Amravati

:"This article is about the city in Maharashtra. For ancient town in Andhra Pradesh, see Amravati in Andhra Pradesh, or for other meanings of the word, see Amaravati."Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name= Amravati


latd= 20.93 |longd= 77.75
state_name= Maharashtra
district= Amravati
leader_title= Mayor | leader_name= |Mr. Ashok Dongre altitude=
population_as_of = 2008 |Nearly 9,00,000population_total = | population_density =
area_magnitude= ?
area_total=
area_telephone= 0721
postal_code= 444 60x
vehicle_code_range= MH 27
website=amravati.nic.in
footnotes = |

Amravati (also known as Amrawati or Amraoti (Marathi: _mr. अमरावती) is a city in the state of Maharashtra in India. It is believed to be the city of Lord Indra, the king of all gods. The city boasts of historical temples of Goddess Amba, Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Venkateshwara.

Amravati is also the headquarter of "Amravati Division" which is one of the six divisions of the state of Maharashtra. ( Vidharbha region). Following four districts come under Amravati Division Akola, Yeotmal,Buldhana, Washim. [ [http://amravatidivision.gov.in] /]

Geography

Amravati is located at coord|20.93|N|77.75|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Amravati.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Amravati] ] It has an average elevation of 343 metres (1125 feet). It lies 156 km (97 miles) west of Nagpur, and serves as the administrative center of Amravati District and of Amravati Division. As with so many other small cities in India, Amravati is growing rapidly in terms of living quality. New flyovers and roads are being built to renovate the city, and other improvements like new traffic signals are underway under IRDP (Integrated Road Development Programme) implemented by government of Maharashtra

The town is located near the passes through the hills that separate the cotton-growing regions of the Purna basin to the West and the Wardha basin to the East. Amravati is a growing industrial center, with cotton mills as an important industry. The town is expanding toward Badnera, 10 km to the south, which is the location of the railway junction where the branch railway line serving Amravati joins the main Mumbai - Bhusawal - Wardha - Nagpur - Howrah rail route. National Highway 6 from Hajira (Surat) to Kolkatta passes through the city, which is part of Asian Highway 6.

It is also home to "Shivtekdi", a popular hilltop place with hundreds of people jogging in that area. Efforts are being done to revamp the "Maaltekdi", to make it a healthy destination for all early exercisers.

Climate

Amravati has a tropical wet and dry climate with hot, dry summers from March to June, the monsoon season from July to October and warm winters from November to March. The highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded was 49.7^oC on 25 May, 1954 and 5.0^oC on 9 February, 1887 respectively.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Amravati, as a district, had a population of 2,606,063. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.The population of the city now has reached upto 9,00,000.Amravati has an average literacy rate of 83%, much higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 89% of the males and 76% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The major setback comes from the fact that 66% of the population is below the poverty line.

pirituality

The "Temple of Goddess Amba" is a famous example of spiritual architecture in the Vidharbha Region. There's a legend that when Lord Krishna ran away with Goddess Rukhamini from her wedding ceremony, he used a tunnel laying from Ambadevi temple to Koundinyapur (another spiritual place near Amravati). This tunnel is still in existence but is now closed. Many research teams over the years have tried to investigate about the length of the tunnel but all their efforts were in vain. In Navaratri, there's a fair which goes on for 9 days where people from nearby towns and villages participate and dance Garba/Dandiya until late in the evening. The city is also known for the Sai Temple along with Bhaktidham situated in Sai Nagar. Other major Indian festivals like Diwali and Holi are also celebrated with lots of enthusiasm.

History

Amravati means ‘abode of immortals’. Amravati was the capital of Berar, which was part of present-day Vidharbha. Berar was part of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka's empire. In 1833 Berar was handed over to the British East India Company. It was divided into two districts, South Berar or Balaghat and North Berar. In 1956, with the reorganisation of the states, Amravati was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay state, and in 1960 with the creation of Maharashtra, Amravati became one of its districts.Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh was hiding for 3 days in Amravati during his underground tenure and he frequently visited Hanuman Akhada (Gym) during that time. There were many other freedom fighters who laid their lives seeking Indian Independence.

