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{{About|the municipality in Maharashtra, India|its namesake district|Beed district}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=July 2015}}
{{original research|date=May 2017}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Beed
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = Kankaleshwar Temple Beed.jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Kanakaleshwar Temple
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=y|type=shape-inverse|id=Q1191|frame-width=370|frame-height=300|stroke-width=3|frame-lat=18.92|frame-long=76.68|zoom=6|type2=point|coord2={{coord|18.99|N|75.76|E}}|marker-size2=medium}}
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Beed in Maharashtra
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|18.99|N|75.76|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Districts of Maharashtra|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{seal|Maharashtra}}
| subdivision_name3  = [[Beed district|Beed]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 13th century CE (Possibly)
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = Municipal Council
| governing_body     = Beed Municipal Council
| leader_title1      = Mayor
| leader_name1       = 
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="PLACE_BHIR" />
| area_total_km2     = 45
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 515
| population_total   = 146709
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 17697.1
| population_rank    = 321
| population_demonym = Beedkar
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code        = 431 122
| area_code          = +91-2442
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| registration_plate = MH-23
| blank1_name_sec1   = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank1_info_sec1   = 933 [[female|♀]]/[[male|♂]]
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2   = [[Climatic regions of India|BSh]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| footnotes          = 
| blank2_name_sec1   = Child sex ratio
| blank2_info_sec1   = 843 [[female|♀]]/[[male|♂]]
| blank3_name_sec1   = Literacy
| blank3_info_sec1   = 88.56%
| blank4_name_sec1   = Male literacy
| blank4_info_sec1   = 94.01%
| blank5_name_sec1   = Female literacy
| blank5_info_sec1   = 82.81%
| blank2_name_sec2   = [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]]
| blank2_info_sec2   = {{convert|666|mm|in}}
| blank3_name_sec2   = Avg. summer temperature
| blank3_info_sec2   = {{convert|40|°C|°F}}
| blank4_name_sec2   = Avg. winter temperature
| blank4_info_sec2   = {{convert|15|°C|°F}}
| blank6_name_sec1   = {{nowrap|[[Official language]]}}
| blank6_info_sec1   = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="NCLMreport">[http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf National Commissioner Linguistic Minorities 50th report, page 131] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708012438/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM50thReport.pdf |date= 8 July 2016 }}. Government of India. Retrieved 15 July 2015.</ref>
| website            = {{URL|beed.nic.in}}
}}
'''Beed''' (Marathi pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[biːɖ]]]) is a city and headquarters of eponymous [[Beed district]] of [[Maharashtra]] state in [[India]].<ref name="Maharashtra India">{{Cite web
 |publisher = citypopulation.de
 |title = Maharashtra India
 |url= http://www.citypopulation.de/India-Maharashtra.html
 |access-date=23 October 2014
}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Beed}}
Beed is a historical city of possibly medieval origin. Its early history is obscure. Historians speculate, based on archaeological remains, that the city might have been founded by the Yadava rulers (1173–1317) of Devagiri ([[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad]]). Beed was later governed by the [[Nizam]]s during the period of [[British India]]. '''Operation Polo''', the code name of the Hyderabad "Police Action", was a military operation in September 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the [[State of Hyderabad]] and overthrew its Nizam, annexing the state into [[India]]. Beed remained in annexed Hyderabad state until 1956 when it was included in [[Bombay Presidency]]. On 1 May 1960 [[Maharashtra]] state was created on a linguistic basis, and Marathi- & Muslim-dominated [[Beed district]] became part of Maharashtra.<ref name="PLACE_BHIR">{{Cite web| publisher= maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)| title= Gazetteers Department – Bhir| url= http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/places_bhir_town.html| access-date= 27 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224064424/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/places_bhir_town.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="SOCIO_ECO">{{Cite web
 |publisher    = beed.nic.in
 |title        = New Page 4
 |url          = http://beed.nic.in/htmldocs/socioeco.htm
 |access-date   = 4 March 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928012021/http://beed.nic.in/htmldocs/socioeco.htm
 |archive-date = 28 September 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>

===Foundation and name===
The early history of Beed is unknown and there are contradictions in the historical accounts concerning its foundation and early history. According to legend, Beed was an inhabited place in the period of [[Pandavas]] and [[Kuru (kingdom)|Kuru]]s as ''Durgavati''. Its name was subsequently changed to ''Balni''. Champavati, who was sister of [[Vikramaditya]], after captured and renamed it as ''Champavatinagar''. After that the city fell to [[Chalukya]], Rashtrkuta and [[Yadava dynasty|Yadava]] dynasties before falling to [[Islam in India|Muslim]] rule. However, some scholars say that it was possibly founded by the Yadava rulers of Devagiri ([[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad]]).

