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Introduction to Malegaon

 About Malegaon
The co-existance of temple and mosque in Malegaon for many generations has amazed many till date


Malegaon is the second largest city in Nashik District of Maharashtra and also a Municipal Corporation. The city lies at the convergence of the Mosam and the Girna rivers. Malegaon lies at a distance of 110 kilometers from Nashik towards the north-eastern part of Maharashtra. This city also lies on the Mumbai - Agra Highway called NH 3 and State Highway to Aurangabad and Pune. Malegaon has a very huge population and most of the people in the city are Muslims and the people are mainly power loom workers and weavers. The city possesses a very huge plastic and power industry. Service industries and trading are other economic activities are also practiced in Malegaon.

History of Malegaon

The communally polarized sketch of the city of Malegaon is because of its location and also because of the history that it possesses. Previously, Malegaon served as a very small junction called ‘Maliwadi’ or Hamlet of Gardens and it was very successful in gaining the huge reputation of serving as a source of employment for many people.

In 1740, Naro Shankar Raje Bahadur, who was a local jagirdar, began the construction of a massive fort in Malegaon. This construction work was a project that took around twenty years and served as a major source of employment for the Muslim artisans and workers who travelled all the way from north India and Surat and settled down in Malegaon.

The Malegaon Fort was captured by the British in 1818 and it was during this time that Muslims from the city of Hyderabad also settled in Malegaon. Many Momins from the northern part of India also settled in the city during the Revolt of 1857. From time to time, certain scenarios of the country, forced Muslims from different parts of India to move to Malegaon and this is the reason behind the great number of Muslims living in the city.

Festivals and Fairs Celebrated in Malegaon

Malegaon is very popular for a very grand and big fair held in honor and dedication to Lord Khandoba. The fair is called “Malegaon Yatra” and is held at Margashirsh Vadya. This fair in Malegaon is very popular for the animal market that it features and thousands of people visit this fair to buy donkeys, camels and horses. An important festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Malegaon is Shab - e - Barat or the festival of ‘Inam’. Apart from these main festivals, other festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and show in Malegaon include Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Makar Sankranti and Kumbha Mela.

Festivals Celebrated in Malegaon
Fine bred horses tied in a line awaiting their prospective buyers at Malegaon Yatra

Tourist Attractions in Malegaon

The tourism industry of Malegaon is not much developed until now and hence there are very few tourist spots or picturesque places in the city. There can be absolutely no doubt in the fact that some of the most beautiful places in India are located in Maharashtra but they are not found in Malegaon. There are cities that lie very close to Malegaon and such cities are known to have some of the best tourist spots in India.

Malegaon Tourist Place
All packages of tourism in Malegaon would have Malegaon Fort as a must see destination

Some of the few well-known tourist spots found in Malegaon have been detailed below:

Malegaon Fort: Malegaon Fort is located on the edge of the Mosam River and it is believed to have been constructed during the reign of Narav Shankar, a Maratha King in the year 1765. The 77 feet tall fort is said to be guarded by 310 Arab warriors who are well trained, which made it very difficult for the Britishers to capture the fort for weeks but they ultimately succeeded in capturing it on 14th June, 1818 A.D.

Shahi Masjid: There are over three hundred mosques in Malegaon and the reason behind this huge number of mosques is the large Muslim population of the city. One of the most beautiful mosques in Malegaon is the Shahi Masjid. India’s largest cemetery is also located here, which covers an area of about 40 acres.

Urdu Library: Though libraries are for book lovers, this place is a popular tourist spot as it is an ancient building. The Urdu Library in Malegaon is around sixty years old and it possesses a collection of some of the best and the well-known writers in Urdu language ranging from humor, literature, poems, history, fictions, civilizations to medicine, health and education. The Urdu library in Malegaon is regarded as the most well-equipped and modern library in India.

There are other not very important tourist spots in Malegaon that can also be visited by people but they may or may not be included in the travel plan.

Population of Malegaon

According to the census report of the year 2011, the population of the city of Malegaon was 576, 425. The male percentage population in the city is 51% while women were 49%. The average literacy rate of Malegaon is 73% where 70% of males and 61% of females are educated. About 18% of the population of Malegaon is under the age of six and additionally it should be noticed that children in the city are forcibly taken into various kinds of jobs so that they can be of good support for their poverty-ridden families. There is also a upcoming proposal of carving out a separate district of Malegaon because of the increasing population of the city.

