CHAPTER- III PROFILE OF STUDY AREA (NASHIK, AHMEDNAGAR & AURANGABAD DISTRICTS) 3.1 Introduction: Tourism means experiencing a culture, location, language, cuisine and activities different than one’s own. Maharashtra’s culture and heritage has to be preserved, conserved and promoted in order to develop tourism. Most of the villages in Maharashtra is having potential to attract tourist, but because of the inadequate infrastructural facilities, it is lacking behind. Travelling and exploring new things is the nature of every human being. Now a day’s every person is stressed out and want some change from routine activities. People visit new places to appreciate their beauty, in course of time, has given birth to modern industry called tourism. Maharashtra is the third largest state in India having 36 districts and each district is attracting thousands of tourist visitors. Travel and tourism is the largest service industry in India. It is expected that tourism sectors contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product will grow at the rate of 7.8% yearly in the period 2010-2013. In 2013 the travel and tourism industry contributed Rs. 2,170 billion or 2% to the country’s GDP. This is expected to rise to Rs. 4,350 billion in the year 2024. Area under Study (Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts) Map No. 3.1 Location Map Shows in Maharashtra The objective of this chapter is to examine physical and socio-cultural aspects, regarding Physiography, drainage pattern, climate, soil, forest, population, transport, 46 irrigation, occupational structure and land use pattern, tourist centers in Nashik, Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts. The physiographic study helps to understand the development of tourism and also helps to understand any geographical feasibilities of any suggested plan for the tourism development in the region. 3.2 NASHIK DISTRICT: 3.2.1 Location: Nasik district lying between 19035’18” North latitude to 20053’07” North latitude and 73016’07’’ East longitude to 74056 27” East longitudes with an area 15530 59. km (Fig No.3.1). The total population of the district was 6107187 as per the census of 2011. Rhomboidal in the shape with the longer diagonal of about 170 km from south- west to north –East. Map 3.2 Location of Nashik district Nasik is bounded on the North West by the Dangs and Surat districts of Gujarat state, on the North by the Dhula district, on the East by the Jalgaon and Aurangabad district on the South of the Ahmednagar district and towards South west of the Thane district. Nashik district comprises 13 Tahsil before 2000, after 2001 there is 15 Tahsil 47 like Nashik, Paint, Surgana, Trimbak, Igatpuri, Sinnar, Niphad, Dindori, Kalwan, Satana, Malegaon, Chandwad, Nandgaon and Yeola. 3.2.2 Relief: Topographical features straight influence agriculture .Altitude, angle of slope, aspect, slope, Relative Relief control size and shape of forms and types of crop grown in general agriculture is rarely found above 3500 meters of altitude decrease in temperature and pressure, low humidity, thin soil cover limit agriculture. Chandana(2004)Landforms influences the distributional patterns of population both macro and micro scales. Physiographical, the western part of the district is represented by highly rugged and separated terrain of theWestern Ghats with peaks like Kalsubai (1646m) and Trimbak (1294m) low lying plains mark the eastern southern parts. The highest height in the district is 1567 meters near Salher fort. The easterly flowing Godavari and Girna Rivers with their tributaries constitute the main drainage system in this district. Mangi–Tungi is uppermost peak appears in this range (1331 meters altitude). Selbari pass lies near east of this peak. Alternative parallel range is Salher-Mulher range. Satmala-Chandwad range runs across study region from west to southeast direction having highest peak Dhodap (1451 meters). Saptashring peak (1420 meters), Indrai (1410 meters) and Chandwad (1217 meters) appears in this range. Towards southwest, twin forts, namely, Anki and Tanki are located at the height of 960 meters in study region. This range is highly dissected by streams. Satmala-Chandwad range forms water divide between Girna and Godavari river basins. This range passes through Kalwan, Dindori, Devola, Niphad, Chandwad and Nandgaon tahsils. In south part, Trimbak-Anjaneri range stretches towards east from Bhaskargad. These ranges run through Nashik and Igatpuri tahsils. Harishgad (1113 meters) and Brahmagiri (1210 meters) are in south part in study region. The slope of this region is steep and forms cliffs in this range. This range is the source of river Godavari River at altitudes of 1274 meters. Anjaneri range runs east to west at the altitude of 1100 meters consisting irregular group of hills forming water divide between Godavari, Darna and Vaitarna River. On southern