Parbhani

Parbhani (Marathi: परभणी parbhani,IPA ) is a city in Parbhani district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Parbhani, formerly known as “Prabhavatinagar”, is a city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. It is the administrative headquarters of Parbhani District.

Parbhani is situated approximately at the centre of Maharashtra. The state capital, Mumbai lies to the west of Parbhani. The nearest major city is Aurangabad. Parbhani is well connected by road to other major cities also in Maharashtra and even in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Parbhani is an important Railway junction on the Mumbai-Parbhani-Secunderabad and Parli-Parbhani-Bangalore lines.

Marathwada Agricultural University (MAU) Parbhani is one of four Agri-Universities in the State of Maharashtra. Prior to original Maharashtra Agricultural University, it was established on May 18, 1972 to fulfil the regional aspirations of agrarian growth. It is entrusted with the responsibilities to pro- vide education in agriculture and allied fields, undertake research and facilitate technology transfer in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The first college of Agriculture was established in this region at Parbhani in 1956 by Hyderabad State Govern- ment just before State reorganization. During Nizam's rule, however, agricultural education was available only at Hyd- erabad but crop research centres viz., sorghum, cotton, fruits existed in the region. The foundation of research was laid by the erstwhile Nizam State with commencement of the Main Experimental Farm at Parbhani in 1918. The famous 'Gaorani' desi cotton is the result of the research on cotton and local sorghum cultivars were improved by selec- tion by the then Economic Botanist. Since then Parbhani remain the hub of educational, research and extension activ- ities in Marathwada.facilitate technology transfer, etc. It is the only agricultural university in India where all the branches of Agricultural Sciences are taught. College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Parbhani is located here which is one of the constituent Veterinary Colleges coming under the authority of Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur from 2000. Earlier this college was established in 1972 as a part of MAU.

Parbhani has its share in Hindu theology. The Hindu saint who is considered to be the reincarnation of the Dattatraya in Hindu theology, Shri Shirdi Saibaba, was said to be born in this district at a place called Pathri-about 45 km from Parbhani. A Jain temple at Jintur is 40 km away. A village named Mudgal (Tq. Pathri) the only place in India where Vishnu (Mudgal Narsimha) and Shiva (Mudgaleshwar) are worshiped together. Pokharni, a place around 19 km to the south of Parbhani has a famous Lord Narshima temple. Selu is 45 km towards Aurangabad where a temple of Shri Keshavraj Babasaheb is, who was Guru of Shri SaiBaba. Selu is an important railway station on the Mumbai-Secundrabad rail line.