MARATHWADA

'Marathwada' (मराठवाडा) is a region of India's Maharashtra state, which corresponds to Maharashtra's Aurangabad Division. Marathwada was part of the former Hyderabad state of India until November 1, 1956, when it was transferred to Bombay state, which in 1960 was divided into Maharastra and Gujarat. It is the traditional homeland of the Maratha caste. Marathwada is home to significant Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Muslim monuments, and is sometimes called the 'land of saints'.
Despite recent industrial developments, the region remains the most backward region of Maharashtra. Human Development Index (HDI) using the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) methodology for the year 2000 highlights the backwardness of the districts of Marathwada. None of the Marathwada districts are in the list of above-the-State’s average attainment.

Contents

Aurangabad Division

Reference

Aurangabad Division

The boundaries of Maharashtra's Aurangabad division correspond to the Marathwada region. The capital of Aurangabad Division is the city of Aurangabad, located in Marathwada's northwest.

★ Area: 64,811 km²

★ Population (2001 census): 15,589,223

★ Districts: Aurangabad, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna, Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad, Parbhani

★ Literacy: 68.95%

★ Area under irrigation: 9,610.84 km²

Reference

★ Water History of an Arid Region - Marathwada (India)

★ Human Development Report 2002 - Maharashtra (India)