Khargone West Nimar Pincodes

Formerly recognized as West Nimar district, Khargone district is located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is a part of the Nimar region and falls under the Indore Division. Khargone city, the administrative center of the district, is situated to the south of the Indore metropolis, which serves as the headquarters for Indore district.

History:

The region now known as Khargone was historically ruled by various dynasties. Initially, it was under the Haihayas of Mahishmati (now Maheshwar). Later, the Paramaras of Malwa and the Ahirs of Asirgarh dominated the area in the early medieval period. The Malwa Sultanate of Mandu took over in the late medieval period. In 1531, Gujarat’s Sultan Bahadur Shah seized control, and in 1562, Emperor Akbar integrated it into the Mughal Empire. The Marathas, led by the Peshwa, gained control in 1740 and subsequently, in 1778, the Peshwa divided the territory among the Maratha rulers: the Holkars of Indore, the Shinde (Scindia) of Gwalior, and the Ponwars of Dhar.

Post-independence in 1947, the princely states merged into the Indian Union, forming the West Nimar district in Madhya Bharat. Initially part of the Narmada Division of the Central Provinces and Berar, it joined the newly created state of Madhya Pradesh in 1956. On May 25, 1998, West Nimar was split into Khargone and Barwani districts.

Geography:

Khargone district covers an area of 8,030 square kilometers. It is bordered by Dhar, Indore, and Dewas districts to the north, Jalgaon district of Maharashtra to the south, Khandwa and Burhanpur districts to the east, and Barwani district to the west.

Economy:

The economy of Khargone mainly revolves around agriculture, with important industries located in the cities of Nimrani and Barwaha. Key agricultural products include cotton, soybean, and chilli pepper, making Khargone the largest cotton-producing area in India. The district houses several cotton processing facilities, both in the cooperative and private sectors. Notably, the cooperative Jawaharlal Nehru Sahakari Soot Mill is located on Julwania Road. Additionally, the renowned Sendhwa cotton hub is situated approximately 70 km from Khargone city. The district is also known for its red chilli pepper, which is exported internationally. Bedia, about 50 km from Khargone city, is home to a well-known chilli market.

Administration:

Khargone district is divided into two sub-divisions: Barwaha and Khargone, which are further split into 9 tehsils. Barwaha sub-division includes three large tehsils (Barwaha, Maheshwar, Kasrawad) covering half of the district’s area. The Khargone sub-division comprises six smaller tehsils (Khargone, Gogawan, Segaon, Bhagwanpura, Bhikangaon, Jhirnya) accounting for the other half. The city of Khargone serves as the district’s administrative center. Other notable towns are Maheshwar, Kasrawad, Segaon, Bhagwanpura, Jhirnya, Bhikangaon, Gogawan, and Barwaha. Maheshwar, known for its historical significance as the former capital of the Haihayas and the Holkars of Indore, is a popular tourist spot.

Politically, the district includes six Vidhan Sabha constituencies: Bhikangaon, Barwaha, Maheshwar, Kasrawad, Khargone, and Bhagwanpura. Bhikangaon and Barwaha fall under the Khandwa Lok Sabha constituency, while the others are part of the Khargone Lok Sabha constituency.

Demographics:

As of the 2011 census, Khargone district has a population of 1,873,046, ranking it 252nd among India’s 640 districts. The sex ratio in West Nimar is 963 females for every 1,000 males, and the literacy rate is 63.98%. About 15.96% of the district’s population resides in urban areas. During the 2011 census, it was noted that 51.80% of the district’s population spoke Nimadi as their first language. Other languages include Hindi (17.38%), Bareli (11.10%), Bhilali (6.74%), Bhili (6.43%), Urdu (1.98%), Banjari (1.81%), Gujarati (0.61%), and Marathi (0.43%).