Wardha is a city and the administrative headquarters of Wardha district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Located in the Vidarbha region, the city lies on the banks of the Wardha river, after which it is named. It is closely associated with the Indian independence movement, having served for many years as a base for Mahatma Gandhi and his close associates.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Maharashtra |
| Region | Vidarbha |
| District | Wardha |
| Type | City and district headquarters |
| River | Wardha |
| Languages | Marathi, Hindi |
Wardha is situated on the Deccan Plateau in eastern Maharashtra. The Wardha river, a tributary of the Wainganga, flows through the district and forms part of the boundary with Telangana further south. The terrain around the city consists of black cotton soil that supports the cultivation of cotton, soyabean, tur (pigeon pea) and oranges. The climate is tropical, with hot summers, a monsoon season from June to September, and mild winters.
The town developed in the 19th century as a trading centre for cotton and was an important market in the Central Provinces under British rule. Wardha gained national prominence in the 1930s when Mahatma Gandhi shifted his activities to the area. In 1934, with the patronage of the industrialist Jamnalal Bajaj, Gandhi established his base near the town, and in 1936 he founded Sevagram Ashram in a nearby village, which became the headquarters of the freedom movement for several years.
Acharya Vinoba Bhave founded the Paunar Ashram on the banks of the Dham river near Wardha, from where the Bhoodan (land-gift) movement was guided after 1951. The Wardha Scheme of Basic Education, often called Nai Talim, was formulated at a conference held in Wardha in 1937 under Gandhi's guidance.
Municipal services in the city are provided by the Wardha Municipal Council. The city is the seat of the district collectorate, the zilla parishad and the district court of Wardha district.
Wardha is well connected by rail and road. Wardha Junction railway station lies on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai main line of the Central Railway and is a major junction where the line to Ballarshah and southern India branches off. National Highway 44 (the Srinagar–Kanyakumari corridor) and National Highway 361 pass close to the city. The nearest major airport is at Nagpur, about 75 km to the north-east.
The economy of Wardha is largely agrarian, with cotton ginning and pressing, oilseed processing and trade in agricultural produce being significant activities. Hinganghat, a major cotton market, lies in the same district. Khadi and village industries promoted under Gandhian institutions, including units linked to the Magan Sangrahalaya at Wardha, continue to operate in and around the city.