Buldhana

This article is about the city. For the district of which it is the headquarters, see Buldhana District.

Buldhana
Nickname:  Bhilthana
Buldhana in Maharashtra
Coordinates: 20°31′58″N 76°10′58″E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
Region	Vidarbha
District	Buldhana
Established	1893
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Buldhana Municipal Council
Area
• City	21 km2 (8 sq mi)
• Rank	2nd in District
Elevation	639 m (2,096 ft)
Population  (2021)
• City	91,000
• Rank	2nd in District
• Density	4,334/km2 (11,230/sq mi)
• Metro	152,000
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	443001
Vehicle registration	MH-28
Website	buldhana.nic.in

Buldhana (Marathi pronunciation: Buḷḍhānā^ⓘ) is a city and a Municipal Council in the Indian state of Maharashtra, established on 17 February 1893. It is the administrative headquarters of Buldhana District in the Amravati Division. Buldhana is the second-largest city in the district after Khamgaon and is known as a hill station due to its location in the mountainous Ajanta range. The city is about 552 km from the state capital, Mumbai.

The headquarters town of the district bearing the same name is situated at a distance of 28 miles to the south of Malkapur railway station on the Central Railway. The town stands at an elevation of 2190 feet. The climate of the town is salubrious and it is perhaps the coolest place in Berar next only to Chikhaldara. The name of the town is derived from the corrupt form of Bhil-Thana i.e., the place of Bhils. No definite information is available about the early history of the town. However, it was the headquarters of the district of North Berar when Berar was divided into two districts in 1853 at the time it first passed under the British administration. Colonel Meadows Taylor who was appointed the Deputy Commissioner of North Berar in 1857, the year of mutiny, has referred to the beautiful wooded ravines and the picturesque morning ride in the town. The town lost its importance when after the mutiny the province was reconstituted and Akola became the headquarters of West Berar. In 1867 the place again came into prominence when it was selected as the headquarters of the district.

Buldhana is home to several historical and tourist sites, such as the Balaji Temple in Rajur Ghat, a replica of the famous Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala. Another significant religious site is the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Temple in Shegaon, around 75 km away. The world-famous Lonar Crater, a National Geo-heritage monument created by a meteorite impact, is located about 100 km from the city. The birthplace of Jijabai, Sindkhed Raja, is 90 km away, and the Sailani Baba Dargah, a major attraction, is just 25 km from the city. The World Heritage Site Ajanta Caves is 55 km away, and the Dnyanganga Wildlife Sanctuary in Botha Forest is only 20 km from the city.

Municipality

The municipal council was established at Buldhana in 1893. It covers an area of 12 square miles. The municipal council is composed of 18 councillors, two seats of which are reserved for women. The administration of the municipality is looked after by various committees such as the standing committee, the public works committee, the water-supply and drainage committee, the education committee, the planning committee and the sanitation and public health committee.

During the year 1968-69 [During 1973-74 the income and expenditure amounted to Rs. 4,22,000 and Rs. 4,70,000.] the total income of the municipality excluding extra-ordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 6,00,905.82 composed of municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 3,20,821.83; realisations under the special act, Rs. 2,347.48; revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation, Rs. 72,981.65; grants and contributions, Rs, 1,56,939.12 and income from miscellaneous sources, Rs. 47,815.64. During the same year the total expenditure of the municipality excluding extra-ordinary and debt heads came to Rs. 6,07,367.47 comprising general administration and collection charges, Rs. 1,59,644.59; public safety, Rs. 26,164.94; public health and convenience, Rs. 2,58,148.42; public instruction, Rs. 1,21,264.92; grants and contributions, Rs. 2,050.00 and miscellaneous expenditure, Rs. 40,094.60.

For the convenience of the public the municipality maintains a mutton market, a fruits and vegetables market, grain market and a weekly market. There is one Municipal Veterinary Dispensary. Primary education is compulsory in the town and is managed by the municipal council. Of the 12 miles of roads in the municipal areas two miles are asphalted, 2 miles and five furlongs are metalled and the remaining, i.e., 7 miles and three furlongs are un-metalled. The municipality maintains a cremation and a burial ground, besides those maintained by the respective communities.

The Harijan math that conducts the Harijan hostel and the only church are the objects of interest in the town.

Public Institutions

As the headquarters of the district, the town contains the usual executive and judicial offices with the exception of the tahsil headquarters and office which are located at Chikhli, 14 miles to the south. It has a civil hospital, a T. B. Sanatorium, Government womens' hospital, a veterinary dispensary, a jail, an observatory, a circuit house, a rest house, a municipal sarai, an officers' club, a library and a cemetery. Besides the primary schools, there are located in the town the Government Multipurpose High School, the Aided High School, the Bharat Vidyalaya and the Prabodhan Vidyalaya besides the grama sevak training school, agricultural school and the Government basic training college. The colleges with the faculties of Arts, Science and Education conducted by the Shivaji Education Society cater to the need for higher education. There is also a combined post and telegraph office and a telephone exchange. A weekly market is held on Sundays.

