Chikhaldara

Last updated

Chikhaldara
Hill station
India Maharashtra location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Chikhaldara
Location in Maharashtra
Coordinates: 21°13′N77°43′E / 21.21°N 77.72°E / 21.21; 77.72
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
State Maharashtra
District Amravati
Elevation
1,188 m (3,898 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total4,718
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration MH- 27

Chikhaldara is a hill station and a municipal council in the Amravati district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Contents

Chikaldhara, literally translates from Marathi to mud stream/falls (chikal + dhara). Hindus claim that this place was featured in the epic of the Mahabharata; it is where Bheema killed the villainous Keechaka in a herculean bout and then threw him into the valley. It thus came to be known as Keechakadara, which eventually colloquialised to Chikaldhara. There is, however, not much evidence apart from hearsay to support this argument.[ citation needed ]

The sole hill resort in the Vidarbha region, it is situated at an altitude of 1118 meters with highest elevation point 1188 meters and has the added dimension of being the only coffee-growing area in Maharashtra. Chikhaldara has an annual rainfall of 154cm. Temperatures vary from 39C in summer to 5C in winter. The best months to visit are from October to June.

It abounds in wildlife, such as tigers, panthers, sloth bears, sambars, wild boar, and rarely seen wild dogs. Close by is the Melghat Tiger Project which has 82 tigers.[ citation needed ]

Tourism and events

Since the area is heavily forested and the population count is low, there are no big festivals in Chikhaldara like in the rest of India. Only at the Jain temples that exist in the area, the pujas are held regularly. [1]

Chikhaldara is a small hill station in the Indian state of Maharashtra. As it is the only coffee-growing area in the region, it is visited by tourists who come solely to taste the region's coffee.[ citation needed ] Apart from the coffee plantations, Chikhaldara has several lakes, waterfalls, old forts, temples, and viewpoints.[ citation needed ]

History

Chikhaldara was discovered by Captain Robinson of the Hyderabad Regiment in 1823. The Englishmen found it particularly attractive because the lush green hue of the place reminded them of England. When the leaves fell in September/October, they were reminded of autumn in England. There was even a proposal to make it the seat of the Government of India.

Climate

June, July, August, and September are the four months of Monsoon. Chikhaldara experiences heavy rainfall during these months. The average temperature during monsoon is twenty-five degree celsius and during winter it goes below 15°C.  Summer is not pleasant in this place because the temperature is very high . It is good not to visit Chikhaldara during summer because the temperature here lies between 32°C to 40°C. [2]

According to Köppen climate classification, climate of Chikhaldara is categorized as Humid Subtropical, Cwa. Chikhaldara has four distinct seasons - Winter, Summer (Late winter and early summer can be called spring but is of very short duration), Monsoon (Rainy season) and Post-monsoon or Autumn. Summers are hot and long, from mid-March to Early June. Summer temperature varies from 16°C to 41°C. Monsoon starts in early June and lasts till early October. July and October are wettest months. Chikhaldara receives averagely 1600 mm of rainfall annually. Mist following morning rain is common. Monsoon temperature ranges from 18°C to 26°C. Post-Monsoon starts mid-October and lasts till mid-November. Autumn, which is a transition between Post-Monsoon and Winter, is of short duration and lasts from mid-November to mid-December. Temperature during post monsoon and autumn ranges from 12°C to 30°C. Winters of Chikhaldara are mild with chilly, foggy mornings; pleasant, clear and sunny days; hazy and calm evenings and hazy, cool nights. Temperature in winter ranges from 4°C to 23°C.

Climate data for Chikhaldara
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)24.6
(76.3)		27.3
(81.1)		31.6
(88.9)		35.6
(96.1)		37.1
(98.8)		31.9
(89.4)		26.4
(79.5)		25.1
(77.2)		26.8
(80.2)		28.2
(82.8)		26.3
(79.3)		24.3
(75.7)		28.8
(83.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)17.6
(63.7)		19.8
(67.6)		23.8
(74.8)		27.2
(81.0)		29.3
(84.7)		25.8
(78.4)		22.1
(71.8)		21.2
(70.2)		22.1
(71.8)		22.0
(71.6)		19.6
(67.3)		17.4
(63.3)		22.3
(72.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)10.7
(51.3)		12.4
(54.3)		16.0
(60.8)		18.8
(65.8)		21.5
(70.7)		19.7
(67.5)		17.9
(64.2)		17.4
(63.3)		17.5
(63.5)		15.8
(60.4)		13.0
(55.4)		10.5
(50.9)		15.9
(60.7)
Average rainfall mm (inches)16.5
(0.65)		14.7
(0.58)		10.7
(0.42)		8.6
(0.34)		20.1
(0.79)		214.1
(8.43)		537.0
(21.14)		445.0
(17.52)		305.8
(12.04)		76.7
(3.02)		46.0
(1.81)		12.7
(0.50)		1,707.9
(67.24)
Average rainy days1.11.11.01.02.010.321.019.713.43.21.81.276.8
Source: Maharshtra state Gazetteers Amravati District (rainfall and rainy days) [3]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [4] Chikhaldara had a population of 4711. Males constituted 58% of the population and females 42%. Chikhaldara had an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with male literacy at 86% and female literacy at 72%. 12% of the population was under 6 years of age.

