Osmanabad

Osmanabad , عثمان آباد Usmanabad
city
Osmanabad , عثمان آباد Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°10′46″N 76°02′23″E / 18.17944°N 76.03972°E / 18.17944; 76.03972Coordinates: 18°10′46″N 76°02′23″E / 18.17944°N 76.03972°E / 18.17944; 76.03972
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Osmanabad
Tehsil	Osmanabad
Elevation	653 m (2,142 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Total	112,085
Language
• Official	Marathi
• Other	Urdu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	413501
Telephone code	912472
Vehicle registration	MH25
Website	www.osmanabad.nic.in

Osmanabad  pronunciation  (transliterated in Marathi as Usmanabad) is a city and a municipal council in Osmanabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

History

The city Osmanabad actually derives its name from Nizam Osman Ali, the last ruler of Hyderabad, of which the region was a part till 1947 and Osmanabad's history dates way back to the era of the Ramayana where Lord Rama is said to have spent some of his exile in parts of Osmanabad. As per historical evidences, the district was ruled by the Mauryas, Satavahanas, Rashtrakutas, and Yadavas. In early centuries the city belonged to the Hindu Chalukyas and Devagiri Yadavas, but later became a part of the Bahmani and Bijapur kingdoms.

For a period of time, it was also ruled by the Mughals, Bahmani, Nizam and Adil shahi kingdoms. Before the Hyderabad Nizam's rule, it was under control of the Mughal King Aurangzeb. Being under the Nizam rule, the district did not celebrate its freedom when the rest of India became independent in 1947. However, soon in 1948, Hyderabad State was merged with independent India and the district became a part of the then Mumbai District. It became a part of Maharashtra State when the State was formed in 1960. Osmanabad has a historic lineage dating back to the days of Marathwada and even before that to several kingdoms of which the region was a part. Osmanabad was earlier known as Dharashiv, possibly because of the Dharashiv Caves situated outside the city. Osmanabad is famous for its religious shrines for Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and other communities and places of historical importance as well.

Geography

The city of Osmanabad has an elevation of 653 metres (2,142 ft). Osmanabad city is located in the west central part of Osmanabad Tahsil, but relatively central for the district as a whole. Tuljapur, Bhoom, Paranda, Washi, and Kalamb are the nearby towns. Solapur, located southwest of Osmanabad in Solapur district, is the nearest sizable city.Osmanabad is on Balaghat Pathar. Bhogavati river flows through the city & meets Sina River near Mohol in Solapur district.

Demographics

In the 2011 Indian census, the city of Osmanabad had 106,644 inhabitants, with 41,982 males (52.1%) and 38,643 females (47.9%), for a gender ratio of 920 females per thousand males.^[2] In 2001, Osmanabad had an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, male literacy was 80%, and female literacy was 67%. In 2001 in Osmanabad, 14% of the population was under 6 years of age.^[3]

Education

Osmanabad has one Government BAMS College Known As Ayurvedic College, one Government Polytechnic College,Osmanabad Known As GPO,One Private Pharmacy College and Three Private Engineering Colleges. Another engineering college in Osmanabad District is in Tuljapur.The Most Popular College Of Obad City Is R.P College Known As Ramkrishna Paramhans Mahavidyalaya. Osmanabad has Government Agriculture college (under Marathwada Agriculture University, Parbhani) near Ter.

Osmanabad also has a sub-centre of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, which includes Department of Management Science, Department of Education, Department of Chemistry,Department of Biotechnology & Department of microbiology etc. In Osmanabad Shripatrao Bhosale Highschool is well known school for students across Osmanabad district. Arya Chanakya High School,Shree.Chhatrapati Shivaji High School Are Also Good Schools For Kids Education.