Demographics

As of the 2011 India census, Buldhana had a population of 67,431. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Buldhana has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 82% and female literacy at 72%. 13% of the population is under six years of age.

Religion in Buldhana (2011)
Religion			Percent
Hinduism			59.14%
Islam			24.76%
Buddhism			13.78%
Jainism			1.52%
Others			0.81%

Climate

Climate data for Buldhana (1991–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	35.8 (96.4)	37.8 (100.0)	41.0 (105.8)	44.0 (111.2)	44.2 (111.6)	42.4 (108.3)	35.5 (95.9)	35.0 (95.0)	36.0 (96.8)	35.8 (96.4)	39.5 (103.1)	34.0 (93.2)	44.2 (111.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	27.9 (82.2)	30.7 (87.3)	34.6 (94.3)	38.1 (100.6)	39.0 (102.2)	34.6 (94.3)	29.3 (84.7)	27.8 (82.0)	29.2 (84.6)	30.7 (87.3)	29.6 (85.3)	28.1 (82.6)	31.6 (88.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	14.6 (58.3)	17.1 (62.8)	21.0 (69.8)	25.2 (77.4)	26.0 (78.8)	24.0 (75.2)	22.2 (72.0)	21.4 (70.5)	21.6 (70.9)	20.2 (68.4)	17.4 (63.3)	14.7 (58.5)	20.4 (68.7)
Record low °C (°F)	5.0 (41.0)	4.4 (39.9)	11.2 (52.2)	15.9 (60.6)	15.1 (59.2)	17.5 (63.5)	14.2 (57.6)	16.4 (61.5)	15.0 (59.0)	13.4 (56.1)	11.0 (51.8)	5.9 (42.6)	4.4 (39.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	5.3 (0.21)	5.6 (0.22)	16.3 (0.64)	3.2 (0.13)	10.4 (0.41)	156.5 (6.16)	210.7 (8.30)	226.2 (8.91)	149.3 (5.88)	67.1 (2.64)	21.7 (0.85)	4.9 (0.19)	877.2 (34.54)
Average rainy days	0.4	0.5	0.8	0.7	0.9	7.8	12.6	12.1	7.8	3.0	1.2	0.2	48.0
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	38	29	24	22	25	50	71	76	68	53	43	39	45
Source: India Meteorological Department

Languages and Culture

Marathi is the primary language spoken in Buldhana, with over 94% of the population using it as their first language. Festivals such as Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Holi are celebrated with great enthusiasm. The ideal time to visit Buldhana is from September to December.

Transport

The National highway NH753A from Malkapur to Sambhajinagar via Buldhana Chikhli Jalna Near Rajur Ghat.

Roads

Buldhana is well connected to National Highway 6 to other major cities of India through Malkapur town by NH753A and Another National Highway NH753E From Khamgaon To Aurangabad via Buldhana. There is a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus stand in the city in Sangam chowk area. buses available to almost every major cities of Maharashtra like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, CH, Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Amravati, Akola and other important cities as well as Some nearby cities of Gujarat like Surat and Madhya Pradesh like Indore, Khandwa and Burhanpur.

Railways

A railway line from Malkapur to Buldhana and Aurangabad has been proposed by Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready, and a survey is scheduled for January 2024. Once completed, this railway line will make Buldhana an important station connecting Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra.

Airport

The nearest operational airport is Aurangabad Airport (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport), located 140 km from Buldhana.

Water-supply

"The town of Buldhana is supplied with drinking water from the Satrabar tank [ so-called after the large bar (bayan tree) situated close to the north-western extremity of the tank ] about a quarter of a mile east of the Buldhana Civil Station. The tank was constructed in 1891, and water began to be supplied in March 1892. The total outlay on the construction of the tank amounted to Rs. 98,902. The Satrabar tank has a catchment area of 410 acres, the tank itself having an approximate area of 7 acres. The water is pumped by means of two direct acting Duplex Cornish suction and force pumps into a reservoir which commands practically the whole of the Civil Station and town of Buldhana. The reservoir is divided into two compartments, each with a capacity of 55,000 gallons, and the water is passed down from those through 6" pipes and distributed to the Civil Station and the town by means of 30 stand-posts and 53 private connections. The daily authorized supply of water is 40,000 gallons at 10 gallons per head of population for 24 hours; but this supply could not at first be maintained on account of the weakness of the band puddle. The tank was over-hauled in 1908 and a fresh puddle laid up to 115 reduced level, and the waste weir level was raised from 110 to 112 which will enable an additional volume of water, representing about three months supply, to be impounded. The total capacity of the tank is now 4,338,701 cubic feet. With a view to reduction of expenditure which works out at 5 as. 8 pies per 1000 gallons, the question of substituting an up-to-date oil engine with suitable pumps for the present machinery is under consideration. This change is expected to reduce the expenditure to about 3 as. per 1000 gallons. The water-works are in charge of the Public Works Department, and are maintained at an average annual cost of Rs. 3,500, of which one-fourth is provided from Provincial Funds and the remainder from Municipal funds. Besides the Satrabar tank there are five other tanks, viz., the ' Bullock tank' which supplies water to the public garden, the ' Chinch Talao,' the ' Dhobi Talao,' the ' Lendi Talao,' and the 'Tar Talao.' These tanks only hold water for about eight months and dry up in the hot weather. " [Buldhana District Gazetteer, 1910, pp. 404-405.]

