby cities such as Parbhani, Nanded, Latur and Aurangabad.

Education

There are many schools in Gangakhed for the primary and secondary education. Along with these there is a big established in 1972 college in 24 acres with all educational facilities for Arts, Commerce and Science with the name of "Sant Janabai" and are many small colleges for D.Ed.,B.Ed., BCS,BCA under Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University.

Transportation

Railway

Gangakhed has a train station which is located between Parbhani Junction and Parli Junction.

Road

Gangakhed has direct roads to Parbhani, Parli, Nanded,Ahmedpur,Latur.

Water

Although Gangakhed is situated on the bank of Godavari, a major river in the country, it does not have any means of transportation via water due to lack of enough water level and preference toward road and rail transports.

See also

• Ranisawargaon

References