Monuments and Attraction

Osmanabad is known for Dharashiv Caves, which were built during the 5th-7th century^[4] It was initially thought that the Buddhist caves were one of the earliest structures, created between the fifth and eighth centuries, dargah (Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure) of Hazrat Khwaja Shamsoddin Gazi (RA). The interior decoration of the dargah, consisting of many colourful glass pieces, is the main attraction of the dargah nowadays. Osmanabad city has Hatladevi mandir which is big religious attraction for people in Osmanabad city.^[5]

Dharashiv Caves

The Dharashiv caves are situated 8 km away from Osmanabad City in Balaghat Mountains. There are a total of 7 caves in the Mountain range. The first cave is without any statue with a small open space .The second cave consists of a statue with artistic work on the right side of the statue. The art work is of the Gandharva era. The fourth cave is an open space without any statue inside. The statue in the sixth cave is damaged while the seventh cave has no statue.

That this is an ancient place is shown by the caves excavated in the hill at a distance of about eight miles. These caves were originally Buddhist, but were later converted into monuments of the Jain religion and fresh caves were also excavated nearby. There are some more Buddhist caves that have been excavated in the hills, about 8 miles from Osmanabad city. The earliest of them probably belongs to the 7th century AD. Cave No. II is modeled on the plan of the Vakataka cave at Ajanta caves. It has a central hall measuring 80 feet by 80 feet, with 14 cells for the residence of the Bhiksus and garbhagriha with a colossal image of Lord Buddha in Padmasana. From the hoods of a serpent spread over its head, it is supposed to be the image of the Jain Tirthankara Parashvanath, but the figures of deer with a dharmachakra between them on the pedestal indicates that it is that of Gautama Buddha.

Tuljapur

Tuljabhavani Mandir Mahadwar (Main entrance gate)

Tulja Bhavani Temple in Tuljapur, a temple for Goddess Tulja Bhavani, is situated on Solapur - Aurangabad Highway, 18 km from Osmanabad.

Tuljapur is situated on Solapur - Aurangabad Highway, 18 km from Osmanabad. Tulja Bhavani Temple is situated on one of the deep slopes on the ranges of the hill, in the midst of a small side valley of a stream flowing down the plateau to the west of the town. The temple is enclosed with a fortress and faces the East and consists of special attributes of Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The chief shrine is cross-planned construction, the southern one opening in the courtyard, the eastern one leading to the outer Mandapam and the western to the Garbhagriha. On the northern side is a room known as the Shejaghar or bedroom of the goddess.

Tuljapur is home place for Goddess Tulja Bhavani. As one enters the temple complex through the Mahadwar, on the way there is the Kallol tirth to the left and after a descent of nearly 30 steps the Gomukh tirth on the right with a small shrine dedicated to Vitthal Rakhumai nearby. Both these tirths receive perennial water flow from gomukhs. To the left near the main entrance gate leading into the courtyard is a shrine dedicated to Siddhi Vinayak. The imposing gateway is ornamented with flower and creeper patterns carved in relief. To the right of the gate is a shrine dedicated to Dattatraya and to the left residential houses of the temple priests. Occupying a central position in the courtyard, the temple mandap has two side entrances right opposite each other flanked by small columns. Supported on quite a few rows of pillars the mandap hall is 7.62 × 4.57 metres (25' × 15') beyond which is the middle part wherein is installed a marble statue of a lion in a standing posture. Herein to the right there is a small chamber housing the silver palang or bedstead of the goddess. Inside the Garbhagriha is a silver, four-arched canopy holding the delicately carved stone image of the goddess Bhavani.

The entrances leading from the mandap to the middle part of the chamber containing the palang (bed) and that of the Garbhagriha are all plated with silver bearing beautiful carvings and are fine pieces of sculptural ingenuity. The Garbhagriha is crowned with a beautiful tapering sikhar having figure-filled niches. Figures set-in in the niches are mostly those of sages and deities and are very shapely. Its four corners are fixed with temple replicas also set-in with deity figures each temple replica in turn being flanked by two lion statues. The space in between is filled with elephant statues. In the front and right opposite the main entrance gate there is the homakund also crowned with a similar sikhar. Installed here and there at convenient places there are quite a few small Deepmalas or lamp-pillars. On either side of the temple, cloisters have been provided in some of which are installed idols of different deities.