YearMaleFemaleTotal PopulationChangeReligion (%)
HinduMuslimChristianSikhsBuddhistJainOther religions and persuasionsReligion not stated
2001 [5] 278719244711-67.82013.6285.2010.00013.0760.1270.0850.064
2011 [6] 2789236951580.09563.57115.0838.2590.00012.7760.1360.1550.019

Water supply

Water is supplied from Shakkar lake.

Local features of importance

Tourist points

  • Malviya point (sunrise)
  • Bhimkund (Kitchakdari)
  • Vairat Devi
  • Sunset Point
  • Bir Dam
  • Panchbol Point
  • Kalapani Dam
  • Mahadev Mandir
  • Semadhoh Tiger Project
  • Hariken Point
  • Mozari Point
  • Prospects Point
  • Devi Point
  • Goraghat
  • Shakkar Lake
  • Government Garden
  • Museums
  • Waterfalls
  • Dharkhora
  • Bakadari
  • Muktagiri
  • Kolkaz
  • Pancha Dharag waterfall
  • Gawilgad Fort

Connectivity

Chikhaldara is well connected to the cities of Paratwada, Amravati, Akola, Betul, Khandwa and Burhanpur by road. The nearest airport is Nagpur: 229 km via Paratwada-Chandur Bazar-Katol route and 231 km via Paratwada-Amravati-Kondhali route. MSRTC plies buses from Nagpur to Chikhaldara via Amravati-Paratwada.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vidarbha</span> Eastern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra

Vidarbha is a geographical region in the west Indian state of Maharashtra. Forming the eastern part of the state, it comprises Amravati and Nagpur divisions. As per the 2011 Census, the region had a population of 23,003,179. The region occupies 31.6% of the total area and is home to 21.3% of the total population of Maharashtra. Situated in central India, it borders the state of Madhya Pradesh to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Telangana to the south and Marathwada and Uttar Maharashtra regions of Maharashtra to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amravati</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Amravati is a city in Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region. It is the ninth largest city in Maharashtra, India & second largest city in the Vidarbha region in terms of population. It is the administrative headquarter of Amravati district as well as Amravati Division which includes Amravati District, Akola District, Buldhana District, Washim District & Yavatmal District. It is one of Maharashtra's nominated cities under Smart Cities Mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yavatmal district</span> District of Maharashtra in India

Yavatmal district, [jəʋət̪maːɭ] formerly known as Yeotmal, is a district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the region of Vidarbha, in the east-central part of the state. It is Vidarbha's third-largest district by population, after Nagpur and Amravati. Yavatmal city is the administrative headquarters of the district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satpura Range</span> Hill range in central India

The Satpura Range is a range of hills in central India. The range rises in eastern Gujarat running east through the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and ends in Chhattisgarh. The range parallels the Vindhya Range to the north, and these two east–west ranges divide Indian Subcontinent into the Indo-Gangetic plain of northern India and the Deccan Plateau of the south. The Narmada River originates from north-eastern end of Satpura in Amarkantak, and runs in the depression between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, draining the northern slope of the Satpura range, running west towards the Arabian Sea. The Tapti River originates in the eastern-central part of Satpura, crossing the range in the center and running west at the range's southern slopes before meeting the Arabian Sea at Surat, draining the central and southern slopes of the range. Multai, the place of Tapti river origin is located about 465 kilometer far, south-westerly to Amarkantak, separated across by the hill range. The Godavari River and its tributaries drain the Deccan plateau, which lies south of the range, and the Mahanadi River drains the easternmost portion of the range. The Godavari and Mahanadi rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal. At its eastern end, the Satpura range meets the hills of the Chotanagpur Plateau. The Satpura Range is a horst mountain and is flanked by Narmada Graben in the north and much smaller but parallel Tapi Graben in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amravati district</span> District of Maharashtra in India