''Tārīkh-e-Bīr'' (history of Beed) mentions that [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] named it ''Bir'' ([[Arabic]] بئر meaning 'well') after building a fort and several wells in and around the city. Ground water was abundant in the city and when wells were built, water was found just several feet down.<ref name="PLACE_BHIR" /><ref name="NATHAPURI" /><ref name="QUAZI">{{Cite book
 | title = Tārīkh e Bīr (History of Beed)
 | author = Quazi M. Q. Bīri
 | publisher = Quazi M. Q. Bīri
 | year = 1898
 | language = ur
 | page= 90
}}</ref> Until recent times, wells were abundant in the city. They became less important due to a modern system of water supply, hence subsequently most of them were filled. It is unclear as to how the present name Beed came into use. There are at least two different traditions. The first tradition says that since the district is situated at the foot of Balaghat Range as if it is in a hole, it was named as ''Bil'' (बील Marathi for hole) which in course of time corrupted to ''Bid''. According to the second tradition a ''Yavana'' (यवण) ruler of ancient India named it ''Bhir'' (Persian ٻھېڔ for water)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001/acref-9780191882913;jsessionid=A09C5F14F7FEE27766EABF1A85C4E526 |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Place Names |date=2019-10-24 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-188291-3 |language=en-US |doi=10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001}}</ref> after finding water at a very low depth<ref name="PLACE_BHIR"/> and Bhir might have become Beed in course of time.
The first tradition seems to be untrue, because with no angle,{{clarify|date=August 2020}} the entire district can be called a 'hole'. Only the north eastern part of the district is at lower heights and a vast area of 10,615&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> can not be called a 'hole' just because of slight depression. Furthermore, ''Bil'' (बील hole) in Marathi is spoken for a deep and narrow hole and not for a slight depression.

The second tradition though have some distortion, appears to be true and in accord with ''Tārīkh-e-Bīr'' of Quazi Muhammad Qutubullah (1898). The word 'Yavana' in early [[Indian literature]] meant a [[Greeks|Greek]] or any foreigner. At a much later date it was frequently applied to the [[Islam in India|Muslim]] invaders of India.<ref>{{Cite book
 | title = Encyclopædia Britannica 2007 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD
 | publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica Inc
 | chapter = Yavana
 | year = 2007
 }}</ref> It is quite possible that [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] may have been referred to in this tradition as Yavana ruler. Muslims ruled the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] for centuries and almost all Muslim rulers had [[Persian language|Persian]] as their court language. It seems that Arabic word 'Bir' was eventually pronounced 'Bhir' in the Indian accent and the people mistakenly took this [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word as Persian since the court language of the rulers was Persian. Until recent times after independence, the city was called 'Bir' and 'Bhir' in the official documents.

===In mythology===
[[File:Katba on Babuzzafar.jpg|thumb|A plaque in Persian (فارسى) on Bab-uz-zafar (Kotwali gate) states the re-construction of eastern protection wall by Amir Nawaz Jang in 1835.]]
According to legend, when [[Ravana]], demon king of ''Lanka'' ([[Sri Lanka]]), abducted [[Sita]] (wife of [[Hinduism in India|Hindu]] deity [[Rama]]) and was taking her to Lanka, ''Jatayu'' (eagle) tried to stop him. Ravana cut its wings and wounded Jatayu fell on the ground. When Rama reached there in search of his beloved wife, Jatayu told him the whole story and died. The place where he died is said to be in Beed city and ''Jatashankar'' temple is standing at the place, which is; according to scholars, possibly built by [[Yadavas of Devagiri]].<ref name="PLACE_BHIR"/> However, Jatashankar temples are abundant in other parts of India with same narrations. Another legend also narrates that Beed was called ''Durgavati'' in the period of Pandavas and Kurus who fought a legendary war of [[Mahabharata]].