Dargah

Entrance Gate of Dargah Hazarat Kwaja Shamshoddin Gazi Osmanabad

dargah (Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure) of Hazrat Khwaja Shamsoddin Gazi (RA). The interior decoration of the dargah, consisting of many colourful glass pieces, is the main attraction of the Dargah. The Urs of Hazarat Kwaja Shamshoddin Gazi festival celebrates in city in the month of Rajjab of Islamic calendar.

Ter

The temple of Saint Goroba is located at Ter village near to Osmanabad. The temple of Saint Goroba is one of the major attractions for the tourists and pilgrims visiting Osmanabad. The temple was built in the 13th century after the death of Saint Goroba in 1317. This temple is square-shaped and constructed fully with stone. It is one of the best architectural models. There is also a Sabha Mandao here to perform religious and cultural activities.

Yedshi Ramling Wildlife Sanctuary

Yedshi Ramling Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the villages of Yedshi, Wadgaon and Bhanasgaon near to Osmanabad city which is situated in the Balaghat range. Yedshi is considered to be the Matheran of the district of Osmanabad. Yedshi is considered as a possible hill station-cum-health resort. It is a railway station on the Miraj-Latur broud gauge railway.

The only object of interest nearby is the temple of Ramling. Situated at a distance of about two miles from Yedshi, Ramling was a railway station on the Miraj-Latur narrow gauge section of the South-Central Railway. The temple is located in a ravine and is to such a depth that the spire of the temple is not visible from a distance and also after reaching the entrance gate of the temple. To reach the temple one has to descend a number of steps down below. The temple has an open courtyard with a sabhamandap and a pindi of Shankar is placed in an inner chamber. Many devotees throng the temple on every Monday in the month of Shravana. An annual fair is held in honour of Shri Ramling on Margashirsha Shuddha 4 and 5 (November–December). More than five thousand people assemble here at the time of the fair. In the temple of Ramling is also a shrine of Jatayu.

The place is also revered as it is considered to be the spot where Jatayu attacked Ravana, the king of Lanka, while he was carrying away Sita by force. Jatayu lost the battle and died at the hands of Ravana.

Dry deciduous forests occupy the area. Wildlife species include Chinkara, Hyena, Wolf, Wild bear, Fox, Black buck, Hares and Peacock. More than 100 species of birds are also found. The best time to visit is October to June.

Transport

Air

Osmanabad Airport (IATA: OMN) lies approximately 13 km from the city centre. There are no scheduled commercial air services to this airport. It takes about 15-20 mins to reach airport by car from the bus stand. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has leased the airport to Reliance Airport Developers Ltd for 95 years.^[6] Reliance paid Rs. 63 crore for the deal, which includes other four airports of Maharashtra.^[7] The nearest operational airport Aurangabad Airport.

Rail

A railway bridge near osmanabad station

Osmanabad railway station (station code UMD) is an important railway station situated on Latur - Miraj railway route of central railway. Before 2004, a narrow gauge track connecting Latur to Kurduvadi passed through Osmanabad district. The station nearest to the city at Yedshi was 18 km away from Osmanabad City. During conversion from narrow gauge to Broad Gauge, the track alignment was changed and directed towards Osmanabad city. In the first stage, the broad gauge track between Latur-Osmanabad was completed and became functional in 2007. The first train to arrive at Osmanabad railway station was the Mumbai-Osmanabad Express that ran via Aurangabad and Manmad. The Osmanabad-Kurudvadi section was completed and made functional in 2008. Latur-Osmanabad-Mumbai Express was started via Kurduvadi, Pune in 2008. Osmanabad railway station come under solapur mandal of Central Railway(CR)zone.

Osmanabad has connections to Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Miraj-Sangli, Pandharpur, Nagpur, Parbhani, Latur, Nanded, Parali Vaijnath, Hyderabad, and Nizamabad.

Road

National Highway 9 and National Highway 211 (India)(old numbering)pass through the district. National highway 211 connects Osmanbad to other major cities of Maharashtra.

See also

• Marathwada
• Dhoki is a major village nearby Osmanabad

References

External links

• Osmanabad Online