Amravati district is a district of Maharashtra state in central India. It is the administrative headquarter of Amravati division, which is one of the two divisions in Vidarbha, out of total 6 regions in state of Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yavatmal</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Yavatmal ( is a city and municipal council in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Yavatmal District. Yavatmal is around 90 km away from divisional headquarters Amravati while it is 670 km away from the state capital Mumbai and 150 km south west of Nagpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rewa district</span> City and district of Madhya Pradesh in India

Rewa district is a district in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Rewa is the district headquarter. Rewa is sometimes called the "Land of White Tigers", as the first White Tiger was discovered here in 1951 by the Maharaja of the province, Martand Singh, in the nearby jungle of Govindgarh. Rewa was the capital city of a former state, Vindhya Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amravati division</span> Place in Maharashtra, India

Amravati Division, also known as Varhad, is an Indian one of the six administrative divisions of Maharashtra state in India. Amravati and Nagpur divisions constitute the ancient Vidarbha region. Amravati Division is bound by Madhya Pradesh state to the north, Nagpur Division to the east, Telangana state to the southeast, Marathwada region to the south and southwest, and Nashik Division to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests</span> Ecoregion in India

The Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion of central India. The ecoregion lies mostly in Madhya Pradesh state, but extends into portions of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achalpur</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Achalpur, formerly known as Ellichpur and Illychpur, is a city and a municipal council in Amravati District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the second most populous city in Amravati District after Amravati and seventh most populous city in Vidarbha. Achalpur camp is known as Paratwada.

Bhainsdehi is a city and a Nagar Parishad in Betul district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Kukru is the second highest point of Mahadeo hills. Bhainsdehi is the originating place of the river Purna. It is predominantly a tribal tehsil. Bhainsdehi is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Satpura. Prachin Shiv mandir one of the most beautiful place in Bhainsdehi city

Chhuikhadan is a city municipality and district in Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, India. Chhuikhadan is also known as "City of Martyrs".

Dhamangaon is a town and a municipal council in Amravati district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Dhamangaon is one of the three talukas in Chandur (Railway) subdivision in Amravati district. The municipal council is named as Dattapur-Dhamangaon Municipal council.

Narkhed is a town and a municipal council in Nagpur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is about 87 km north-west of Nagpur. It is the administrative headquarters of Narkhed taluka, one of the 14 talukas of this district. It is located in the "orange belt" and is a major center for orange-trading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paratwada</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Paratwada, formerly known as Paltanwada and also known as "Achalpur Camp" is a city and a municipal council in Amravati District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is also the second most populous city in Amravati District after Amravati and seventh most populous city in Vidarbha. It has a twin city known as Achalpur. Paratwada is a gateway to the Melghat region which has one of the biggest Tiger conservation projects in India.

Dharni (CT) is a Nagar Panchayat and Census Town city in Amravati district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The Dharni Census Town has population of 15,761 of which 8,075 are males while 7,686 are females as per report released by Census of India 2011. It is the headquarters of Dharni tehsil and forms the terminus of the high road through the hills from Paratwada to Burhanpur. It is 97 km (60 mi) distant from Paratwada and 148 km (92 mi) from Amravati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melghat</span> Tiger reserve in India

Melghat was among the first nine tiger reserves of India to be notified in 1973 under Project Tiger. It is located at 21°26′45″N77°11′50″E in the northern part of Amravati District of Maharashtra. Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as in 1985. The Tapti River flows through the northern part of Melghat Tiger Reserve and forms the boundary of the reserve together with the Gawilghur ridge of the Satpura Range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daryapur Assembly constituency</span> Constituency of the Maharashtra legislative assembly in India

Daryapur Assembly constituency is one of the 288 constituencies of Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and one of the eight which are located in Amravati district. It is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrabhaga River (Purna River tributary)</span> River in Maharashtra, India

Chandrabhaga is one of the major rivers in Amravati district of Maharashtra. As a tributary of the Purna, it forms a part of the Tapti-Purna river system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narkhed–Badnera line</span> Indian railway route

The Narkhed–Badnera line, officially known as the Narkhed–Amravati line, is a single electric branch line which connects Narkhed in Nagpur district to Badnera near Amravati by Indian Railways in the state of Maharashtra. The line is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Central Railway.

References

  1. ↑ "goibibo".
  2. ↑ "yesnearme.com". Archived from the original on 27 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "General: Climate". The Gazetteers Department. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  5. ↑ Census India 2001.
  6. ↑ Census India 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.