===Early history===
Early history of the Beed is obscure until it became part of Tughluq empire. If the city was founded in Yadava era then possibly it happened in king Singhana's (1210–47) period, when [[Yadava dynasty]] was at its height. Singhana may have built Kankaleshwar temple with a small surrounding city. Beed came under Muslim rule for the first time in 1317 when Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah (1316–20), the last [[Khalji dynasty|Khalji]], captured Devagiri and Yadava dynasty was ended. Beed remained under Khaljis until 1320 when Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughluq (1320–25) took over. In 1327 [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] (1325–51) made Daulatabad his capital. Firishta narrates that Tughluq and his army camped near Bīr city in 1341 (AH 742 [[Islamic calendar]]) while on the journey back to Daulatabad from [[Warangal]]. The emperor lost one of his teeth here, which he ordered to be buried with much ceremony and a tomb was constructed at the place.<ref>{{Cite book
 | title = History of The Rise of The Mahomedan Power in India
 | publisher = Longman, London
 | author = Firishta, Muhammad Qasim
 | year = 1829
 | no-pp = true
 | page= Volume I, Page 424
 | others = John Briggs (translation from original persian text)
}}</ref> The tomb of Tughluq's tooth is in about to collapse condition on a hill near the village ''Karjani'' about 13&nbsp;km south of the city. Junna Khan one of the governors of Tughluq empire is said to have resided in Beed for quite some time and introduced many reforms for the welfare of the ruled. He diverted the course of Bensura from west to east by constructing a protection wall around the city. Before his time there was no such protection for the city and it was situated on the eastern bank of the river. After that the population was largely shifted to the western part.<ref name="QUAZI"/>
{{wide image|Western view of the remains of Beed fort.jpg|1500px|''Panoramic view of eastern wall of the Fort. It works as a shield for old city from rare but violent floods of Bensura (Bendsura) river which is seen in the photo as a plain area with plenty of shrubs. The wall & burjs of the fort have lost the splendor and is about to crumble.''}}
In 1347 Beed came under Bahmani rule when [[Hasan Gangu]] (1347–58), founder of [[Bahmani Sultanate]], rebelled against Tughluq rule and ascended throne of Daulatabad as Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah. [[Muhammad bin Tughluq|Muhammad Tughluq]] acted vigorously and came to Deccan to subdue the rebels. He recaptured the province of Daulatabad, of which, Beed was a part. Hasan Gangu and other insurgents fled to [[Bidar]] and [[Gulbarga]] through Beed. Before the matter is fully settled a rebel broke in Gujarat and the sultan approached to Gujarat appointing Imad-ul-Mulk as governor in [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]]. Meanwhile, Hasan Gangu attacked Daulatabad and marched towards Beed and captured it. After that the city remained under Bahmanid rule and is said to be flourished under Firuz Shah Bahmani's (1397–1422) rule. During the reign of Humayun Shah Bahmani (1451–61), famous as ''Zālim'' (cruel), his brother Hasan Shah rebelled and came to Beed. A Jagirdar (feudatory) of Beed, Habibullah Shah was his supporter. Humayun Shah sent an army and after a fierce fighting in the grounds of Kankaleshwar temple, the rebellion armies defeated Humayun's army. Humayun became furious and sent another force to defeat the rebels. This time rebels were defeated, Habibullah Shah was killed and captured Hasan Shah was taken to the capital and was put before a hungry lion.<ref name="NATHAPURI"/>

===1600 to 1858===
[[File:Inside of Jama Masjid Beed.jpg|thumb|Inside of the Jama Masjid جامع مسجد (Grand Mosque) of Beed. One of the largest Masjids in Beed, this magnificent structure is built completely in stone and has ten domes. All the domes of Masjid are unique in design and does not match with each other.]]

After the decline of Bahmani Sultanate, the city fell to Nizam Shahi rulers of Ahmadnagar. Several wars were fought in Beed between Nizam Shahi and Adil Shahi rulers of [[Adil Shahi|Bijapur]] to take the control of Beed. In 1598 Mughals captured Beed from [[Chand Bibi]] of Ahmadnagar. A year later Nihang Khan retook it but soon it fell again to [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]]. Mughal army camped here for some time. During the reign of [[Jahangir]] (1569–1627), Jan Sipar Khan was administering Beed city. He constructed Jama Masjid of Beed in 1036 AH (1627).

[[Aurangzeb]] (1658–1707), appointed Haji Sadar Shah in Beed as ''Naib-e-Subadar'' (assistant of governor). Sadar Shah did some good changes and constructions in the city. He built ''Eid Gah'' (place of Eid prayer) in 1702 and a new habitation on the heights in the eastern part as ''Ghazi Pura'' (now Islam Pura) in 1703. The remains of it are still visible. He also constructed a citadel (1703) inside the old fort which was worn out after standing for several hundred years, from Tughluq period. A stone plate in Persian script at the main entry of Jama Masjid sets the year of construction of citadel by Haji Sadar Shah in the year 1115 AH (1703). In his period economy of the city also flourished. Chhagal (water container made from leather), Gupti (hidden sword in wooden stick) etc. made in Beed were popular in the region.<ref name="QUAZI"/>

Beed was quite a beautiful city during Bahmanis and Mughals. ''Tārīkh-e-Bīr'' mentions many gardens and amenities of these periods. Until the 1960s there were two well maintained gardens in the city.
In 1724 Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah founded Asaf Jahi kingdom, seizing Deccan against the rule of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (1719–48). In Nizams' era no major addition or construction was done to the citadel because the old building was serving the purpose and the citadels were losing importance with the advent of modern fighting techniques.

