Bhandara district

Bhandara district
Clockwise from top-left: Pauni Fort, Muslim Library Chowk, Bhandara, rivers in Ambhora, Gose Khurd Dam in Pauni, Nagarjuna Vihara
Location in Maharashtra
Coordinates (Bhandara): 21°10′14″N 79°39′24″E / 21.1706°N 79.6566°E / 21.1706; 79.6566
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DivisionNagpur
HeadquartersBhandara
Talukas1. Bhandara, 2. Tumsar, 3. Pauni and 4. Mohadi, 5. Sakoli, 6. Lakhani, 7. Lakhandur
Government
  BodyBhandara Zilla Parishad
  Guardian MinisterSanjay Waman Sawakare
Cabinet Minister
  President Zilla Parishad
  • President
    Kavita Uakey
  • Vice President
    Eknathbhau Fendar
  District CollectorShri. Dr.Sanjay Kolte (IAS)
  CEO Zilla Parishad
  • Mr Milindkumar Salawe (IAS)
  MPs
Area
  Total
3,717 km2 (1,435 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total
1,200,334
  Density320/km2 (840/sq mi)
  Urban
19.48%
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Major highwaysNH53, NH247, NH353C.
Average annual precipitation1327 mm
Websitebhandara.gov.in

Bhandara District (Marathi pronunciation: [bʰəɳɖaːɾa]) is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India. The name Bhandara is a corruption of Bhanara. Reference to Bhanara is found in an inscription of 1100 A.D. traced at Ratanpur. The district headquarters are located at Bhandara. The district occupies an area of 3717 km2 and has a population of 1,200,334 (605,520 males and 594,814 females), of which 19.48% are urban as of 2011. The growth rate of Bhandara is 5.56% Bhandara has a mixed economy with agriculture, industries and forest resources. Bhandara is known for its large production of rice. Tumsar, a tahsil town, is a noted rice market. Bhandara town is also known as "Brass City" owing to the presence of a large brass products industry. Bhandara has several tourist destinations, like Ambagad Fort, Brahmi, Chinchgad, and Dighori.

The district is also known for the Ordnance Factory Bhandara of the Ordnance Factories Board, which manufactures products for the Indian Armed Forces. It is located on an estate which is commonly known as Jawaharnagar colony. There is only one Kendriya Vidyalaya in the Bhandara district. Ashok Leyland, a Hinduja Group Company, has a production facility at Gadegaon near Bhandara. Sunflag Iron Steel company and Shivmangal Ispat Pvt. Ltd. are other major industrial undertakings in the district.