Now, Only Talaos (Ponds) are exist in 2024. Sarkari Talao and Sangam Talao(Lendi Talao).

The present sources of water-supply to Buldhana town are described below: —

(i) Sagwan headworks on Penganga river: The headworks consist of an anicut, infiltration tunnel and a dry well with a pump-house. Water behind the anicut filtrates into the tunnel and is collected into a jack-well. A duplicate set of centrifugal pumps each capable of discharging 68,100 litres per hour against a head of 91.50 metres has been provided in the pump-house. The pumps are driven hy electric motors of 40 B. H.P.

There is 200 mm dia stell rising main of 3119 metres in length from Sagwan to ground service reservoir near the town. The capacity of ground service reservoir is 4,81,250 litres with F. S. L. at R. L. 643.00 metres. The capacity of elevated service reservoir is 2,27,000 litres with F. S. L. at R. L. 654.50 metres. Both the reservoirs are having arrangements of inlet, outlet, washout and overflow etc. The distribution system consists of 180 mm to 40 mm dia stell C.I. and G.I. pipe lines of various lengths.

(ii) Supplementary well at Sagwan : This well is situated at a distance of 244 metres from Sagwan Headworks on the right bank of Painganga River. The well is of 9 metre diameter and 11 metres depth. The stemming of well is in B. B. masonry for 9 metres depth founded on soft reddish rock below. The well is further deepened to 16 metres (soft) depth after the bores were taken at the bottom of the well. There is a pump-house of 5.5 m. x 6.0 m. size over the well housing two sets of centrifugal pumps. Out of two pumps one pump is having a capacity of discharging 43.600 litres of water per hour against a head of 21.3 metres and driven by an electric motor of 7.5 B.H.P. Another pump is capable of discharging 43,860 litres of water per hour against a head of 21.3 metres and driven hy an electric motor of 5 B.H.P. The water is pumped through 100 mm dia C. I. rising main to Sagwan headworks.

(iii) Sheri Wells: The third source of water-supply is the Sheri wells. This is about 1.5 km from the town and 100 metres towards North of Buldhana-Ajanta road. The dia of this well is 4 metres. A new well of 9 metre dia is constructed at a distance of 4 metres from this old one. There is a pump-house of 6 x 9 with centrifugal pump housed in it. The capacity of the pump is 40,860 litres per hour against a head of 84,14 and is driven hy electric motor of 25.7 B.H.P. For stand by arrangements a diesel engine is also coupled to the same pump and is used in a case of failure of power. The water is pumped through 125 mm dia C.I. rising main 1890 m in length to carry water from Sheri wells to the. ground service reservoir. The main source of supply is the Sagwan Head-works and is capable of supplying 1.2 ml. per day in fair season i.e., from September to March end and is just sufficient for the present population of the town. The water-supply however, comes down to 19,030 litres per hour i.e., 0.455 ml. per day in summer. The water-supply remains the same (as in hot season) till August end as the infiltration gallery does not work properly due to silting in the bed of river in monsoon. Under these circumstances the required additional quantity is supplied from the well to the Sagwan Headworks. The rate of supply from this well is 22,300 litres per hour. When the supply from both these sources falls short then the shortage is met from Sheri wells by pumping water directly into G. S. R.

Education

• Jijamata Mahavidyalaya, Buldhana
• Shivsai Dnyanpeeth, Buldhana
• Shivaji Vidyalaya, Buldhana
• Bharat Vidyalaya, Buldhana
• AIDED High School, Buldhana
• Buldana Cambridge School, Buldhana
• Sahakar Vidya Mandir & Junior College, Buldhana.
• St Josephs English High School, Buldhana
• Pankaj Laddhad Institute Of Technology & Management Studies, Buldhana
• Rajarshi Shahu College Of Engineering, Buldhana

• Podar International School, Buldhana