[[Maratha]] ruler of [[Gwalior]], [[Mahadji Scindia]] (1761–94) was missing after a severe injury and defeat in the third war of [[Panipat]] in 1761. His wife, who is said to be from Beed, went to a Muslim [[Sufi]] of Beed Mansur Shah and told him to prey for the return of Mahadji. When Mahadji returned to Gwalior, he called the Sufi to Gwalior but he refused and sent his son Habib Shah instead. Mahadji remained thankful to Mansur Shah for all his life. His tomb is in eastern Beed which was built by Scindias.

Reign of sixth Nizam [[Mir Mahbub Ali Khan]] (1869–1911) proved eventful in the history of Beed. Rebels, great famine and floods happened in his reign. Jagirdars were replaced by collectors (''Awwal Taluqdars'') in his father's reign and Jivanji Ratanji came as the first collector of Beed in 1865. Districts were created and Beed district was formally settled in 1883.<ref name="IMPERIAL_GAZETTEER" /> He constructed one habitation and market ''Mahbub Gunj'' (now Hiralal Chowk) on the eastern bank of Bensura, remains of that can still be seen. After a very scarce rainfall in three successive years 1897–99, great famine occurred in Beed in 1900. Thousands of cattle and Hundreds of humans died of starvation and thousands migrated to the neighbouring parts of the country. The census in 1901 reported remarkable decrease of 150,464 in the population of Beed district.<ref name="IMPERIAL_GAZETTEER"/> [[Mir Osman Ali Khan]] (1911–48) came after death of Mahbub Ali Khan as seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad State. His period was full of reforms in the government system, education and healthcare. Kotwalis, Police Stations, Schools, Hospitals and Dispensaries were built during his period. He established big libraries with the high schools in the state.<ref>{{Cite web| publisher= maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)| title= Gazetteers Department – Bhir| url= http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/medical_history.html| access-date= 27 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224064022/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/medical_history.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

Nizams were allies of the [[British Empire]] in India. During the countrywide [[Indian independence movement|movement for independence]], in 19th and 20th centuries they tried to suppress the feelings of [[nationalism]] which were spreading due to nationwide efforts of the freedom fighters. [[Nationalist]]s in the state of Hyderabad did not like Nizam's friendship with the [[British Empire]]. Beed was the place in Marathwada region where freedom struggle first started in 1818.<ref name="JAWWAD">{{Cite book
  | title = Riyāsat e Hyderābād mein Jadd o Jahd e Āzādi 1800 – 1900 (Freedom struggle in the state of Hyderabad 1800 – 1900)
  | publisher = Bureau for Promotion of Urdu Language, Ministry of Human Resource Development, India.
  | author = Rizvi, S. M. Jawwād
  | year = 1992
  | language = ur
  | page=79
  }}</ref>

In 1818 during the rule of Nizam Sikandar Jah (1803–29) first rebel broke out in Beed under the leadership of Dharmaji Pratap Rao. Nizam sent the Risala of Navab Murtaza Yar Jang under the command of British Lieutenant John Sutherland. The rebel leader and his brother were captured and a long run rebellion movement in Beed came to an end.<ref name="JAWWAD"/><ref>{{Cite web| publisher= maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)| title= Gazetteers Department – Bhir| url= http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/his_modern_period.html| access-date= 27 February 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224064538/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/his_modern_period.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007| url-status= dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

===1858 to Present===
{{wide image|Beed_Panorama.jpg|1500px|''Panoramic view of a part of Beed city from the eastern hills on a rainy day. Eastern hills in the city and western hill range are visible in the view''}}
Another rebellion broke in 1858 but all the rebels were captured. After this many small incidents of defiance happened against [[British rule]] but all were suppressed by force. A major rebel broke under the leadership of Baba Sahab alias Rao Sahab Deshpande in 1898. The important leaders of this movement were [[Brahmin]]s of Beed and the Deshastha Brahmin officials in police and judiciary also supported the movement. . But after a short fight the rebels were captured and the movement came to an end. But the feelings of defiance could not be suppressed and different movements under the leadership of Swami Ramanand Teerth continued in Marathwada and the state. After independence, Mir Osman Ali Khan was reluctant to join India. Finally, on 12 September 1948 a military action [[Operation Polo]] was launched and the state was easily captured within six days as Nizam's army resisted little. Although Operation Polo caused relatively few casualties, the following communal carnage was all the more terrible. Beed was one of the eight worst hit districts in the state. After calm down, a team visited the town on behalf of Indian government and sent a report to the centre. According to official, [http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1805/18051140.htm Sundarlal Report], 27,000–40,000 Muslims were killed throughout the state. Horrible crimes of abduction and rape of Muslim women's & girls, loot, arson, desecration of masjids, forcible conversions and seizure of houses and lands were mentioned in the report.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = Frontline
 |title = From the Sundarlal Report
 |url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1805/18051140.htm
 |date= 3–16 March 2001
 |access-date=7 March 2007
}}</ref> Some unofficial reports, however, puts the figure of killings up to 50,000 and some even to a few hundred thousand.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher    = Frontline
 |title        = Of a massacre untold
 |author       = Noorani, A. G.
 |url          = http://www.flonnet.com/fl1805/18051130.htm
 |date         = 3–16 March 2001
 |access-date   = 7 March 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20051120022556/http://www.flonnet.com/fl1805/18051130.htm
 |archive-date = 20 November 2005
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>
A plebiscite was held shortly after the military action in which the population voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining India. Many Muslims during and after 1948 migrated to [[Pakistan]]. The city has witnessed communal strife several times in modern India. In 1949 Bendsura Project was launched to provide drinking and irrigation water supply to the city and nearby villages. The project was completed in 1956. In 1952, Beed ''Nagar Pālika'' (Municipal Council) was established under the undivided Hyderabad State. In 1962, a year after the creation of Maharashtra State, Beed District Council (''krushna temple'') came into being after dissolving all the local bodies.<ref name="PLACE_BHIR"/>

