About Yavatmal

Yavatmal, a city in the state of Maharashtra is hailed as the safest place in the world from the ancient times. Located at around 1459 feet above sea level, Yavatmal was the most prominent towns of the Berar sultanate. A coveted city for over a thousand years, Yavatmal has witnessed many empires and regional powers fighting for the control of it. These inflow of different cultures have greatly helped to shape the culture and lifestyle of the city. and each culture or dynasties have left behind architectural marvels that are worth visiting.The district of Yavatmal is home to some of the oldest tribal communities in India. This is a city where the ancient and the modern thrive side by side.
 

Evolution of the name

There is confusion on how the city got this peculiar name. The most agreeable version of the story is that the name evolved out of the combination of two words. ‘Yot’ means proximate land ‘Maad’ translates into tall trees. Together they can be called ‘Yotmaad’ – 'land of tall trees' which are still present due to its geographical layout. Another version is that the city got its name from two words- YAVAT which meant mountain and MAL meaning Row. Conforming to its name the district is speckled with low ranges of Ajanta Mountains.

The past and present of Yavatmal

The origin of the city can be traced back to the Mauryan period. The city was part of Berar and the whole region was part of the Mauryan Empire – under Ashoka’s rule when the Mauryan pride was at its peak. But the city got independence soon after Ashoka reign. From then on it was attacked and conquered by the successive kingdoms of the region. the city passed through the reigns of Bahmani sultanate and Ahmednagar sultanate until ultimately coming under the rule of the Mughals. The Mughals ruled it till the time of Aurangazeb- the last of the great Mughals. After a short period of occupation by the Marathans, Yavatmal finally passed over to the British in 1853. The civil life in the city was not disturbed even during the mutiny of 1857. After independence the city was added to the state of Maharashtra. It is now home to scores of prestigious educational institutions which are bringing the new generation of Yavatmal closer to the technology driven 21st century

Economy of Yavatmal

The city houses the industrial resources for processing the agricultural products of the Yavatmal district. The main cash crop is cotton; the material which gave the district the name ‘the district of white gold’. The fertile soil of the region, bestowed upon it by Wardha and Painganga Rivers made the district one of the top producers of cotton in the state. Also known as the 'cotton city', Yavatmal was considered a hill station by the British. Some of the major textile giants have plans here like the Raymonds who has a plant which produces the special fibre for Jeans.

Special industrial estates are there in Wani, Pusad and Yavatmal. The construction of a special Economic Zone, a colossal industrial complex spreading over 106 acres of land, are also under construction. The completion of it spells a radical change in the economy of the city. The city also has an agricultural research Centre and Poultry Breeding Centre.

Climate of Yavatmal

Yavatmal is located in the Wardha Penganga - Waingaga plain, in the north eastern part Maharashtra. The climate of the city is greatly influenced by its geographical position. Its low lying hills and valleys play a pivotal role in shaping it weather characteristics. The climate is hot and some times, very dry.  
The year may be broken up into four seasons with the summer starting in March and ending in June. In its peak, the temperature may rise up to 42 degree Celsius.

The dry season is followed by south western monsoon which lasts about four months - till the end of September. The rain brings down the temperature considerably. The monsoon is followed by the post monsoon months of October and November. December brings in the cold season which lasts up to February. Two major rivers traverse through the city of Yavatmal. Wardha and Penganga flow along the boundaries of the district and are considered the arteries of the city.