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Ahmednagar
Ahmednagar Location of Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	19°05′N 74°44′E / 19.08°N 74.73°E / 19.08; 74.73
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Ahmednagar
Population	307455 (2001)
Sex ratio	945 ♂/♀
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 649 m (2,129 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 414001 • Telephone • +0241 • Vehicle • MH 16,17
Website	ahmednagar.gov.in/

Ahmednagar (Marathi: अहमदनगर, Urdu: احمد نگر) is a city of Ahmednagar District in the state of Maharashtra, India, on the west bank of the Sina river, about 120 km northeast of Pune and 120 km from Aurangabad. Ahmednagar is the largest district in the Maharashtra state of India. Sugar, milk and bank co-operatives thrive here. Ahmednagar is home to 19 sugar factories and is also the birthplace of the cooperative movement. Due to scarce rainfall, Ahmednagar often suffers from drought. Though citizens learn multilingual (e.g. English, Hindi, Marathi, Urdu) education in schools, Marathi is the primary language for daily-life communication. Hindi is also widely understood and spoken, though of the Dakhani (or Hyderabadi) dialect, with a lot of grammar and loan words from Marathi. In general the Hindu and Christian population prefers Marathi, while Muslims and others use Hindi. Ahmednagar has recently published a plan of developing the city by year 2031.^[1]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Ahmednagar had a population of 307,455. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Ahmednagar has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 79.9%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History of Ahmednagar

Faria bagh, c. 1880

The town was founded in 1494 by Ahmad Nizam Shah on the site of a more ancient city, Bhingar. With the breakup of the Bahmani Sultanate, Ahmad established a new sultanate in Ahmednagar, also known as Nizam Shahi dynasty. It was one of the Deccan sultanates, which lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1636. Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor, who spent the latter years of his reign, 1681-1707, in the Deccan, died at Khuldabad near Aurangabad in 1707, and a small monument marks the site.

In 1759 the Peshwa of the Marathas obtained possession of the place and in 1790 it was ceded by the Peshwa to the Maratha chief Daulat Rao Sindhia. Ahmednagar was invaded by a British force under General Wellesley and captured. It was afterwards restored to the Marathas, but again came into the possession of the British in 1817, according to the terms of the Treaty of Poona.

Numerous Mughal-era buildings dot the environs. Ahmednagar Fort, once considered the second most unimpregnable fort in India, was used by the British to house Jawaharlal Nehru (the first prime minister of India) and other Indian Nationalists before Indian independence. A few rooms there have been converted to a museum. During his confinement by the British at Ahmednagar Fort Nehru, he wrote the famous book The Discovery of India.

Ahmednagar is home to the Indian Armoured Corps Centre & School (ACC&S), the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC), the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) and the Controllerate of Quality Assurance Vehicles (CQAV). Training and recruitment for the Indian Army Armoured Corps takes place at the ACC&S. Formerly, the city was the Indian base of the British Army's Royal Tank Corps / Indian Armoured Corps, amongst other units. Currently the town houses the second-largest display of military tanks in the world.^[3] The exhibit is open to the public.

Religion

Inside view of Church in Ahmednagar

The majority of the population in Ahmednagar is Hindu. But there are small other religious groups such as Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians. According to Census, Hindus are 82%, Muslims 9%, Christians 5% and others are 4%.

Islam arrived in Ahmednagar during the Tughlaq dynasty. There are many Muslim Monuments like Chand Bibi Mahal, Farha Baug, Ground Fort and many Dargas(Mosque).

Christianity arrived in the 18th century when the British took over the area. From the Maratha empire onwards Christianity has been Ahmednagar's third-largest religion. Ahmednagar's Christians are also called Marathi Christians because of their use of the Marathi language. There are many Christian churches and monuments.

Famous Personalities

Chand Bibi, an Indian Muslim woman warrior who defended Ahmednagar from a Mughal Emperor.

