Hoshangabad


Hoshangabad also known as Narmadapuram is a city and a municipality in Hoshangabad district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It serves as the headquarters of both Hoshangabad district and Narmadapuram division. It is located in central India, on the south bank of the Narmada River. Hoshangabad is 76.7km from the state capital Bhopal. Nearest airport Bhopal.

History

The city is named after Hoshang Shah. the first ruler of Malwa. Hoshangabad district was part of the Nerbudda Division of the Central Provinces and Berar, which became the state of Madhya Bharat after India's independence in 1947.
The city is famous for its beautiful ghats along the banks of the Narmada river, Sethani ghat is a major attraction. There are colourful celebrations in the city on Narmada Jayanti. During celebrations this year the CM announced the efforts to rename the town. A Satsang Bhavan on the ghat has regular visits by Hindu saints who hold regular religious discourses on Ramcharitmanas and Gegeta.

Geography

Hoshangabad is located at. It has an average elevation of 278 metres.

Boundaries

Northern boundary of the district is river Narmada. Across this the district of Raisen and Sehore lies. The district of Betul lies in the south, whereas the Harda district faces with the western and south-western boundaries and Narsingpur and Chhindwara districts, close to the north-eastern and south-eastern sides of the district respectively.

Climate

The climate of Hoshangabad district is typically that of Central India. Being close to the Tropic of Cancer, there is a hot, dry summer with maximum temperature of 40 - 42 degrees Celsius. This is followed by the monsoons with copious rainfall. The winters are dry and mild. An average height from the sea level is 331 m and average rainfall is 134 cm.

Road and rail

Hoshangabad is well connected by road and rail from the state capital, Bhopal, and it is about 70 km away from it. Hoshangabad railway station is connected by rail with all major cities of the state. One of its tehsils, Itarsi is linked with all major cities of the country due to junction of main railway routes of the country. It is 18 km from the district headquarters. From Itarsi, one can reach Pachmarhi via Pipariya, which is 64 km by train. Hoshangabad district's biggest railway station is Itarsi which is connected to all major city of India by train and road. Nearest airport Bhopal.

Landmark

is an important landmark of the city, on the banks of River Narmada. It is about 7 km downstream from the confluence of Tawa and Narmada rivers.

Demographics

India census, Hoshangabad had a population of 117,988; including 61,716 males and 56,272 females. Hoshangabad has an average literacy rate of 87.01%, higher than the national average: male literacy is 91.79%, and female literacy is 81.79%.

Education

There are 960 primary schools, 207 Middle schools, 69 senior secondary schools and 9 schools operated by Tribal Department. Many educational institutions including the Narmada MahaVidhyalaya were established by prominent visionary late Pt. R L Sharma. There are 11 colleges and one is a polytechnic. All the colleges are affiliated to Barkatullah University, Bhopal. There is an office of Saksharta Programme which is running many literacy programs in the district.

Economy

The economy largely depends on agriculture. Hoshangabad is one of the largest producer of Soya Bean. The land is quite fertile and farmers have good canal irrigation facilities from the Tawa reservoir throughout the year. The farmers employ rotation of crops and their major income depends on soya bean and wheat.
The city has a traditional way of living with many engaged in occupations enough for sustaining life. The city has abundant availability of water. Hoshangabad has high income per capita amongst cities of Madhya Pradesh.
In Hoshangabad city, industrial establishment: the Security Papers Mill Hoshangabad, a unit of Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. The main trade in the district are handicraft, silk, leather, pulses etc. Other than these, the main business deals in the delivering of sand and tiles which come from river Narmada.

Nearby attractions

Pachmarhi, the only hill station of Madhya Pradesh, and a pilgrimage site for Siva bhaktas from the surrounding countryside, is now the base for enjoying the natural riches of the Satpura Tiger Reserve as well. The tiger reserve encompasses the oldest forest reserve of India, the Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, and the breathtaking scenery of the Pachmarhi with the Satpura National Park. It was at Pachmarhi where Captain James Forsyth constructed the famous Bison Lodge and founded the Forest Department of Madhya Pradesh. His travelogue, 'The Central Indian Highlands', on his march from Jabalpur to Pachmarhi in 1861–62, transports one into the long lost times of tribal culture and rich wilderness.Pachmarhi 64 km from hoshangabad.

Other attractions