Amravati division

• Area: 46,090 km²
• Population (2011 census): 11,258,117
• Districts: Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal
• Largest City: Amravati
• Literacy: 93.03%
• Area under irrigation: 2,582.02 km²
• Railways: broad gauge 249 km, meter gauge 227 km, narrow gauge 188 km.

History

Amravati Division roughly corresponds to the former province of Berar, which was ruled by the Maratha Maharajas of Nagpur till 1803. In 1853, it was occupied by the British, who decided to administer the province although it remained under the nominal sovereignty of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

In 1903, Berar Province was renamed Berar Division and added to the British-administered Central Provinces, which in 1936 was renamed Central Provinces and Berar. Upon Indian independence, the Central Provinces and Berar were reorganised as the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. In 1956 the Indian states were reorganised on linguistic grounds, and Amravati and Nagpur divisions were transferred to Bombay State, which was split on linguistic lines into the states Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960.

Amravati is the largest city in the division followed by Akola and Yavatmal.

Chikhaldara, the only hill station in Vidarbha, is situated in Amravati District. Also the famous Melghat Tiger Reserve is situated in Amravati and Akola districts.