== Beed district consists of 11 talukas (tehsils) ==

# [[Ambajogai]]
# [[Ashti, Beed|Ashti]]
# Beed
# [[Dharur, Beed|Dharur]]
# [[Gevrai|Georai]]
# [[Kaij]]
# [[Majalgaon]]
# [[Parli Vaijnath]]
# [[Patoda]]
# [[Wadwani]]
# [[Shirur Kasar]]

These talukas are administrative subdivisions that help manage the region's governance and services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure

==Topography==
[[File:Kapildhara in Balaghat range.jpg|thumb|upright|The Kapildhar fall in Balaghat range about 18 km south of Beed city.]]

===Location===
Beed is situated on the [[Deccan Plateau]], on the banks of the ''Bensura'' river (also called ''Bendsura'' or ''Bindusara''). Bensura is a sub-tributary of [[Godavari]] river originating in the hills of Balaghat range, about 30&nbsp;km south-west of Beed near the village of ''Waghira''. The river divides the city into smaller eastern and larger western parts. Balaghat Range stretches very close, up to 10&nbsp;km south of the city resulting in undulating terrain in the eastern part of the city. Soil is coarse and rocky largely consisting of basalt. Thin layers of fertile black soil are also seen in the northern part of the city.
Bensura is a rapid and seasonal river. ''Bendsura Project'' (capacity 7.106&nbsp;mm<sup>3</sup>) was constructed on the river in 1955 near the village ''Pāli'', about 10&nbsp;km south of the city.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)
 |title = Gazetteers Department – Bhir
 |url=http://maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/agri_irrigations.html
 |access-date=27 February 2007
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224064133/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/agri_irrigations.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> At some places in the city, the river is narrow and looks like a stream. The river has slop due to undulating terrain which contributes to violent floods when it rains heavy. Floods have repeatedly caused substantial loss of property and life in the history of the city, most recently on 23 July 1989 when a massive flooding of three habitations in the city caused a number of dead or missing and property losses of millions of rupees.<ref name="NATHAPURI">{{Cite book
 | title = Zilla Bīr Kī Tārīkh (History of Beed District)
 | author = Nathapuri, Abdul Hamīd
 | publisher = Asian Printing Press, Gulshan Colony, Jogeshwari (W) Mumbai
 | year = 1998
 | language = ur
}}</ref> Beed falls under Seismic Hazard Zone-III in India according to the new seismic hazard map updated in 2000 by the [http://www.bis.org.in/''Bureau of Indian Standards'']. The city was under Zone-I prior to this update.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = Amateur Seismic Centre – Pune
 |title = Amateur Seismic Centre – Pune
 |url=http://www.asc-india.org/seismi/seis-maharashtra.htm
 |access-date=4 March 2007
}}</ref>
Beed is 400&nbsp;km from Mumbai.

