Anjangaon

History

Anjangaon Surji is an ancient town having religious and historical importance. After the Battle of Assaye and the Battle of Argaum, the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon was signed on 30 December 1803 at Anjangaon between the British and Daulat Rao Sindhia, chief of the Maratha people. In 18th century Vithoji Narayan was awarded the vatandari of Anjangaon. There are records that he was awarded with a title 'Surji'. Anjangaon is mentioned as one of 46 Mahals of Vidarbha in Ain-i-Akbari. The revenue of Anjangaon as mentioned in Ain-i-Akbari was 32 lakhs. The river Shahanoor on the banks of which Anjangaon is located, was historically named as Sharneera (meaning river generated by an arrow ). A popular story exists that during the year of banishment, Arjuna generated the water stream by hitting the soil by an arrow.

The Devnath Math in Surji was established in 1754 AD. Saint Ruplal Maharaj established a famous Vitthal Mandir in this town. This is a city of betel leaves. Previously betel leaves were exported from here to Indonesia, Pakistan and Arabian countries. Now this place is known for cultivation of Piper nigrum, a medicinal plant.

According to Imperial Gazetteer of India (William Wilson Hunter), "in the year 1881, the population of Anjangaon was 9842 consisting of 5060 males and 4782 females. Of the total population, 7714 were returned as Hindus, 1955 Musalmans, 6 Sikhs, and 167 Jains. A mart for cotton cloth, excellent basket-work, and pan grown in the adjacent garden lands. Large weekly market".

Anjangaon City got the status of Municipal Council in 1930. It is the first municipal council established in Amravati district & the second biggest council as well. Anjangaon Surji Tehsil was established in 1981.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Anjangaon had a population of 56,380. It is the third most populous city in Amravati District after Amravati and Achalpur. 29,017 are males while 27,363 are females. Anjangaon has a literacy rate of 88.93%, higher than the state average of 82.34%; with 91.01% of the males and 86.72% of females literate. 11.58% of the population is under 6 years of age. According to previous census, population of Anjangaon was 51,380 (2001), 41,674 (1991), 27,897(1971), 21,931(1961) and 11,881(1901).

Places to Visit

Shahanoor Dam (8 km) : This dam is built using soil and has a hydroelectricity generation project and water supply project for nearly 156 villages and 2 cities based on gravitation without using electricity. The dam is located in the north of the city in the ranges of Satpuda.

The city has a few religious and spiritual places which are tourist destinations due to their beauty.

Devnath Math, Surji : This Math established in 1754 by Devnath Maharaj is a tourist's attraction.

Shendgaon an ancient village popularly known for Birth Place of Gadge Maharaj

Tulja Bhavani Mata mandir(Rathod).

Vitthal Mandir :This temple was established by Ruplal Maharaj.

Ekvira Devi Tempe, Murha

Shri Deonath Maharaj Math, Surji

Gulab Baba Aashram, Takarkheda

Shri Ganpati Devasthan, Borala

Shri Balaji Sansthan, Kathipura

Digambar Kaanch Temple, Saokar Peth

Shri Sant Chandrabhaga Mata Temple Kumbhargaon

Education

The first school in the town was started in 1868. This school situated in Saokar Peth currently runs as a Government school for girls. There are many educational institutes in the town among which Sitabai Sangai High School and Junior College and Radhabai Sarda College are more popular.

Following are the schools and colleges in the area.

Banking

There are a few nationalised banks as well as co-operative banks in the city. A short list includes State Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Amravati District Co-op. Bank, union bank, bank of India(BOI), khmagaon bank, buldhana bank, Janata Sahakari Bank. Pusad Urban co-Op bank.

Culture

In Surji area Dwarkeshwar Yatra is a major event to be held every year on second day of Pola festival. Various religious functions are celebrated like Piwali Marbat, Rupalal Punyatithi, Chaitra Paurnima Rathotsav of Jains etc. Kathichi Jatra is a fair cum festival of the city. The fair is organised on every Monday from Nagapanchami to Pola Festival.

Industry

There is a co-operative sugar factory named as "Ambadevi Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana" which is not operational currently. The cotton ginning and pressing companies, sawmills, oil mills are the main industries in the area. There are a few fruit packaging and agro product's companies.

Fruit Cultivation and Marketing

Anjangaon Surji is famous for bananas and oranges. Anjangaon is the main centre for the supply of bananas in Maharashtra along with Jalgaon. Bananas are supplied across north India (Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, etc.) and Nepal from here.Anjangaon Surji is also one of the leading place for production of Long pepper (Piper longum), (Pippali), sometimes called Indian long pepper, is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, is also cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning.

Transport

Anjangaon is connected to Amravati (76 km), Paratwada (28 km) and Akola (75 km) by roadways. The state transport (MSRTC) buses ply from Anjangaon to Amravati, Paratwada, Akola, Akot, Ramtek, Yavatmal, Pandharkavada, Nagpur, Aurangabad etc. Some private travel agencies run bus services to Pune and Mumbai. Anjangaon Surji is a station of Bhusaval–Nagpur section of Central Railway on Achalpur-Murtijapur narrow gauge railway route. This narrow gauge train is popularly known as Shakuntala Express. Nearest broad gauge railway station is Murtijapur(50 km).

Nearest airports are Amravati Airport (75 km), Akola Airport (75 km) and Nagpur Airport (250 km).