Washim

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Washim (Vatsagulma)pronunciation^ⓘ is a city and a Municipal Council in Washim district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Washim is the district headquarters of Washim district.^[2]

History

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Washim was known earlier known as Vatsagulma and it was the capital of the Vatsagulma line of Vakataka dynasty. During British times Washim was bifurcated in into two separated districts namely Akola and Yavatmal.^[2]

Divisions

The district is divided in two sub divisions and 6 tehsils. The tehsils are below:^[2]

• Malegaon
• Mangrulpir
• Karnaja
• Manora
• Washim
• Risod

Medieval History

During the middle of the 18th century, Washim was a famous centre of cloth production along with

However, before the establishment of the Vakataka rule with Washim as their capital, the place was an important center from the religious point of view and it even now contains many old temples and tirthas which are revered by the people.^[3]

Demographics

As of 2011^[update] India census, Washim had a population of 78,387. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Washim has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. In Washim, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

Civic administration

The municipal council was established at Washim in 1869 ^[6] and is now governed under the Maharashtra Municipalities Act, 1965. It covers, according to the Census of 1961, an area of 42.16 square km. The municipal council is composed of 18 members with two seats each being reserved for the scheduled castes and women.

With a view to providing various facilities to the town's people, the municipality conducts primary schools and a high school and maintains a dispensary. The underground drainage system is present in the town. Also, there are stone-lined gutters and sewage. The meeting hall of the municipality is used by the town's people as a town hall. Protected piped water is supplied to the town, but wells and Ek Burji Dam form the main source of water supply.

Places of interest

The antiquity of the town has given rise to a number of objects and places of interest in the town. The chief among them is Padmatirtha, Balaji temple, Rama temple, Madhyameshvara temple, Godeshvara temple, two Jain temples and Narayana Maharaja Temple. The Vatsagulmamahatmya mentions that the town contains 108 holy tanks and tirthas. A few of them can still be identified in the town.

• Kondeshwar Mandir, Kondala Zamare is one of the most famous Shiva Temple, located at Kondala Zamare (7 km (4.3 mi) from Washim). Kondeshwar mandir has a rich history and is surrounded by beautiful hills. Mythology detects- Ram, Sita, and Laxman has visited the temple during 'Vanwas', there is a place where there are 'Ram-Sita Paduka' resides. Besides religious importance, Kondeshwar temple is famous for a Kund (A pond about 60 feet deep) that attracts visitors as they can enjoy joyful swimming. Kondeshwar is quite crowded during 'Shravan month' and 'Mahashivratri' as devotees across the state visit the temple.
• Padmatirth Washim is known to have had 108
  British raj era Land and Revenue Settlement
  report of 1871, the tank used to supply all the drinking water required by the town but it has since lost its purity and taste. The people use the tirtha for the immersion of bones and ashes of the dead whose last rites are performed on its bank. the tirtha is also used for swimming purposes.
• Mangrul tahsil but had become the Divan (or according to some accounts, a general) of the Bhosale Rajas, was at Bashini. He set up the present temple, a fine building standing in a large paved quadrangle, with a well-built veranda for pilgrims to stay, a bhandara for Brahmans to take food and various offices. The work took 12 years but was finished, according to an inscription on a pillar in front, in 1700 Shaka (1776 CE). The Dev Talav or Balaji Talav, a large square tank with stone-built sides, strongly and handsomely finished, and with a Jalakridasthana platform, resting-place for swimmers in the middle of the water body was made at the same time. The chief image is of black stone and sparkles with ornaments; a fine view of the town is to be obtained from the top of the temple gateway, though the staircase is rather abrupt. A dome plated with gold has recently been constructed over the inner chamber of the temple. According to the old Gazetteer 'large jagirs and inaams were given for the support of the temple, the present revenue being Rs. 11,000 from those sources and Rs. 3,000 from kangi offerings. A big fair is held in honor of Balaji, in Ashvina
  month (September–October). About 12,000 to 15,000 people assemble at the time of the fair.
• Balaji Talav The Deo talav also known as Balaji talav, a large square tank with stone-built sides, strongly and handsomely finished and with a jalakridasthana, resting place for swimmers in the middle, was laid out at the time of the construction of Balaji mandir in 1770 CE. The temple is flanked on one side by the temple of Vyankateshvar Balaji and on the other by that of Ramchandra. The tree plantations by the tile side of the tank have now thoroughly disappeared. During the Ganapati festival, the immersion of the idols takes place in this tank and as a result, this tank is getting silted gradually. However, the tank still stands in good condition.
• Ramanavami
  is celebrated at this temple with great pomp.
• Daridrya Harana Tirtha The Daridrya-Harana Tirtha is said to have been created by Shri
  Shravan
  by mistake by sitting over this tree.
• Madhyameshvar Mandir was constructed about 5 to 7 years ago. After entering a big audience hall there is an inner chamber where is placed a shalunka of Shiva. At the time of the construction of the temple, some images and inscriptions were excavated at the site. The temple is said to have been constructed at a place where according to the belief of astronomers passes the equator and hence the temple is known as the Madhyameshvara temple.
• Narayana Maharaja Temple has recently been constructed over the samadhi of Narayan Maharaj who stayed at Washim. The image of Narayan Maharaj has been placed over the samadhi. One has to go a few steps below the ground level to reach this shrine. From there another staircase leads to the altar where is placed the image of Shri Dattatreya. The whole construction is of white marble. The temple owns some adjacent land. The audience hall is under construction. Every year a small fair attended by the local populace is held on Datta Jayanti.
• Gondeshvara Temple To the west of the town is the temple of Gondeshvara, much in a dilapidated condition. In the temple, are three images viz., those of Vishnu, his sister, and Lakshmi. By the side of the temple is ample garden land making the whole panorama of the temple extremely beautiful.
• Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Then they begot Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna
  . His temple is located in the far east of town.

Transport

Road

Washim is connected by State Highways to all the important cities of Maharashtra. Important Roads include Washim-Mangrul Pir-Karanja-Ner-Yavatmal, Washim-Karanja-Amravati-Nagpur, Washim-Malegaon-Akola, Washim-Risod-Lonar-Sindhkhed Raja-Jalna-Aurangabad-Ahmednagar-Pune-Mumbai, Washim-Kanergaon Naka-Hingoli-Nanded and Washim-Ansing-Pusad. In future Maharashtra's Nagpur or Chandrapur to Pune expressway if propose can be pass via Yavatmal, washim, Lonar, Paithan, Ahmednagar.

Mumbai-Nagpur Samrudhhi Mahamarg

Rail

South Central Railway

(SCR). It was in the Hyderabad division of SCR and now is in the Nanded division after bifurcation of the Hyderabad division. Washim was connected to the Broad Gauge Railway Network in 2008 when tracks were extended from Purna to Akola.

17639/17640

Hyderabad and Nanded

can be accessed from the south. Weekly, Bi-weekly, Special, Daily, Intercity trains connecting to major stations like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Tirupati, Agra, Mathura, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ambala, Ludhiana, Shri Ganganagar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Hyderabad, Nangaldam (Himachal Pradesh) Aurangabad, Nagpur, Indore, Yeshwantpur (Bangalore), Nashik, Nanded, Amravati, Bhopal, Khandwa, etc. from Washim. Washim has 3 platforms.

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Basim".

1. ^ "Census of India: Search Details". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
2. ^
   ISBN 978-1-6781-3024-4
   .
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Vasim". vsabha.com | News, Political Guide, City Guide. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
4. ^ Census India 2001.
5. ^ Census India 2011.
6. ^ "Home". washimmc.org.