===Climate===
[[File:Bensura river in Beed city of Maharashtra.jpg|thumb|The Bensura River(Bendsura). It is cleaned of debris and garbage before a monsoon to facilitate the flow of flooding water. Photographed in the monsoon season.]]
The city has [[Semi-arid]], hot and dry climate consisting mainly of three seasons. Summers are long, ranging almost five months from mid February to June. Temperatures in summer fall between 31&nbsp;°C (87.8&nbsp;°F) – 40&nbsp;°C (104&nbsp;°F) (1997 average). However, it may reach higher than 40&nbsp;°C in searching summer. May is the hottest month of a year with an average day temperature of 42&nbsp;°C (107.6&nbsp;°F). Winters are short with temperatures ranging within 12&nbsp;°C (53.6&nbsp;°F) – 20&nbsp;°C (68&nbsp;°F). December is the coldest month in a year. Occasionally, temperature may fall as low as 3&nbsp;°C (37.4&nbsp;°F) or 4&nbsp;°C (39.2&nbsp;°F) due to northern cold waves. Relative humidity in winter is the lowest and December is the driest month in a year with the relative humidity as low as 30%.
Rains are scarce and occur only during the [[Monsoon]] from mid June to September. Annual average rainfall is 66.6&nbsp;cm (26.22&nbsp;inches).<ref name="SOCIO_ECO"/> The average rain fall has dropped 9.6&nbsp;cm from the averages recorded during the 1900s.<ref name="IMPERIAL_GAZETTEER">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V08_120.gif|title=The Imperial Gazetteer of India|date=1908|publisher=Oxford, Clarendon Press|pages=114–117 (volume 8)|chapter=Bhir District|access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> Average number of rainy days in a year is 41. September gets the maximum rainfall in a year while July has the maximum rainy days. Highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours (19.18&nbsp;cm) occurred on 17 August 1887.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)
 |title = Gazetteers Department – Bhir
 |url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/gen_climate.html
 |access-date=27 February 2007
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224062806/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/gen_climate.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>
Climate of Beed can be compared with that of Pune city's climate.
Beed receives low rainfall because it is located in rain shadow area.

{{Weather box
| location = Beed (1991–2020, extremes 1960–2020)
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| Jan record high C = 35.0
| Feb record high C = 38.4
| Mar record high C = 43.6
| Apr record high C = 44.6
| May record high C = 47.0
| Jun record high C = 44.3
| Jul record high C = 38.9
| Aug record high C = 38.8
| Sep record high C = 37.8
| Oct record high C = 37.7
| Nov record high C = 34.6
| Dec record high C = 34.0
| year record high C = 47.0
| Jan high C = 29.8
| Feb high C = 32.2
| Mar high C = 36.7
| Apr high C = 39.0
| May high C = 40.7
| Jun high C = 36.2
| Jul high C = 31.2
| Aug high C = 30.6
| Sep high C = 31.1
| Oct high C = 31.8
| Nov high C = 30.1
| Dec high C = 29.0
| year high C = 33.2
| Jan low C = 13.8
| Feb low C = 15.1
| Mar low C = 19.5
| Apr low C = 22.9
| May low C = 25.4
| Jun low C = 24.8
| Jul low C = 23.4
| Aug low C = 22.7
| Sep low C = 21.9
| Oct low C = 20.3
| Nov low C = 16.0
| Dec low C = 12.4
| year low C = 19.9
| Jan record low C = 4.0
| Feb record low C = 4.6
| Mar record low C = 9.4
| Apr record low C = 13.0
| May record low C = 16.5
| Jun record low C = 20.2
| Jul record low C = 19.8
| Aug record low C = 18.0
| Sep record low C = 15.7
| Oct record low C = 10.5
| Nov record low C = 5.0
| Dec record low C = 5.0
| year record low C = 4.0
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 1.1
| Feb rain mm = 2.3
| Mar rain mm = 6.2
| Apr rain mm = 10.2
| May rain mm = 9.2
| Jun rain mm = 115.9
| Jul rain mm = 145.7
| Aug rain mm = 128.5
| Sep rain mm = 190.7
| Oct rain mm = 79.9
| Nov rain mm = 8.7
| Dec rain mm = 6.7
| year rain mm = 705.0
| Jan rain days = 0.1
| Feb rain days = 0.1
| Mar rain days = 0.5
| Apr rain days = 0.9
| May rain days = 0.9
| Jun rain days = 6.3
| Jul rain days = 8.5
| Aug rain days = 7.8
| Sep rain days = 9.7
| Oct rain days = 4.4
| Nov rain days = 0.7
| Dec rain days = 0.3
| year rain days = 40.2
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 38
| Feb humidity = 29
| Mar humidity = 24
| Apr humidity = 29
| May humidity = 25
| Jun humidity = 48
| Jul humidity = 65
| Aug humidity = 68
| Sep humidity = 64
| Oct humidity = 54
| Nov humidity = 50
| Dec humidity = 46
|year humidity = 45
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Climatological Tables of Observatories in India 1991-2020
| publisher = [[India Meteorological Department]]
| access-date = April 8, 2024
}}</ref><ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Bir (Beed) Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 153–154
| access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M139
| access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

At the time of the 2011 census, Beed Municipal Council has a population of 146,709. Males are 75,566 and females 71,143, for a sex ratio of 941 females per 1000 males. 13.60% of the population is under 6 years of age, and the child sex ratio is 854. Beed has a literacy rate of 89.34%. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 9.51% and 0.90% of the population respectively.<ref name="districtcensus">{{cite web |title=District Census Hand Book – Beed |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/782/download/2778/DH_2011_2727_PART_A_DCHB_BID.pdf |website=[[Census of India]] |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

