Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

🇮🇳 Jalgaon is a city in Maharashtra, India. The city is located in North Maharashtra in the subregion of Khandesh, and serves as the administrative headquarters of its namesake district, the Jalgaon district. The Girna river flows from the western part of the city. Jalgaon is colloquially known as the "Banana city of India" as the region's (Jalgaon district) farmers grow approximately two-thirds of Maharashtra's banana production.

According to Abul Fazal (Gladwin's AineAkbari 1157), the name Khandesh is derived from the "Khan" title given by Ahmad-I of Gujarat (1411-1443) to Malik Nasir, the second of the Faruki kings. According to some sources, the name comes from the Khandava forest of Mahabharat. The Mahabharat mentions Yuvanshava, the ruler of Toranmal (Nandurbar district) as fighting with the Pandavas. The rock temples and caves at Nashik and Ajanta show that during the first three centuries AD, Khandesh was under the rulers who patronized Buddhism. Thereafter, it was ruled by Saptavananas, Andhrabhrityas, Virsen (Ahir King), Yawan dynasty, Chalukyas, Yadavs and then Alaud-din Khilji, Mohammad Tughlak, Malik Raja Malik Nazir, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and subsequently the Marathas ruled the region.

The former Khandesh which was controlled by the Faruqui dynasty of Burhanpur, was than well established by the Maratha Royal named Tulajirao Bhoite and became Jalgaon. The Bhoite rulers built a mansion there which is now recognised as Bhoite Gadhi. In the 18th century, Khandesh was captured by British troops from the Holkar regime with Dhule as the headquarters. Robert Gill was the first officer of British East India Company in the Khandesh District with headquarters in Dhule.In 1906 Khandesh was divided between East Khandesh and West Khandesh, and Jalgaon became the headquarters of East Khandesh district. After the 1956 reorganisation of India's states, East Khandesh became part of Bombay State and later in 1960 it became part of Maharashtra.

Transport Jalgaon's airport was built in 1973 by the Public Works Department. The Jalgaon municipal council took over its operations in April 1997 and handed it over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company in April 2007. The Government of Maharashtra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Airports Authority of India (AAI) to upgrade the existing airfield in July 2009. Pratibha Patil, then president of India, laid the foundation stone for the development and expansion of the Jalgaon airport in June 2010. Jalgaon offers flights to Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolhapur, Nashik and Nanded operated by Trujet airlines.

The city is served by the Jalgaon Junction railway station. The railway connects the city to major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Panvel, Chennai, Agra, and Lucknow.

Education North Maharashtra University is located 8 km away from thecity's center. Prominent under/post-graduate colleges in thecity are Mooljee Jetha College and Nutan Maratha College.

Jalgaon has two medical colleges, Government Medical College and Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College and Hospital, Jalgaon. and the Government Ayurved College, Jalgaon providing the knowledge of Ayurveda.

Tourist attractions Gandhi Teerth is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Jalgaoncity. It is a research institution and museum based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi. It was established on 25 March 2012 by the Gandhi Research Foundation.

Guru Purnima festival at Maharishi Krishna Dvaipayana Vedvysa Temple in Yawal is also a popular pilgrimage destination. It is visited by pilgrims from within Jalgaon and neighboring states like Madhya Pradesh. The temple is located at the confluence of the river Hadkhai-Khadkai also known previously as River Harita and Sarita. Vyasa was invited by the sage Lomasha to perform a sacrifice for the Pandavas after their incognito exile. It is one of the main three temples of Vyasa, the others being Vyas Chatti, Badrinath and Vyas Kashi Temple.

Other ancient pilgrim places and tourist destination include, • Changdeva Temple • Patnadevi, an old temple built by the Mandlik kings of Yadav completed in year 1128 AD. • Mudhai Devi Temple, of Hemadpanti architecture built around 1150–1200 AD • Saint Muktabai Temple, home to Muktabai Dindi, which has been an integral part of the Pandharpur Wari for over 310 years. • Satpuda Manudevi Temple, Adgaon • Unapdev Hot Water Fountain was mentioned in the Ramayana epic and has a touch of Lord Rama during his fourteen-year exile from Ayodhya • Padmalaya – Ganpati Temple (Prabhakshetra), is one of the Saade-teen (three and a half) 'Shree Ganapati Peeth' in India. It has two swayambhu idols consist of corals and one has its trunk curving to the right and other one to the left.