Hingoli district (Marathi pronunciation: [ɦiŋɡoliː]) is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India. The district is headquartered at Hingoli. The district occupies an area of 4,526 km2 and has a population of 11,77,345 of which 15.60% were urban (as of 2011[update]).[2] Hingoli was actually known as the Nizams military base as it was bordered with Vidharbha. In that era military troops, hospitals, veterinary hospital were in operation from Hingoli. Being a military base the city was one of the important and famous places of the Hyderabad state. One of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, the Aundha Nagnath is located in Hingoli district about 25 km south-west from district headquarter.
In 1853, after the administration of the province was assigned to the British East India Company by the Nizam following a treaty, it was divided into two districts, South Berar with its headquarters at Hingoli, and North Berar with its headquarters at Buldana. Both were placed under a deputy commissioner. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Hingoli and its adjoining areas were restored to the Nizam and the province was reconstituted into two districts, East Berar with its headquarters at Amraoti, and West Berar with its headquarters at Akola.[3]
The territory of the present district became part of Bombay state in 1956 and Maharashtra state in 1960 as part of Parbhani district. This district was carved out from Parbhani district on 1 May 1999 with five own tehsils: Hingoli, Kalamanuri, Sengaon, Aundha Naganath, and Basamat.
Geography
Hingoli is situated at the northern part of Marathwada in Maharashtra. Borders of Hingoli are surrounded by districts Washim and Yavatmal in northern side, Parbhani in western side, and Nanded at south-eastern side. There are two medium-sized dams present on both East and West sides of the district namely Isapur dam and Yeldari dam, Isapur dam provides water to irrigation purpose whereas Yeldari dam caters to irrigation as well as production of hydroelectricity. One minor dam named Siddheshwar also used for irrigation purpose in district.
As of the 2011 Census of India, Hingoli district has a population of 1,177,345,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Timor-Leste[5] or the US state of Rhode Island.[6] This gives it a ranking of 401st in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 244 inhabitants per square kilometre (630/sq mi) .[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 19.43%.[1] Hingoli has a sex ratio of 942 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 78.17%. 15.18% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 15.51% and 9.51% of the population respectively.[1]
This district is divided into two sub-divisions, which are further divided into five talukas. Hingoli sub-division is divided into three talukas: Hingoli, Kalamnuri and Sengaon. Basmath sub-division is divided into two talukas: Aundha and Basmath.
Some of the notable Hindu temples are as follows:[10][11]
Mallinath Digambar Jain Temple, Shirad Shahpur
Aundha Nagnath is one of the twelve jyotirlingas from Hindu mythology. It is situated in the town of same name, Aundha, in Hingoli district. It is only jyotirling in India is in sanctum or garbhagruha.[clarification needed]
^US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Timor-Leste 1,177,345 July 2011 est.
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