Gondia (also known as Gondiya) - is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India. The district headquarters are located at Gondia (Gondiya). The district occupies an area of 5,431 km². The district is part of Nagpur Division.

History

The region to the south of the Godavari was inhabited by the aborigines, who are called Rakshasas in the Ramayana where the region is mentioned. Initially the district was included in the seventh century in the territories of the Haihaya Rajput kings of Chhattisgarh whose kingdom was known as Maha Kosala. Gondia or Gondiya was a part of Bhandara retains some recollection of Hindu kings who ruled from Nagardhan. The 12th century saw the rule of Ponwars who were subsequently ousted by Gond chiefs who asserted their independence of the Ratanpur dynasty. This was followed by Raghoji Bhonsle of Vidarbha who established himself as the king of Chanda, Deogarh and Chattisgarh in 1743. In 1755, Janoji was declared as the sovereign of the territory, after the death of his father Raghoji Bhonsle. The two brothers Mudhoji and Rupaji of Raghoji Bhonsle of Hingani-Beradi were contemporaries of Shahaji, the father of Chhatrapati Shivaji and one of the ancestors of the Bhonsles of Nagpur who rehabilitated the village of Beradi was probably the contemporary of Maloji, the grandfather of Chhatrapati Shivaji. After the death of Sambhaji, during the Mughal-Maratha conflict, Parasoji rendered invaluable help to Rajaram who had succeeded to the throne of Chhatrapati. The territories of Gondawana, Devagad, Chanda and Berar from which he had exacted tribute were given to his charge under a grant made in 1699 A.D.

In 1707 after the death of Aurangzeb when Shahu was released by Muhammad Azam, Parasoji Bhonsle was the first of the Maratha nobles to join him in west Khandesh.

The 17th century saw the invasion of the Peshwas who were instrumental in making the district a part of Berar. The Peshwas were succeeded by the Nizams during the 1850s; the Nizam ceded Berar to the British East India Company. In 1903 the Nizam leased Berar to the British Government of India. It was transferred to the Central Provinces. In 1956, with the re-organization of states, Bhandara was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay Province and in 1960 with the formation of Maharashtra; it became a district of the state and was carved out of Bhandara district in 1999.

Gondia is also known as Rice City, as it is a rice producing district and has about 250 rice mills near the vicinity of city. It is also a major trading place. The Mumbai-Nagpur-Kolkata Road is the only national highway passing through the district, which covers to a total distance of 99.37 km. Gondia, has bus connectivity to Jabalpur, Nagpur and Balaghat.

It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.

Divisions

The district is divided into 2 sub-divisions, Gondia and Deori which are further divided into 8 talukas. Each sub-division consists of 4 talukas. The Gondia sub-division consists of Gondia, Goregaon, Tirora and Arjuni Moregaon talukas while Deori sub-division consists of Deori, Amgaon, Salekasa and Sadak Arjuni talukas. The district consist’s 556 Gram panchayats, 8 Panchayat Samitis and 954 revenue villages. Two municiplities in this district are Gondia and Tiroda.

The district has 4 Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Arjuni-Morgaon (SC), Gondiya, Tirora and Amgaon (ST). While the first three are part of Bhandara-Gondiya Lok Sabha constituency, the last one is part of Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Gondia one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the twelve districts in Maharashtra currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Gondia district has a population of about 1,322,300, roughly equal to the nation of Mauritius or the US state of New Hampshire. This gives it a ranking of 369th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 253 inhabitants per square kilometre (660 /sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 10.13%. Gondiya has a sex ratio of 996 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 85.41%.

Climate

Gondia Average Temprature

Gondia experiences extreme variations in temperature with very hot summers and very cold winters and it has an average relative humidity of 62 percent. Also records average rainfall more than 1200 mm each year in rainy season.

During month of May daytime average temperatures will generally reach highs of around 42°C that's about 108°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 28°C, that's 82°F. In recent times the highest recorded temperature in May has been 48°C that's 118°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 20°C, about 68°F.

During the month of December end / January temperatures will generally reach highs of around 29°C that's about 84°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 13°C, that's 55°F. In recent times the highest recorded temperature in January has been 38°C that's 101°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 0°C, about 32°F.