Education

At the heart of the city is the oldest and famous government institute known as the Govt. Vidarbha Institute Of Science And Humanities, formerly known as Vidarbha Mahavidyalaya, before which was know as King Edward College. It is the only government college serving Amravati with maximum branches for Humanities at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. The college has serveral renouned alumni. Dr. Bhogawnkar is Director of this Institute and Dr. Kandalkar, Dr. A.R.Raut, Dr. Samiullaha, Dr. Sindkar, are few persons who are guiding this institute to move forword. Along with them, this institute has over 500 teaching and non teaching staff, the maximum in any college under Amravati University. Renowned educationalist and former Agricultural Minister of India, Dr Punjabrao Deshmukh is the founder of Vidharbha’s largest Shivaji Education society. It has more then 265 institutes and has contributed to the education of millions since 1932 and has helped the city to improve its literacy rate remarkably.Cleanup|date=February 2008 Amravati has emerged as a major educational center in Central India offering many majors including medical and engineering courses. Renowned colleges like Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University [http://www.sgbau.ac.in/] , Government College of Pharmacy [http://www.gcopamravati.org] , Government College of Engineering, Amravati, Government Polytechnic, V.Y.W.S.'s Prof. Ram Meghe Institute of Technology & Research [http://www.coebadnera.com/] is located at Badnera. It has a C-DAC center with Super Computer in it. New engineering colleges sprang up in past few years including HVPM's Engg. College and the Sipna College of Engg. and Technology. There are some excellent high schools in Amravati namely Shri Samarth High School,Bhawarilal Samra English High School,School of Scholars, Holy Cross, Dnyanmata High School Amravati, Narayan Das Laddha High School, , Shri Ganeshdasji Rathi Vidhyalaya, Saraswati Vidhyalaya, Takhatmal English High School, Deepa English Primary School, Manibai Gujrathi High School, Pragati Vidhyalaya, New High School, Latebai School, Golden Kids English High School,DRS KIDS School and St. Francis High School, Amravati. These schools are the pioneers in providing quality English and Marathi medium education. Fulor is a famous 35 years old art institute in Sangani Nagar. A couple of medium and high schools now have CBSE pattern along with Navodaya Vidyalay, conveying the modern outlook of the residents leading the way in this is Abyasa English School. The Management of Abyasa English School has also decided to start ICSE affiliated school, which will be called as Amravati Public School. The plan is in its initial stage.

Junior colleges for science

Junior colleges of amravati are very famous for their educatin and giving the best candidates and the end of the year.Many state merits holders are among top 5 from amravati. Colleges like Brijlal Biyani Science college,Shivaji Science college,Vidyabharati Science college all the the best known.

Some of the eminent professors of amravati are Sonie sir,Kabra sir,Nadeem khan sir,bhayani sir,Francis sir,Sickhi sir are the one serving and nurturing the talent of the students.

Amravati is well known for the famous health Education Institution [http://www.hvpm.org/ Hanuman Vyayam Prasarak Mandal] (popularly known as HVPM) founded by Vaidya Brothers, Anant Krishna and Ambadas Krishna. Amravati is also home to "Tapovan", society for leprosy affected people established by late Dr. Shivajirao Patvardhan in 1968. The campus of Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University is located nearby. Amravati has excellent pharmacy colleges in Vidybharti Pharmacy College and Government Pharmacy College, providing good educational, experimental and research facilities. Students and professionals from Amravati are networked all over the world and contributing efficiently towards globalization.

Governance

The current (and first woman) President of India Sau. Pratibhatai Patil belongs to Amravati.Clarifyme|date=March 2008 The current Member of Legislative Assembly is Dr. Sunil Deshmukh of the Indian National Congress (INC). He is also a Minster of State for Finance and Planning, Water Resources, Parliamentary Affairs and Command Area Development in Maharashtra Government. He is the guardian minister for Amravati and Bhandara Districts of Vidarbha, Maharashtra. He also serves as the present Vice-Chairman of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC).

The current Member of Parliament is Mr. Anant Gudhe of the Shivsena. The current Member of Legislative Council is Dr. Sunil Deshmukh. The current Mayor is Mr. Ashok Dongre of the Indian National Congress (INC), while Chetan Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is the Deputy Mayor.Kerla rajyapal R.S.Gavai is also belonging to this city.

Transport

Road

The "NH6", which runs through Amravati, is an important National Highway, which runs from Hajira (Surat) to Kolkata. NH6 is apart of Asian Highway 46. Maharashtra state transport buses are most commonly used by people to travel to rural parts of the region. They are the cheapest means of transport. These bus frequency is extremely good.

Railway

Amravati is situated on the branch line from Badnera on Bhusawal - Badnera - Wardha - Nagpur section of Mumbai CSTM - Howrah main railway line.

President Pratibha Patil had laid foundation stone for New Amravati model railway station building has been laid on 7 Spetember 2008. Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav announced the decision to set up a divisional railway office in Amravati which will be housed in the model railway station building. This will be the sixth divisional railway office of central Railways, the other five being in Mumbai, Nagpur, Solapur, Bhusawal and Pune. Also three new trains,Amravati-Nagpur Intercity Express,Amravati-Mumbai Superfast Express and Amravati-Surat Fast Passenger have been started from Amravati. [ [http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/President_lays_stone_for_model_railway_station_in_Amravati/articleshow/3455738.cms Amravati to have New Railway Station and Divisional Railway Office] ]

Air

Amravati has an aerodrome which is about 15km off NH-6 towards Akola. It is in the area called Belora. The aerodrome is not used for commercial purposes. It is used only by the politicians and other people with private jets. It has a 1.5km runway and also has a helipad. The overall facility is not worth much talking about. The control tower lies in shabby state. There are talks that Amravati would be getting an international airport but there is not a surety whether this aerodrome would be the one.

References

External links

* [http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114756851283423356028.00044420d5072c659cdb1&t=h&z=12 A Wonderful Map of Amravati marked in Google Maps]
* [http://amravati.nic.in/ Collectorate of Amravati (Official website) - http://amravati.nic.in/]
* [http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/AMRAVATI/home.html Gazette published in 1968 - http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/AMRAVATI/home.html]