Geography of Malegaon

Malegaon has its location at the convergence of the Mosam and the Girna rivers and the average elevation of the city is 438 meters above the level of sea. The city is located at 18.42ON 77.53OE. The location of Malegaon is at around 280 kilometers northeast of the capital of Maharashtra i.e. Mumbai. Malegaon is very well-connected to cities like Manmad, Dhule, Mumbai and Nashik.

See Also: Physical Features and Natural Resources of Malegaon

Mollywood (Film industry in Malegaon)

Introduction about the city of Malegaon would be incomplete without the mention of Mollywood, which is Malegaon’s disreputably crazy burlesque industry. The Mollywood of Malegaon has always been into introducing several classic Bollywood and Hollywood characters with a dash of nativity to the people living the satellite town of Malegaon. The Bollywood and the Hollywood characters introduced in Mollywood are rendered with quintessential dialogues, surroundings, food and looks of Malegaon culture. The industry has been very successful in conquering local imagination with some of the major cult spoofs like Malegaon ka James Bond, Supermen of Malegaon and Malegaon ke Sholay.

How to Reach Malegaon

Unlike other cities of India, Malegaon is not very well equipped in terms of transport. But, it does not stop the city from being connected with other cities of the country. There are some very important roads, an airport and few railway stations located very close to the city making it easy for the people to visit the city.

By Air: The only airport that lies very close to the city of Malegaon is Nanded airport that is available at a distance of 136 kilometers.

By Rail: The nearest railway station to Malegaon is Manmad railway station that lies at a distance of 38 kilometers. Other railway stations that connect the city of Malegaon to other important cities in Maharashtra are Jaulka at a distance of 10 kilometers, Aman Vadi at a distance of 10 kilometers, Washim at a distance of 24 kilometers and Akola Junction that lies at a distance of 60 kilometers from Malegaon.

By Road: Malegaon is located on the Mumbai-Agra National Highway which is called NH 3 and this is the reason why the city is well connected to the other cities of Maharashtra and the rest of India.

Eat Outs in Malegaon

Malegaon does not have many famous restaurants and hotels. However, travelers always look out for Uday Palace Restaurant and Bar in Malegaon as it serves some lip smacking food varieties, making it the best eat out in the city. Locals and tourists love to devour the sweets and they can be found at Mohan Surati Pharsan available at Satana Naka.

Shopping in Malegaon

Shopping in Malegaon cannot be a very good experience for shopaholics as there are very less number of good shopping malls and traditional markets found in the city. Some of the most famous shopping malls and markets of the city are Shivneri Commercial Complex at Osiyanagar, Malojinagar, N Mart at Sangameshwar, Morya Shopping Mall at Vardhamam Nagar and Gayatri Arcade at Soygaon.

Accommodation in Malegaon

There are a good number of luxurious as well as budget hotels in Malegaon and they serve to be very helpful for the comfortable stay of the people who visit Malegaon. Some of the most famous hotels of Malegaon include Hotel Sukhsagar at Soygaon, Star Hotel at Maldhe, Hotel Sun Palace at Malegaon Camp Road and Hotel Annapurna at Soygaon

Fast Facts about Malegaon

  • Location: Maharashtra, India
  • STD Code: 02554
  • Best Season: October to March
  • Language: Hindi, Urdu, Marathi and English
  • Altitude: 438 meters
  • Temperature: Summer- 47 (Max) & 27 (Min) Degrees Celsius, Winter- 25(Max) & 57 (Min) Degrees Celsius
  • Monsoon: June to October
  • Summer: March to May
  • Winter: November-February
  • Traditional Clothes: Men wear dhoti with kurta while women wear 9 yard sari called Nauvari for traditional events.
  • Nearest Airport: Nanded Airport, 136 km
  • Railway Station: Manmad
  • Bus Station: Malegaon
  • Hospital & Doctor: Govt. and Pvt. Hospitals are completely equipped to grip medical emergencies.
  • Distance From Nashik: 105 Km
  • Distance From Mumbai: 269 Km
  • Sightseeing: Urdu Library, Malegaon Fort and Shahi Masjid.

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