The Historical, Geographical, Cultural and Commercial Background of Shirpur
The Dhule district of the Khandesh region in Maharashtra is blessed and has become purified by the touch of the feet of Lord Krishna. Though small in size this district is rich in many features.
In the ancient time this region was known as Krushik (agricultural) region. There are references of this in Ramayana, Mahabharata and Sudeshkumar Charitra. Afterwards during Yadav period this region was named as Seunadesha after the name of Seunchandra (c. 880-900) who was the son and successor of Dridpahara. Even in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata, there is mention of the Gomta, Mandaka, Kharda, Vidarbh and Rupvahika of different regions. From this historically the word Kharda means Khandesh. But according to some of the historians Khandesh is the region which was earlier known as Kanhadesh (the kingdom of lord Krishna). Some say that the Sultan of Gujarat, Ahmad I conferred the title “Khan” to the Farooqi Raj Malik II of Thalanar in Shirpur taluka and from then this region was known as the khandesh.
In the same Khandesh, Shirpur in Dhule district has the ancient history. It also refers to how the city was named Shirpur. In ancient times there was a gentleman named Kalubaba. He had great faith in Shri Khanderao Maharaj and he was always busy in worshiping God. Kalubaba was a householder. His pain was that he had no children. So he made a vow to shri Khandoba and offered to pay his head. He bore a son as per the vow. The old people say that as per vow made by Kalubaba when the shirkamal was offered at the feet of Shri Khanderao Maharaj there was a miracle. The Bhandara (turmeric) was flooded without blood coming out of the shirkamal. From then on, this city is known as Shirpur.
Shirpur is located at the base of Satpuda mountain range and it is also at a distance of about 10 km from the Tapi river. The Arunavati river also flows through the city. It is also known as a taluka bordering Madhya Pradesh as well as Gujarat state. Every year the annual fair is organized here in the name of Tirupati Balaji and Khandoba maharaj.
Location:
Shirpur taluka is at a distance of 400 km from Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. It is located 21.35 latitude and 74.88 longitudes and it is situated about 180 to 215km above sea level. The total area of this taluka is 2364.53 square km. It has around 147 villages with 118 grampanchayats.
Weather:
The weather here is dry and the temperature is 43.40 degrees Celsius in summer and in winter it falls about 8.00 degrees Celsius. The rainfall in the southwest monsoon averages 657 mm.
Agricultural Products:
The agricultural land here is of medium quality. The climate here is suitable for the food crops such as wheat, jowar, bajra and pulses like toor, moong, udad etc. Cash crops like sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds are also taken on a large scale. Also, horticulture crops like vegetables, lemons, banana, and papaya are preferred by the farmers.
Industry:
There are various industries in Shirpur taluka such as gold refineries, oil mills, cotton mills, ginning and pressing mills, textile mills, sugar factory, starch factory, cold storages etc.
Shirpur city is at the forefront of education and all kind of education is available.
Holy Places:
There are many beautiful temples in the city like Prabhu Vyankatesh Balaji Temple, Pataleshwar Temple, Khanderao Temple, Bhawani Mata Temple etc. There are also three mosques.
Shirpur-Warvade Municipal Council Information:
City Council establishment: 19th October 1869
The total area of the city council till date 15.95 sq. km
Population as per the census 2011 76,905 (Men: 40,235; Women: 36,670)