Death rate is 3 which is lower than the national average of 8.2. Infant mortality rate is 71 per thousand live births which is much higher than the national average of 54.6 deaths for thousand live births. Maternal mortality rate however, is 1 which is extremely lower than the national average of 540.<ref name="POOR">{{Cite web
 |publisher    = Empower Poor.Com
 |title        = Empower Poor.Com
 |url          = http://www.empowerpoor.com/districtdetail.asp?district=46
 |access-date   = 20 April 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071018012251/http://www.empowerpoor.com/districtdetail.asp?district=46
 |archive-date = 18 October 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>
Beed district has got the lowest [[sex ratio]] in Maharashtra State. Beed has the lowest male-female sex ratio in the age group of 0–6 years (801 as against 1000 male children) as per the 2011 census. Maharashtra's sex ratio in the age group of 0–6 years is 883 girls as against 1000 boys.<ref name="IBN">{{Cite web
 |publisher=IBN Live
 |title = Mah govt worried over skewed sex ratio in Beed; meet on May 20, IBN Live News
 |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mah-govt-worried-over-skewed-sex-ratio-in-beed-meet-on-may-20/687466.html
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015105245/http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/mah-govt-worried-over-skewed-sex-ratio-in-beed-meet-on-may-20/687466.html
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=15 October 2012
 |access-date=18 May 2011
}}</ref>

{{bar box
|title=Religions in Beed City (2011)<ref name="Religion"/>
|titlebar=#FCD116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Hinduism]]|darkorange|53.75}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Maharashtra|Islam]]|green|40.63}}
{{bar percent|[[Marathi Buddhists|Buddhism]]|mediumblue|3.22}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism in Maharashtra|Jainism]]|pink|1.60}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.80}}
}}

Even this small town is an evidence of India's religious and cultural diversity. 69.15&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of land is home for Hindu, Muslim, [[Buddhist]], [[Jain]], [[Christians|Christian]] and [[Sikh]] communities. A calculated Hindu population in the town comprises around 54%. 12,307 Hindus were living in the town in 1901, which was 69.64% of the then population.<ref name="IMPERIAL_GAZETTEER"/> Moreover, Jain population was also considered as Hindu at that time. 4,993 Muslims were living in the town in 1901 which was 28.25% of the then population.<ref name="IMPERIAL_GAZETTEER"/> Today Muslims are nearly 41% of the population in the city.<ref name="Religion">{{cite web |title=Table C-01 Population By Religious Community: Maharashtra |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW27C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=census.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref> Buddhists and Jains are small minorities.

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Language in Beed City (2011)<ref name="Language"/>
|label1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value1 = 52.35 |color1 = red
|label2 = [[Urdu]] |value2 = 35.47 |color2 = green
|label3 = [[Hindi]] |value3 = 7.80 |color3 = orange
|label4 = [[Marwari language|Marwari]] |value4 = 2.32 |color4 = maroon
|label5 = Other |value5 = 2.06 |color5 = grey
}}

At the time of the 2011 census, 52.35% of the population spoke [[Marathi language|Marathi]], 35.47% [[Urdu]], 7.80% [[Hindi]] and 2.32% [[Marwari language|Marwari]] as their first language.<ref name="Language">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Maharashtra (Town level) |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10253/download/13365/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-2700.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Jatra Khandeshwari.jpg|thumb|''Jatra'' — night view of Khandeshwari jatra which is held during Dussehra each year.]]
{{See also|Tourism in Marathwada}}

There are no public places in the city except cinema halls and a small, little maintained garden. Till few years back there were seven cinema halls, but now in 2018 only two are remaining; namely 'Asha' and 'Santoshimata'. Two parks were maintained until 1969 by the municipal council.<ref name="PLACE_BHIR"/>

==Economy==
Beed has a growing economy with a rapid growth. In 1997, Sarma committee listed Beed as one of the 100 most rapid growing districts in [[India]].{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} After this listing the government of India and the government of Maharashtra specified Beed town as 'D' zone and declared tax holiday and concessions to lure the investors in the district.<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher   = Government of Maharashtra
 |title       = www.mah.nic.in/beed_district/dicothe.html
 |url         = http://www.mah.nic.in/beed_district/dicothe.html
 |access-date  = 17 November 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090414131617/http://www.mah.nic.in/beed_district/dicothe.html
 |archive-date = 14 April 2009
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> Without proper arrangement of water supply and transport facility, this declaration resulted nothing. Economic backwardness is attributed to the lack of natural resources, frequent droughts, lack of good transport facilities and corruption.<ref name="PROFILE" /> Economy entirely depends on monsoon dependent agriculture, service sector and small businesses. Beed is one of the poorest districts of Maharashtra (in the bottom 10 in 2019-2022) with Per capita [[Gross Domestic Product|GDP]] of [[Rupee|Rs]] 128,660 (about $1812) which was much lower than the [[Maharashtra]] State average GDP [[Rupee|Rs]] 229,488 (about $3232) in 2019-2020.<ref name="SIES-DDPM">{{Cite web
 |title=District Domestic Product of Maharashtra 2011-12 to 2019-20 
 |author1=Kamdar, S. 
 |author2=Basak, A. 
 |name-list-style=amp 
 |publisher=DIRECTORATE OF ECONOMICS & STATISTICS, PLANNING DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA, MUMBAI.
 |url=https://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/files/report/SIES-DISTRICT_2011-12.pdf 
 |access-date=23 January 2023
}}</ref>

