Chhindwara

Chhindwara, city, southern Madhya Pradesh state, central India. It lies at an elevation of about 2,200 feet (670 metres) above sea level on an upland plateau south of the Satpura Range, about 35 miles (55 km) west of Seoni.

The city derives its name from chhind, Hindi for date palms. Chhindwara is situated at a major road and rail junction, and it is heavily engaged in cotton trade and coal shipping. Cotton ginning and sawmilling are the chief industries. The city was constituted a municipality in 1867. It has several colleges affiliated with the University of Sagar. A mining school is just northwest at Barkuhi. The city is famous locally for its pottery and for the manufacture of zinc and brass ornaments as well as water flasks.

The surrounding area largely consists of a continuation of the plateau region of the central Satpura Range, which rises in the northwest to rugged hills. The plateau slopes toward the Nagpur Plain in the south. The southern and eastern parts of the plateau include the fertile Chaurai wheat plain. The Nagpur Plain is a rich agricultural area producing cotton and sorghum (jowar) and is the wealthiest and most-populous part of the region. The Wainganga, Pench, and Kanhan rivers drain the area. Oilseeds and sunn (Indian hemp) are other important crops. Cattle breeding is extensive on the plateau. Coal, manganese, bauxite, and marble deposits are worked. Near Chhindwara lies Deoghar in Jharkhand state, the old capital of the Gond dynasty. Pop. (2001) city, 122,247; (2011) city, 138,291.