Chandrapur
|
Chandrapur चंद्रपूर Chanda |
|
|---|---|
| District HQ/ Municipal Corporation | |
| Nickname(s): City of Black Gold | |
 Chandrapur
|
|
| Coordinates: 19°57′00″N 79°17′49″E / 19.950°N 79.297°ECoordinates: 19°57′00″N 79°17′49″E / 19.950°N 79.297°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Chandrapur |
| Named for | Chandrapur Fort |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | CMC |
| • Mayor | Mrs. Rakhi Kancharlawar |
| • Municipal Commissioner | Mr. Sudhir Shambharkar |
| Area | |
| • Total | 56.40 km2 (21.78 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 188 m (617 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 320,379 |
| • Density | 4,161/km2 (10,780/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Chandrapurkar/Chandekar |
| Language | |
| • Official | Marathi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 442401,442402,442403,442404 |
| Telephone code | (+91), 7172 |
| Vehicle registration | MH 34 |
| Website | http://chanda.nic.in/ |
Chandrapur (meaning moon city) (formerly Chanda) (meaning moon) is a city and a municipal corporation in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra state, India. It is also the headquarters of Chandrapur district.
The city of Chandrapur has ancient temples of the goddess Kalikankalini, a form of the goddess Mahakali, and of Anchaleshwar, a form of the god Shiva.
The city was founded by Gond King Khandakya BallalShah in the 13th century and is situated at the confluence of the Irai and Zarpat rivers.
The region is very rich in mineral wealth such as coal and limestone. Due to its large number of coal mines, the city is also known as Black gold city. Many cement factories are also located in this region.
As per legends, on the death of King Surja (alias Ser Sah) of the Gond in the 13th century A.D., his son Khandkya Ballal came to the throne. This prince had tumours all over his body. He was looked after by his wise and beautiful wife. When no remedy could heal Khandkya she induced him to leave Sirpur and reside on the northern bank of the Wardha, where he erected a fort named Ballalpur. One day, as the legend goes, while the king was hunting north-west of Ballalpur he grew thirsty and rode up to the dry bed of the Jharpat river in search of water. He discovered water trickling from a hole, and after drinking, washed his face, hands and feet. That night he slept soundly for the first time in his life. Next morning the queen was delighted to see that many of the tumours on her husband's body had disappeared. On enquiry the wonderful cure was ascribed to the water of Jharpat where the King drank water and washed his face. The queen requested Khandkya to take her to the spot where he had quenched his thirst. Both proceeded to the Jharpat and in a little while the hole was found. On clearing the grass and sand there were seen five footprints of a cow in the solid rock, each filled with water. The water source at the spot was inexhaustible. The place was holy - the Tirtha of Acalesvar of the Treta Yuga fame. When the king bathed in the water all the tumours on his body vanished.
That night the royal party encamped near the place, and in the visions of sleep Acalesvar appeared to the king, and spoke comforting words. On hearing the dream the queen advised the erection of a temple over the healing waters, and the king, approving of the idea, sent his officers to collect skilled architects for the work. He took great interest in its progress. One morning, after his daily visit, while he was riding he saw a hare darting out of a bush and chasing his dog. Astonished at this unusual sight he looked on and saw the dog running in a wide circle while the hare took zig-zag cuts to catch it. At one point it closed in with the dog which however shook it off and continued its flight. On nearing the point where the chase had commenced, the dog turned on and killed the hare. The king found that on the forehead of the hare was a white spot. Pondering what this might mean, he rode home and recounted to his wife all that he had seen. That wise woman counselled that the occurrence was a good omen, and that a fortified city should he built within the circuit of the chase, with walls following the hare's tracks. She further advised that special bastions should be erected, both where the hare had closed in upon the dog and where the dog had killed the hare. She expressed her belief that the latter point would prove to be dangerous to the city in the future.
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Wikipedia