Chandrapur (formerly known as Chanda until 1964) is a city and municipal corporation in Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India. It is the headquarters of Chandrapur district and was founded in the 13th century by the Gond king, Khandkya Ballaal Shah, as a fort city. The city is situated at the confluence of the Irai and Zarpat rivers, and the surrounding area is rich in coal seams, earning it the nickname 'Black Gold City.’
The name "Chandrapur" is locally connected to the words Chandra (moon) and Pur (settlement). Scholars believe it derives from "Indupur" (city of the moon), a name associated with the Treta Yuga near Zarpat.
Chandrapur has been ruled by various empires throughout history. Between 322 BCE and 187 BCE, it was part of the Mauryan Empire, followed by the Shunga Empire (187 BCE to 78 BCE), the Satavahana Empire (1st century BCE to 2nd century CE), and the Vakataka dynasty (3rd century CE to 550 CE). Subsequent rulers included the Kalachuri dynasty (6th–7th centuries), Rashtrakuta dynasty (7th–10th centuries), and the Chalukya dynasty (until the 12th century). The Seuna (Yadava) dynasty governed the region from around 850 CE to 1334 CE.
The Gond people, an indigenous group, were widespread in central India. Gond King Khandkya Ballaal (1470–1495) founded Chandrapur after relocating from Sirpur to the north bank of the Wardha River. Legend says the king, afflicted with bodily knots, discovered a miraculous water source near the Zarpat River that cured him. He and his queen deemed the site sacred and constructed a temple, marking the foundation of the city. A hare-and-dog chase, deemed an auspicious omen, inspired the city’s layout and fortification by his officer, Tel Thakur.
In 1751, during the Maratha Empire, Chandrapur was captured by the Nagpur Bhonsles. Following the death of Raghuji Bhonsle III in 1853, Chandrapur was annexed to British India. During British rule, Chandrapur was referred to as 'Chanda.' Anglican and Scottish Episcopal missionaries arrived in 1871, and administrative reforms established new talukas and tehsils in subsequent years.
In 1956, with the reorganization of Indian states, Chandrapur district was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to Bombay State, and in 1960 it became part of Maharashtra. The city's name was officially changed from Chanda to Chandrapur in 1964. By the 1981 census, Chandrapur district was divided into Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.
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