• Anna Hazare, a Social Leader and Right to Information Act (RTI) Activist. Anti Corruption Movement. Under his leadership, Ralegan Siddhi village is considered as a model of environmental conservation.
• Chand Bibi, Razia Sultan has got more attention than courageous Chand Bibi. Chand Bibi was ahead of her time. In 1595, she fought against mighty Mughal emperor Akbar at Ahmednagar Fort. Sadly, in 1600, she was killed by few of her own short-sighted people branding her as traitor.
• Spike Milligan - Terence Alan Milligan - Spike Milligan (Irish comic genius) was born in Ahmednagar Military hospital, at 3.30 pm on April 16, 1918. He worked on 'Those Crazy People' (later named as The Goon Show) weekly radio show with Peter Sellers, that ran for 10 series. Miligan was a comedian with social conscience. He is appeared in few movies like The three musketeers (1973). He died on June 24, 2002.
• Cynthia Ferrar - Cynthia Ferrar (missionary, born 20 April 1795) studied at Planfield (New Hampshire, USA) and was a teacher in New Hampshire and Boston, USA. She lived in Ahmednagar from 1839 to 1862. In this period, she organized schools for girls in Ahmednagar region and directed them. She died on Jan 25, 1862, in Ahmednagar.
• Anna Leonowens, educator, feminist, and author of The English Governess at the Siamese Court (1870), was born in Ahmadnagar on 6 November, 1831.
• Michael James Stuart Dewar- Dewar was born in Ahmednagar, on September 24, 1918. Dewar was educated in Oxford University (D.Phil. in 1942). He is well known for his contributions to theoretical chemistry. In 1970s/80s, he worked on the semiempirical computational chemistry methods- MINDO, MNDO, AM1 and PM3 that are in the MOPAC computer program.
• Ram Nagarkar - a writer/actor in Marathi language. He has written and acted in 'Ram Nagari' - an autobiography converted to comedic play/movie in Marathi language. The play deals with the topic of caste i.e. being a low-caste barber. Ram Nagarkar's native place is Sarola Kasar a village in Ahmednagar Taluka.
• Rachel Manija Brown wrote a book All the Fishes Come Home to Roost, a satirical account of her life in Ahmmednagar as a child between the ages of 7 and 12. Brown's parents were followers of Meher Baba, but Brown herself was a skeptic from a young age and felt herself to be a "misfit" both as a non-believer among Baba devotees and as the only resident Western child in an Indian town.^[4]
• Shahu Modak (1918-1993), a Marathi/Hindi movie actor was born in a Christian family in Ahmednagar. He primarily acted as Lord Krishna in 29 mythological films.
• Dnyaneshwar wrote Dnyaneshwari in Newasa town of Ahmednagar district.
• Shri Ramakrishna Saraswati Kshirsagar Swamiji (1934 - 1999): Swamiji worked for the rejuvenation and revival of Vedas, Vedic Hindu traditions and Vedic ideology. Datta Kshetra have been formed by divine power of Ramkrishna Saraswati.
• Sant Nilobaraya, last known saint in Sant parampara. Samadhi temple located at Pimpalner, Taluka-Parner. It is treated as Prati Pandharpur (holy) by devotees.
• Sai Baba of Shirdi (d. 1918) is a famous saint who devoted his life in Shirdi, a small village in Ahmednagar district about 83 km from the city of Ahmednagar.
• Meher Baba (1894-1969), religious figure who proclaimed himself to be the Avatar, the most recent incarnation of Vishnu. Established Meherabad ashram around 9 kilometres south of Ahmednagar on the 'Nagar-Daund' road. Also established Meherazad (his residence and now also a place of pilgrimage) about 13 kilometres north of Ahmednagar on the 'Nagar-Shirdi' road.
• Jawaharlal Nehru wrote the book The Discovery of India in Ahmednagar.
• Padmashri Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil was a Father of Co-operative Movement in India. He was one to Set Asia's First Co- operative Sugar Factory at Pravaranagar which was then visited by Jawaharlal Nehru & Indira Gandhi. He was awarded "Padmashri" at the hands of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President Of India in 1961.
• B. R. Ambedkar wrote the book Pakistan or Partition of India in Ahmednagar.
• Bapusaheb Bhapkar (Prabhakar Kondaji Bhapkar aka Hiraprabha): Great Social Worker
• Hirabai Bhapkar : Great Social Worker. She was First lady president of district local board (Zila Parishad)
• Vishnu Ramkrishna Karkare, one of the accused to serve Life Imprisonment in the Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, had his lodging business in the town, The Deccan Guest House.
• Sadashiv Amrapurkar
• Prof. Madhu Dandawate, a prominent political leader of the then Janata Party, now known as BJP (Bhartiya Janata Party).
• Com. Ram Ratnakar
• Late Shri. Ravsaheb alias Pralhadpant Mohniraj Vidyasagar (Dharmadhikari), famous personality in the field agriculture and education together. He did a lot of scientific experiments on farming during the British government in India. Being a teacher in Jilha Parishad School, in his tenure, he taught Sanskrit grammar to some of the British rulers.
• Anand Rishiji Maharaj founded many educational institutions. The government issued a postal stamp on him.
• Com. Balasaheb Nagawade, Great Social Worker, a prominent communist protogonist and Ex. MLA of Nagar taluka from 1962 to 1967. He has dedicated his life for the well being and upliftment of poor and landless farmers. He is still active in labour movement. Due to his constant efforts Nagar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd has been established at Deolgaon, Post Walaki, Taluka & Dist Ahmednagar.
• Saikh mohammad maharaj in Shrigonda Dist. Ahmednagar. hi was most popular sant

