Jalgaon

Overview

Jalgaon is a city in the northern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Jalgaon district and is a prominent commercial centre in the Khandesh region. The city is widely known for its trade in bananas and pulses, and for its association with gold ornament manufacturing.

Key facts

Geography

Jalgaon lies on the Deccan Plateau in the northern part of Maharashtra, in the basin of the Tapi River. The district is bordered by Madhya Pradesh to the north and by the Maharashtra districts of Dhule, Nashik, Aurangabad, Jalna and Buldhana. The terrain is largely a plain suited to cultivation, while the Satpura range rises to the north.

Climate

The city has a tropical climate marked by hot, dry summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and a relatively mild winter. Summer temperatures are among the higher recorded in Maharashtra.

History

Jalgaon and the surrounding Khandesh region have a long history of habitation and changed hands among several powers, including the Faruqi Sultanate of Khandesh, the Mughal Empire, the Marathas and, after the Anglo-Maratha Wars, the British. Under British administration, Khandesh was organised as a district of the Bombay Presidency, and it was later split, with East Khandesh becoming the present-day Jalgaon district. After Indian independence and the linguistic reorganisation of states in 1960, the area became part of Maharashtra.

Economy

Jalgaon is a major agricultural marketing town. It is often referred to as the "Banana City" of India because of the extensive banana cultivation in the surrounding talukas, particularly around Raver and Yawal. The city is also a centre for trade in pulses, cotton and oilseeds. Gold jewellery manufacturing and trading is another well-known activity, with several large jewellery firms headquartered in the city. Plastic processing, food processing and PVC pipe manufacturing are also significant industries.

Transport

• Rail: Jalgaon Junction railway station lies on the Howrah–Mumbai main line of the Indian Railways and is an important stop on the Bhusawal division of Central Railway.
• Road: National Highway 53 (formerly NH 6) and other state highways connect the city to Mumbai, Nagpur, Indore and Aurangabad.
• Air: Jalgaon Airport provides limited domestic connectivity.

Education

Jalgaon is home to Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University, established in 1990, which serves the districts of Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar. The city has a range of engineering, medical, management and arts colleges, as well as schools affiliated to state and central boards, including the Global Indian International School, Jalgaon campus.

Culture

The city lies in the Khandesh cultural region, with Marathi as the principal language and Ahirani widely spoken in surrounding rural areas. Jalgaon district is associated with the Marathi poet Bahinabai Chaudhari, after whom the regional university is named. Nearby places of cultural and religious importance include the Ajanta Caves in the adjoining Aurangabad district and the pilgrimage centres of Muktainagar and Changdev.

Civic administration

Municipal services in the city are provided by the Jalgaon City Municipal Corporation. Jalgaon is part of the Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency and contains assembly constituencies that elect members to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.