BULDHANA

Buldhana, historically part of Berar, lay along important inland trade corridors connected to the ancient Dakshinapatha route. The area was once part of the Vidarbha kingdom, which features in early literary sources such as the Mahabharat.

Archaeological sites across the Vidarbha region, where Buldhana district is situated, have provided important insights into early trade networks and routes. Among these, Bhon, a village located in the Purna river basin, shows evidence of such connections. Notably, Bhaskar Deotare (2007) identifies Bhon as being “on the trade route of Dakshinapatha,” pointing to its position within a broader route system used for the movement of goods and religious symbols. Additionally, archaeological excavations at Bhon have uncovered terracotta artifacts near a stupa, including figures and motifs linked to the Buddhist Trikāya tradition. The presence of Buddhist symbols at this site reflects the pattern seen across the Indian subcontinent, where trade routes often supported the establishment of religious monuments and aided the transmission of Buddhist practices.

Another settlement connected to the region’s trading past is Khamgaon, which gained prominence during the medieval period. Historical accounts suggest it lay along the Malkapur–Balapur corridor, serving as a local market center. It was known especially for its silver trade and was even a fortified town with gates and walls, some of which still stand today (see the Cultural Sites chapter for more).

The railway network in Buldhana district is part of the Central Railway’s Bhusawal division. As of 2024, the district has twelve railway stations, the most prominent being Malkapur and Shegaon. Malkapur station, located on the Howrah–Nagpur–Mumbai main line, connects the district to major cities across eastern and western India. Shegaon station, situated on the Bhusawal–Nagpur section, is a key stop for yatris visiting the well-known Mandir of Gajanan Maharaj. Notably, both stations have received ISO certification for passenger facilities and sanitation standards.

The earliest railway access to the region dates to 1863–64, with the opening of the Nagpur branch of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR). Although the main line did not pass directly through the present-day Buldhana district, it established nearby junctions at Jalgaon, Akola, and Amravati, facilitating broader regional connectivity. These developments gradually drew parts of Buldhana into the expanding colonial trade and transport network, particularly in the cotton-producing zones of Berar.

In 1870, a short branch line was opened from Jalamb to Khamgaon (towns in Buldhana district), which spanned approximately 13 km. This line was constructed in response to growing commercial activity in Khamgaon, which had emerged by the mid-19th century as a significant trading center in western Berar (of which it was then administratively a part).

Interestingly, the opening of the line was driven by growing demands from local merchants in the region. It is mentioned in the District Gazetteer (1976) that the 1865 Settlement Officer noted petitions from local merchants calling for improved transport infrastructure to support the movement of cotton and other goods. When first inaugurated, the Jalamb–Khamgaon line had no intermediate stations, serving exclusively to connect the town’s cotton market to the wider rail network.

Buldhana district is currently served by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), which operates through major depots at Buldhana, Malkapur, Chikhli, Khamgaon, Shegaon, Mehkar, and Jalgaon Jamod. These depots support regular services within the district and to nearby cities such as Akola, Jalgaon, Amravati, Sambhaji Nagar, and Nagpur. MSRTC buses run along key state highways, with express and semi-luxury options available on major intercity routes.

The public transport network in the district took shape gradually after 1948, following the establishment of the Bombay State Road Transport Service, which was later reconstituted as MSRTC in 1960. During the 1950s and 1960s, services were extended to growing towns like Chikhli and Mehkar, and permanent bus stands began to be constructed. By the 1970s, the district had a functioning schedule-based system, replacing earlier modes of transport such as tongas, hired jeeps, and bullock carts.

Before the introduction of state-run services, road transport in the district remained unregulated. In the 1930s and early 1940s, private bus operators ran limited services, often without fixed routes or timetables. It is noted in the district Gazetteer (1976) that roads at the time were uneven and narrow, and transport was seasonal, particularly during cotton harvests when lorries and carts were used to move goods to railheads like Malkapur and Khamgaon. The absence of coordinated services and poor road infrastructure limited mobility across much of Buldhana, especially the rural areas, during the colonial period.

In the 1970s, Buldhana district had an active local press, with several Marathi newspapers and magazines contributing to public awareness and regional discourse. As noted in the Buldhana District Gazetteer (1976), eight periodicals were being published in the district at the time, six weeklies and two monthlies, all in Marathi.

The weekly newspapers included Yashwant Sandesh, Panchayat Raj, and Awhan, all published from Malkapur; Shetkari from Buldhana; Ninad from Khamgaon; Shiv Sandesh from Mehkar; and Navsamaj from Shegaon. The two monthly magazines, Sahakar Pragati and Gramdarshan, were also based in Buldhana. These publications, while primarily focused on local news, also reported on state and national developments.

In addition to these, newspapers from Akola, Nagpur, and Mumbai were circulated widely in the district. These included Lokmat, Nagpur Times, Tarun Bharat, Maharashtra, Hitavada, and Jay Vidarbha from Nagpur, as well as English dailies such as The Times of India.