Shri Shaikh Mohammad Maharaj existed between 1658 to 1710 in shrigonda

Places of interest

Ahmednagar fort entrance

• Chand Bibi Palace - The place has Salabat Khan Tomb, it is a three-storey structure made of solid stone. It is 13 km from Ahmednagar city. Situated on the top of a hill, it has a view of the city lights at night. It is visible from almost anywhere in Ahmednagar City.
• Ahmednagar Fort - The fort was built by Ahmed Nizam Shah. India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a book The Discovery of India in this fort when he was detained by the British in 1942.
• Renuka/Durga Goddess Temple - This temple is located in Kedgaon (around 3 km from Ahmednagar Railway Station, 5 km from Ahmednagar ST bus-stand) which is near Nagar-Pune highway. Navaratri (nine nights) festival is a celebration of nine nights of battle between the Goddess Durga and demon-king Mahishasura. Eventually Goddess Durga killed Mahishasura on the ninth night and thus the festival signifies the triumph of good over evil.
• Alamagir - Alamgir is situated near Bhingar on Pathardi road. Aurangzeb died at the age of 91 at the very same place, his body was taken to Khultabad, near Aurangabad & buried there. This historical place also houses a Masjid & Baradari where meetings used to take place. The library near the masjid has rare Qurans, dating back to the time of emperor Aurangzeb. One of the Qurans here was written by the emperor himself.
• Vishal Ganpati Mandir - This Ganeshji temple is located in Maliwada area in Ahmednagar City. This temple has a great importance to the people of Ahmednagar.
• Siddhatek Siddhivinayak - Temple of God Ganesh.
• Shirdi - home to the late Sai Baba, revered by Hindus and Muslims alike, about 83 km from Ahmednagar City.
  

  

  Samadhi of Meher Baba
• Meherabad, where the samadhi (tomb) of the spiritual master Meher Baba is a place of pilgrimage, visited by thousands each year, particularly on the anniversary of his death, Amartithi. His residence was at Meherazad (near Pimpalgaon village), approximately nine miles north of Ahmednagar.
• Ralegaon Siddhi - a village which is a model for environmental conservation.
• Shingnapur - Shingnapur is known for Shani (planet Saturn) temple and all houses with absolutely no door. This is probably the only village in world where you don't need locks.
• Harishchandragarh - a hilly fort.
• Avhane, Shevgaon - Temple of Ganesh (Nidrista/Sleeping).
• Pimpalner - Samadhi Temple of Shri Sant Nilobaraya, 2 km west of Ralegan Sindhi, Parner Taluka. Also called Prati Pandharpur.
• Pedgaon - Baleshwar Temple, Temple of Laxmi Narayan
• Trimbakji Dengale's Wada : Nimgaojali, a small village in Sangamner taluka of Ahmednagar district, came into limelight in the last phase of the Maratha empire. Trimbakji's spacious wada has now lost its former glory. Some of the portions of this two-centuries old structure are in dilapidated condition. The seventh or the eighth generation descendants of Trimbakji are now residing in this Wada.
• Haregaon - Place in Ahmednagar where majority of people is Catholic and the feast of Mother mary Celebrates every year by the local Church.

References

External links

• Travel to Ahmednagar All about interesting places (including historical/archaeological) to visit in Ahmednagar.
• Click here to see Ahmednagar Map in English & Marathi
• Very good resource for sights in and around Ahmednagar
• Ahmadnagar entry in Encyclopaedia Iranica
• Pictures of Ahmednagar

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From Wikitravel

Ahmednagar is in Maharashtra state of India. Ahmednagar has 500+ years history traced back to 1490 A.D. You can find traces of Nizamshahi, Shahjahan and Peshwas until the British took over Ahmednagar. If you are visiting Aurangabad/Pune, visit Ahmednagar as well. Ahmednagar is around 120 km from Pune/Aurangabad.

Get in

Ahmednagar is located in the western central part of Maharashtra, roughly around east of Pune. It's 120km away from Pune & Aurangabad, 280km away from Mumbai and 175km away from Nasik.

Ahmednagar is also served by trains from Pune towards Manmand though there is no direct train from Mumbai.

Get around

Walking, bicycling, auto rickshaws, city buses are your choices.

