Khamgaon is a city in Buldhana District, Maharashtra, India. It is the largest city in Buldhana district. It is well connected to all other big cities of Maharashtra and India through National Highway 6 and other state highways.
Khamgaon is known for being one of the hottest cities in Maharashtra with temperature often hitting 47–48 degrees Celsius during summer. Also, the rainfall is pretty low in the region which has led to water scarcity many times in the city over the past.
Khamgaon is often called "Silver City" because it has a renowned silver market, with pure form of silver products available. Amitabh Bachchan had ordered a silver statue of Ganesh from Khamgaon. Along with silver, there is a vibrant gold market and a number of goldsmiths in the city. It has previously been known as "Cotton City" when it was a major trade center for cotton during the British Raj. The city is a major silver and cotton textile production center. After 1960, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) began acquiring land and setting up industrial estates in surrounding the city, which were quickly purchased by MNC's. Major industries in Khamgaon are FMCG, manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and automobiles etc.
Contribution in Chandrayaan 3
Silver sterling tubes made in Khamgaon by the Chandrayaan mission have taken a leap into space. In this campaign, the contribution made by the industries of Khamgaon has been highlighted. The conductive silver tube is manufactured at Shraddha Refinery in Khamgaon Industrial Estate (KIE). The contract to manufacture silver sterling tubes was awarded by ISRO on June 3, 2020 in Khamgaon. In about a month, Shekhar Bhosale, director of refineries, produced and supplied the tube. None of the 50 tubes he produced were accepted without being rejected.
The thermal shields from Vikamsi Fabrication are also used in Chandrayaan-1, Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missons.
History
Khamgaon used to be a major cotton hub during the British era and has many old buildings from the British era. Mahatma Gandhi stayed here for a brief time during indian freedom movement, they also inaugurated Tilak Rashriya Vidyapeeth in the city. Khamgaon was a center for Swadeshi movement after Calcutta. There are many historical and religious places around the city Sant Gajanan Maharaj Shegaon, a holy place for Hindus, is located about northeast of Khamgaon in Shegaon.
Dharma Baskar Sant Pachalegaonkar Maharaj Math is situated in Khamgaon. Nirgun Paduka of Dattatreya is believed to have been given to Pachalegaonkar Maharaj and is worshipped there by devotees.
The cotton trade at Khamgaon dates from about the year 1820, when a few merchants opened shops and began to trade in ghee, raw thread and a little cotton. The place is said to owe its start in commercial life to the good management of one Jetal Khan, a revenue collector, who invited and encouraged traders. But the settlement of capitalists here is ascribed to a characteristic accident. The great camps of Pendharis were followed by many merchants and brokers who made big gains by buying up the booty. In 1818 Colonel Doveton broke up a large horde of Pendharis at a village close to Khamgaon. They were forced to disband and scatter, so the honest prize agents of this camp settled at Khamgaon and their descendants became virtuous dealers of cotton in particular and other merchandise in general. In 1870. the town was said to be the largest cotton mart in India. However, it is no longer the case though the town still has a considerable trade in cotton. There are 22 ginning and pressing factories in the town. The weekly market is held on Thursdays and is very largely attended during the busy season. It is also a cattle market. A regulated market is also established in the town.