Chikhli is a city and a municipal council in Buldana district in Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra state, India. It is located on the Pune-Nagpur highway. It is situated at the westernmost border of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra and is 500 km from the state capital, Mumbai. Chikhli is situated on the border of the Marathwada Region and Vidarbha Regions of Maharashtra.
Chikhli has an MIDC located on Nagpur-Pune highway that houses many SMEs in automotive, chemical, fibres and plastic, iron casting and other sectors.
Geography and climate
Chikhli has an average elevation of 606 metres (1988 feet). Chikhli has a moderate climate. The annual rainfall averages 800 mm. Most of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season between June and September.
Demographics
India census, Chikhli had a population of 57,889. Males constitute 52% of the population and females, 48%. Chikhli has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 81% and female literacy of 67%. 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. The rate of literacy is high due to school facility available and awareness in the people. Marathi is the main language of communication.
Transport
The city is connected to other major cities of Maharashtra by State Highway 24 (Baitul (Madhya Pradesh) to Chandwad (Nashik)) and State Highway 176 (Malkapur to Solapur) and National Highway 753A (Buldana to Shirdi). There is a state project to build a 4-lane highway between Chikhli and Malkapur, but has been postponed due to some problems in the Rajur Ghat near Buldana.
Chikhli is not connected to the Railway Network. The nearest Railway Stations are Malkapur , Nandura , and Jalna . The nearest Railway Junctions are Akola , and Aurangabad . However, in 2016 railway budget NDA government sanctioned and allotted Rs 3000 crores for Khamgaon -Jalna railway line. After completion of this project Chikhli will be a major railway station on Khamgaon-Jalna railway line. Chikhli-Burhanpur and Malkapur-Solapur railway lines have been proposed.
The nearest airport is at Aurangabad, .
Education
List of Colleges
Anuradha Engineering College
Anuradha Pharmacy College
Anuradha Polytechnic College
Anuradha Nursing and Cosmetics Colleges (located approximately 4 km from main city) Abhinav College of Education Sunil Ramsinghji Chunawale BAMS College (under Maharashtra University of Health Science, Nashik) Shivaji Science College SPM Arts and Commerce College
List of schools
dr zakir hussain school chikhli
sio library in umar farooque madarsa chikhli
The Chikhali Urban Vidyaniketan Cbse School
Adarsha Vidyalaya
Shivaji Vidyalaya
Radhabai Khedekar Vidyalaya
Anuradha English medium school
Adarsh convent
Hallelujah highschool
N.P schools
Z.P high school
karam english school
Culture
The ancient historical temple of Renuka Devi is situated in the heart of city. The only one temple of pandav is situated in the nearby village Kawhala.
There is a large celebration on Hanuman Jayanthi, where thousands of people join the rally and celebrate their faith towards Renuka Devi. There is Panchmukhi Mahadeo Temple on Khamgaon road near vishwabharmama shelake mala. Shri Siddha Science Temple near Gondhane Complex on Mehkar Phata Road, which is famous for lord Shiva and Siddha Science, which is scientific spirituality or yoga. There is Shriram mandir in the old city, ram navami is celebrated each year with pleasure by peoples.
Prominent places
Renuka Devi
Renuka Devi is deity of Chikhli. Renuka Devi temple is located in the heart of the town. Chaitra pournima and Hanuman Jayanti is a day when Renuka Devi "Yatra" is organized.
Khairullah Shah Miyan Dargah
Khairullah Shah Miyan Dargah is the best religious place located in Chikhli. Peoples from all over Maharashtra visit over there for "ziyarat" at the time of URS and Sandal. This Sandal is held exactly after three days of Holi festival.
President of India visited the city
17 July 2009 - Felicitated by President Smt. Pratibha Patil at Chikhali on inauguration of "Maharana Pratap" statue.