• Ahmednagar Fort Built by Ahmed Nizam Shah in 1490, this fort is a circular shaped fort, which features 18 metres high walls, supported by 22 bastions. One of the most well-designed and impregnable forts of India, the Ahmednagar Fort is currently under the control of the military command of India. Oval in shape, the Fort s defence system comprises of its 24 citadels and a moat that is 30 metres wide and 4 to 6 metres deep. There are two entrances to the fort, which can be reached only after one goes over the moat, through the suspension drawn bridges.
  

  

  Ahmednagar Fort

  A victim of countless invasions, the Ahmednagar Fort has taken many blows and come out relatively unscathed. The control over the Ahmednagar Fort had changed hands many times over, starting from the time of Mughal rule. The detailed history of the Ahmednagar Fort reveals that it had been used as a royal prison a number of times. Amongst the most important imprisonments, one that stood out was the time when the entire Congress Working Committee was detained at the Ahmednagar Fort during the Quit India Movement of 1942. Presently, some rooms in the Fort have been converted into a museum. One can see the Leaders room, where Nehru and the other national leaders were imprisoned and where India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, wrote his book, The Discovery of India, while being detained within the confines of the Fort. <P> A must-visit on the itinerary, Ahmednagar Fort will never disappoint its tourists! Frequented by travellers all year round, this is one place you dont want to miss out on!

• Tomb of Salabat Khan II Six miles east of the city, on a hill between 700 and 800 feet above the city level and on the left of the Ahmednagar-Shevgaon road stands the tomb of the Nizamshahi Minister , Salabat Khan II, commonly (and mistakenly) known as Chand Bibi's Mahal. It is an octagonal dome surrounded by a three storeyed veranda. From the summit a fine view can be obtained of the surrounding countryside.
  

  

  Salabat Khan's Tomb
  Salabat Khan II, the famous minister of the fourth Nizam shah, Murtaza who ascended the throne in 1565. A great statesman, Salabat Khan was appointed minister in 1579, after the half-mad Murtaza put to death his regent, Changiz Khan,in a fit of suspicion and rage. Salabat Khan was respected and loved by the people of Ahmednagar.

• Baugh Rauza Ahmed Nizam Shah,the founder of Ahmednagar ,died in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and was buried half a mile north-west of city. The Bagh Rauza,a fine black stone mausoleum with a domed roof, within which glitter inscriptions of gold from the Koran, enshrines the tomb of this founder and 'faujdar' of Ahmednagar. One of the finest monuments in Ahmednagr, the Baugh Rauza,or the Garden of Shrine, is located just outside the western perimeter of the old city, near the Delhi Gate. The tomb is flanked by two other tombs. A stone monument nearby, is said to be the tomb of Ghulam Ali, a royal elephant who distinguished himself in the battle of Talikot against the Raja of Vijaynagar.in 1565, during the reign of the third Nizam Shah.

• Tank Museum The museum has a rich collection of tanks used during different periods.
  

  

  Tank Museum

• Shani Shinganapur Shani-Shinganapur lies 6 kilometers off Ghodegaon- an important market place along Ahmednagar-Aurangabad road. Ghodegaon is 35 kilometers from Ahmednagar. The village has no doors. No theft ever occurs here, as the Lord Shani, the guardian deity of the village is always there to mete out instant punishment” so claim the residents of Shani-Shinganapur and this claim has become its claim to fame. Unlike other pilgrimage centres, devotees here can perform puja or abhishek or other religious rituals themselves.

• Newasa Greatest Literature in Marathi - Jnyaneswari was written here by Sant Jnyaneshwar'. Newasa Phata On Nagar Aurangabad Road,40 KM From Ahmednagar

Do

Eat at local dhabas or on way form Pune at saradwadi - Bhel and Misal, On aurnagabad road... Pandripul Bhel, Biking, Trekking, Camping(?)

Buy

Clothes

• Thali at Sanket hotel on Tilak Road
• Mahindra Padewala's Thali at MG road
• Panchashil Hotel at Savedi road - For Nonveg
• Snacks @ Royal hotel with Pudina Chatni is good
• Some good Dhabas on way to nagar .. Nice gauran chicken is served
• MG road - Chowpatti - after 9:00 PM
• Savedi has lot of good resturants
• Dees place in Camp - Bhingar - Jamkhed road - very good Nonveg food...

Hotel Farhat - On the main road from Ahmednagar towards Aurangabad, this restaurant serves only vegetarian and hygienic food.

Drink

Lassi at Durgasingh... nr by MG road, Rabdi-Basundi @ Bombay Sweets, Hot-Masala-Milk on MG road after 10PM night...

Sleep

Hotel Sanket - Better place than anything avl there

Avoid hotels.

• Pune
• Aurangabad
• Paithan
• Nashik

From LoveToKnow 1911

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