Chandrapur

Chandrapur (also known as Chanda) is a city in the state of Maharashtra in India. The city gets its name from the Chanda Fort present here. The city is also known as City of Black Gold due to the large number of coal mines present around the city.

History
The district Chandrapur was earlier known as 'Chanda' according to tradition and legend the name of the place was 'Lokapura' which was first changed to ' Indpur' and subsequently to Chandrapur. During the British colonial period it was called Chanda district, which was again changed to its original name 'Chandrapur ' around 1964. Other places of the region in ancient times include Wairangad, Kosala, Bhadravati and Markanda. Hindu and Buddhist kings are said to have ruled the area for a long time, Later on Gonds overtook Dana Chiefs who ruled Chandrapur around 9 th century and Gond Kings ruled the area till 1751 after which Maratha period started. Raghuji Bhosale, the last King of the dynasty, died heirless in 1853 and Nagpur province together with Chandrapur was declared annexed to the British Empire.

In 1854, Chandrapur formed and independent district and in 1874, it comprised of three tehsils Viz Mul, Warora and Bramhpuri. In 1874, however, upper Godavari district of Madras was abolished and four tehsils were added to Chandrapur to form one tehsil with Sironcha as its headquarters. In 1895, the headquarters of one tehsil transferred to MUl to Chandrapur. A new tehsil with headquarter at Gadchoroli was created in 1905 by transfer of zamindari estates from Bramhpuri and Chandrapur tehsil. A small zamindari tract from Chandrapur district as transferred to newly from districts in 1907. In the same year and area of about 1560 km2. comprising of three divisions of the lower Sironcha tehsil namely Cherla, Albak and Nugir were transferred to Madras State.

No major changes occurred in the boundaries of the district or its tehsils between 1911–1955. Consequent upon reorganization of the states in 1956, the district was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay state. In the same Rajura tehsil, a part of Adilabad district of Hydrabad state, was transferred to Nanded district subsequently it was transferred to Chandrapur district in  1959. the district became part of the Maharashtra since its creation in May 1960. For administrative convenience and industrial and agricultural development, this district was again divided into Chandrapur and Gadchiroli district after 1981 census. Chandrapur district now comprises the tehsil of Chandrapur, Bhadravati, Warora, Chimur, Nagbhir, Bramhpuri, Sindhewahi, Mul, Gondpipri, Pomburna, Saoli, Rajura, Korpana, Jivati and  Balharshah.

Climate
Chandrapur is known for hot and dry climate. Humidity is very low in the region. Temperatures start decreasing in October with December being the coldest month, with a minimum average temperature of 7.6 °C and maximum of 28.2 °C. The Southern region is warmer than the Northern region. The lowest recorded temperature is 3 °C (Northern region) and 8 °C (Southern). Temperatures begin to rise in February. May is the hottest month with a mean maximum temperature of 45 °C and minimum of 28 °C. It is not uncommon for temperatures to reach up to 46 °C, and temperatures in this region are often the highest in Southern Asia. The highest temperature ever recorded in Chandrapur was 48.3 °C on May 16, 1912 and lowest temperature recorded was 2.8 °C on January 10, 1899. Monsoons bring humidity to the region in June, and this lasts until September.

The average annual rainfall is about 1420 mm. The Eastern region receives more rainfall than Westermonsoon season [Jun-Sep], which exceeds 70%, but it falls down rapidly in Summer [Feb-May]. Average number of rainy days is 60 to 65 per year. The humidity is relatively more during the 20%.

The prominent wind direction is from South to North. In Summer the wind direction is from East to south and in Monsoon from South to East. During Winter [October–January], the wind direction changes from North to East.

By plane


The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, which has regular as well as direct flights to all the metros. Since Nagpur is serviced by both public as well as private carriers, reaching here by plane is no problem.

By train
is on New Delhi–Chennai and New Delhi–Hyderabad–Bangalore railway lines. The railway station is served by express trains from different parts of India.

By road
Chandrapur is also connected to many cities in Maharashtra by MSRTC buses. The buses ply to Nagpur, Gondia, Amravati, Akola, Shirdi, Aurangabad, Nanded and Hyderabad.

Go next

 * Nagpur
 * Raipur