boundary, Kalasubai range stretches eastward. The highest peak of Maharashtra state, namely, Kalasubai (1646 meters) lies in this range The third physiographic division look like in east part in study region and it is characterized by occurrence of several off-shoots in eastward and southeastward. The height of this plateau varies from 400 to 600 meters and slope is towards east. This area covers 59 percent geographical area and is widely spreads over Malegaon, Nandgaon, Niphad, 48 Yeola, Sinner, east Nashik and Deola tahsils. In north, lands are deeply dissected and have found gullies on rough terrain of very poor soils. Godavari and its tributaries are flowing toward south part in study region. It forms broad valley of alluvial deposit in south, central and east parts in Nashik and Niphad tahsils and has high soil fertility. This area is moderately productive. Sinner plateau is located in southeast having rough slopping ground. 3.2.3 Drainage System: The streams of the region have taken advantage of these plans of weakness in carving their valley as in shown by the following features streams generally run into one or other of these three sets of directions. The district is drained by two chief rivers the Girna and the Godavari and their tributaries the watershed between these being the Stamatas range. There are a number of small Konkan Rivers draining westwards into the Arabian Sea. 3.2.4 Konkan Rivers: Innumerable small streams flow down the western scarp of the Sahyadris draining towards the Arabian Sea. The downghat Konkan tract is a highly dissected region lying to the west of the Sahyadri edge of the Deccan plateau Bhima, Vaitarna, Damanganga, par, Nar etc. are the most important Konkan Rivers. This region receives maximum rainfall during the rainy season. These rivers are non-perennial rivers because of physiography and shortest distance of the river. 3.2.5 Girna River Basin: The Girna basin lies to the east of the Sahyadries and north of the Satmala. The Girna rises just south of the Cherai village at about 8km south west of Hatgad in the Sahyadries. It flows almost due east along a wide bed, with high banks in some parts, but generally low enough to permit the use of water for irrigation several dams have been built across the main stream irrigating large areas of garden land. The Girna its upper course receives several tributaries of nearly its own size and equally useful for irrigation. Some important tributaries of the Girna are Tambdi, Punand, Mosam, Panjan and Mainad. 3.2.6 The Godavari River Basin: The Godavari is a most celebrated river not only of the district, but also of the whole peninsular India. The Godavari rises in the Sahyadri range near Trimbak and drains Nashik and Niphad Tahsils, after passing the town of Trimbak, the Godavari turn to the east cutting a deep and rocky bed. Many small streams meet the Godavari the most important amongst them are the Kadva, the Kashyapi the Nasardi and the Darna. 49 The catchment area of Godavari basin is 7013 square km. Kashypi, Darna, valdevi, Banganga etc. is the well know Tributaries of Godavari. Map 3.3 Rivers in Nashik district 3.2.7 Climate: Husain (1999) of all the physical factors, climate is very significant because it determines agricultural land use and agricultural patterns of region. The climate of Nashik can broadly be classified (1) Manson – from June to September (2) Winter – from October to middle of march of march and (3) Summer – from the middle of March to middle of June. The climate of Nashik district is generally dry except during monsoon season. The winter is quite fair and slightly severe during the months of December and January the Temperature during summer varies from 36 degree Celsius to 43 degrees Celsius. 3.2.7a Temperature: (Husain 1999)The temperature factor supports plant and animal life. The prevailing temperature conditions of the region closely influence the crop to be grown the agricultural operation and the agricultural patterns. There are two meteorological observatories in the district, The records of these two observations mat be taken as representative of the climate conditions in the district Malegaon is situated 50 in the eastern part of the district which is at a slightly lower elevation than the rest of the district. The Temperatures at this station are about 30c greater than in Nashik in summer and about one or two degrees higher in the cold season. In the region of the Western Ghats the temperatures may be much lower than in Nashik dependent on the elevations. Temperature increases rapidly from about the latter partial of February is the hottest month with the mean daily maximum temperature is 40.60c at Malegaon and 37.40c at Nashik. The heat is increasing in the height of summer and on the same days the maximum temperature may go above 46 c in the eastern part of the district with comparatively lower elevation.