Chakan, Maharashtra

Chakan, Maharashtra
Chakan
town
Chakan, Maharashtra

Location in Maharashtra, India

Coordinates: 18°45′N 73°51′E / 18.75°N 73.85°E / 18.75; 73.85Coordinates: 18°45′N 73°51′E / 18.75°N 73.85°E / 18.75; 73.85
Country  India
State Maharashtra
District Pune District
Elevation 646 m (2,119 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 41,634
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
ISO 3166 code IN-MH
Website maharashtra.gov.in

Chakan (Marathi: चाकण) is a census town in India, in the Pune district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. While agriculture remains an important factor, the town's industrial development is quickly urbanizing the area.

Geography


Chakan is about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Pune, on NH 50 between Pune and Nashik cities. It is also on the roads that connect the Pune-Mumbai Highway to the Pune-Nashik Highway, and to the Pune-Ahmednagar-Aurangabad Highway. It is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) from Mumbai, 120 kilometres (75 mi) from Ahmednagar and 175 kilometres (109 mi) from Nashik.

Economy

Historically, Chakan has been a wholesale agricultural produce trading hub. Its agricultural market was a major onion trading center.

Chakan is now home to a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoted by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). It has since evolved into a major automobile hub.[1] It hosts automobile production plants for the Volkswagen Group, Daimler-Benz, Mahindra & Mahindra, Jaguar Land Rover and Bajaj Auto, General Electric.[2] Over 750 large and small industries, including a number of automobile component manufacturers, are based in the area.[3]

Shiroli Chandus village, located 6 km north of Chakan, has been identified as a probable site for the proposed Pune International Airport.

Administration

The Chakan City is managed by Chakan Municipal Counsil since 2015.

Tourism

Chakan boasts the Sangram Durga or Bhueekot Killa, which was once the domain of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The fort is built on level ground and surrounded by the fortified walls and turrets. It differs from most Indian forts which were traditionally built on hilly, elevated land. The fort was the site of an epic 54 days of stiff resistance by the Maratha general Firangoji Narsala against Mughal Sardar Shahistekhan. The fort withstood heavy Mughal attacks until the Mughals breached the walls using high explosives. The following attack on the fort was repulsed by the Marathas. But short on supplies, Firangoji counterattacked and cut his way deep in to the Mughal encampment where he was finally subdued and captured.

The Chakreshwar temple is another site of importance. Legend has it that it is the site where King Dasharatha was battling a Rakshasa (Demon King), when the wheel of his ratha (chariot) was stuck in mud near the pond of Chakreshwar. When his wife Kaikeyi helped get the wheel unstuck, Dasharatha granted her three wishes, that eventually led to the exile of Rama and the subsequent events of the epic Ramayana.

In May, Chakan celebrates a major festival called Khandobacha Urs.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[4] Chakan town had a population of 41,634. Males constituted 54% of the population and females 46%, due to higher migrant workers in the neighboring industries. Chakan had an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 78% and female literacy of 65%. 15% of the population was under 6 years of age. Since then the town has seen multi-fold growth due to a number of new automobile industries that have been established in the area.

Some of the popular residential areas in Chakan include Talegaon Chowk, Main Road, Bramhin Lane, Deshmukh Lane, Mal Ali, Bazar Peth, Nanekarwadi, Medankarwadi, Kadachi Wadi, Vishal Park and Market Yard.

Shri Shivaji Vidya Mandir is the oldest school in town on the Main road between Marketyard and Bazar Peth.

Transport

Chakan is located 30 km from Pune City on the National Highway 50, between Pune and Nashik. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation runs frequent and extensive bus services that connect to various parts of Maharashtra state. PMPML buses connect Chakan to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Highways connecting to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad have heavy traffic due to extensive industrial growth in the area.

Chakan is also on the Pune Junction - Nashik Road railway line. The nearest airport is the current Pune International Airport.

The proposed site of a new, expanded Pune International Airport is at Shiroli and Chandus villages, about 6 km from Chakan. Phase III of the Pune Metro will connect Chakan to Moshi,[5] which hosts an International Convention and Exhibition centre.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.bharatestates.com/blog/index.php/development-in-chakan-pune/
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  4. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  5. ↑ Metro-rail-from-Chakan-to-Moshi-on-cards-Band
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