Saswad

Saswad
city
Saswad
Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°33′N 74°00′E / 18.55°N 74.00°E / 18.55; 74.00Coordinates: 18°33′N 74°00′E / 18.55°N 74.00°E / 18.55; 74.00
Country  India
State Maharashtra
District PUNE
Elevation 767 m (2,516 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,31,821
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration MH-12

Saswad  pronunciation  is a city and a municipal council in the Pune district of Maharashtra. Saswad is situated on the banks of Karha River. Saswad is just about 30 km from Pune Station.

History

Saswad is a place with long history.It was on the ancient trade route connecting the coastal Konkan ports to the Deccan interiors.Being on a trade route also made it a center for Buddhist Monasteries[1]. The samadhi or the resting place of the 13th century varkari sant Sopan is located in the town.The annual Alandi to Pandharpur Wari of Dnyaneshwar Palkhi makes a halt in the town. In recent centuries it was known as the town at the foot of the historic Purandar fort.The first Peshwa from the Bhat family, Balaji Vishwanath had his base in the town. His son, Bajirao I moved his base in 1720 to nearby Pune and turned that place into a large city[2].During the 18th century, Saswad was the seat of Purandare family, hereditary knights of the Peshwa.The family's palatial mansion,now crumbling, was an imposing sight during the late peshwa era[3]

In the 20th century, Aacharya Atre, the eminent Socialist leader, Marathi Writer and Filmmaker was born here. He was one of the Leaders of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.His series of books on the Movement. viz. Karheche Pani कऱ्हेचे पाणी created Undisputed Place in the History of Marathi Language.

Saswad from the Sangameshwar temple in 1813 by British artist Robert Melville Grindlay.The Purandare palace can be seen in the background

Geography

Saswad is located at average elevation of 1000 metres.[4]

As of 2011Saswad had a population of 31,821. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Saswad has an average literacy rate of 85%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 90%, and female literacy is 80%. In Saswad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

About Saswad

Given its proximity to Pune, Saswad may become part of Pune metropolitan area.The town is just 25 km away from Pune city and 20 minutes from Hadapsar.The Eotte (Royal Purandar) city which is under construction is just 10 km from Saswad and Magarpatta City, Amannora Tower City are 25 km from Saswad. Saswad is a well developed city. There are many apartments,shopping complex,planned society's are built. Saswad is the base for visitors to nearby Khandoba temple at Jejuri ,the ek-mukhi Datta temple at Narayanpur and the historic Purandar fort- it is also mentioned as the residence of Peshwa Bajirao in the tv soap Peshwa Bajirao

Transport

Pune city buses (PMPML) run services to Saswad from Hadapsar,Swargate and Pune Train Station.The town also has its own ST depot to long distance destinations.Saswad is quite close to Jejuri railway station that has services going to Pune as well as to destinations south such as Miraj. Pune airport is 50-60 min(via Kharadi bypass) away from Saswad.The 2013 railway budget allocated funds to start railway(Local) service to Saswad.

Education

Saswad being a large town, has educational institutions catering for needs of different ages and sections of the society.There are eight schools run by the municipal council,many privately run primary and secondary schools offering instruction in Marathi and English, and Christian mission run schools offering instruction in English.The town also has a number of colleges offering degree level courses.There is also an ITI offering vocational training.

Schools

  • Kanya prashala
  • M.E.S waghire high school
  • Purandar high school
  • Shivaji English Medium
  • Gurukul primary school
  • Bachpan primary school
  • St.Josef English medium

Colleges

  • Purandar engineering college
  • Shivaji D'ed college
  • Waghire College
  • Purandar college
  • Sheth Raghunath Sabale college of Pharmacy- Saswad,

Industry

Due to improvement in transport, many (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) industrial parks (MIDC) around Pune (Pimpri-Chinchwad MIDC, Chakan MIDC, Nagar Road MIDC and Jejuri MIDC) have become close enough for commuting from Saswad.

References

  1. ↑ Kantak, M.R., 1991. URBANIZATION OF PUNE: HOW ITS GROUND WAS PREPARED. Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, 51, pp.489-495.
  2. ↑ Kosambi, Meera (1989). "Glory of Peshwa Pune". Economic and Political Weekly. 24 (5): 247.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Sasvad
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