==Health==
Beed was in the international news in August 1994 for the outbreak of [[Bubonic Plague]]. To some researchers, though, the disease detected here resembled Plague but could not be substantiated as per [[World Health Organization|WHO]] criteria.<ref>{{Cite book
  | title = Plague that never was: A review of the alleged Plague outbreaks in India in 1994
  | author = Deodhar/ Yemul/ Banerjee
  | publisher = Journal of Public Health Policy, Vol. 19, No. 2
  | year = 1998
}}</ref>

==Media and communication==
[[File:Akshwani Beed landscape.jpg|thumb|Radio transmission tower of Akashwani Beed from the eastern hills]]More than a dozen [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and two [[Urdu]] dailys are published from the city. Beed Reporter (newspaper), Champavati Patra, Lok Prashna, Lokasha, Parshv Bhumi and Zunjar Neta are major Marathi dailies.alhilal times one and only Urdu news paper daily published Local and regional news, crime stories and articles on local issues and politics are common features of the dailies. Marathi, Urdu, Hindi and English dailies including national dailies publishing from different cities of India also have consumers in city. No magazines are published in the city, but all the major national magazines do have readers.

[[Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited]] (BSNL), a state owned telephone service provider, has more than 15,000 customers. It has also introduced broadband [[internet]] lines.

Some enthusiasts have started a local cable channel ‘Beed News’. It provides local news coverage and plays movies rest of the time.

[[All India Radio]] Beed, at [[Frequency modulation|FM]] 102.9&nbsp;MHz,<ref>{{Cite web
 |author = Alan G. Davies
 |publisher = Asiawaves
 |title = Radio Stations in Maharashtra – India
 |url=http://www.asiawaves.net/india/maharashtra-radio.htm
 |access-date=4 March 2007
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070227054433/http://www.asiawaves.net/india/maharashtra-radio.htm| archive-date= 27 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> broadcasts news, film and folk music, programmes of ''Vividh Bharti'' and programmes based on agriculture and health education.

==Issues and challenges in the 21st century==
Beed district as a whole —
* Population below poverty line = 32.4%
* Sex ratio = 912 (rural) [[female|♀]]/[[male|♂]]
* Estimated coverage of safe drinking water (habitations) = 66.1%
* Villages not connected by paved roads = 52.82%<ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = Empower Poor.Com
 |title = Empower Poor.Com
 |url = http://www.empowerpoor.org/backgrounder.asp?report=19
 |access-date = 27 February 2007
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070822212524/http://www.empowerpoor.org/backgrounder.asp?report=19
 |archive-date = 22 August 2007
 |url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

Beed has a long history as a neglected and backward area. Industrial and economic backwardness, lack of good transport facility, electricity and literacy were the issues in the 1960s and they are the same even today.<ref name="PROFILE">{{Cite web |title = Marathwada Profile |author = Srinivasan, S. | work = Rediff.com |url=http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/oct/06maha1.htm |access-date=26 February 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104313/http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/oct/06maha1.htm| archive-date= 5 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher = maharashtra.gov.in (Government of Maharashtra)
 |title = Gazetteers Department of Beed district
 |url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/ind_intro.html
 |access-date=27 February 2007
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070224062249/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/ind_intro.html| archive-date= 24 February 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> Many elections have been fought with the issue of [[railway]] line facility. In the recent times the list of issues has gone up with a shortage of drinking water supply and electricity, frequent droughts, failing crops and suicide of farmers, unemployment, corruption and increasing crimes.<ref name="PROFILE"/> Beed also records highest power theft in Maharashtra. Nearly 60% power supplied to the district is stolen before it can reach to the consumers who pay for it. Further, unpaid electricity bills runs to almost [[Rupee]]s 4540 million (about $113 M) .<ref>{{Cite news| url = http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&id=101803| title = Beed Records Highest Power Theft| work = Ramachandran, Anupama | publisher = NDTV.com | date = 6 March 2006}}</ref>

The district ranks 143rd in literacy in India based on IndianNgos.com research and analysis of 586 districts throughout India.<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=IndianNGOs.com |title=IndianNGOs.com |url=http://www.indianngos.com/districts.beed_about.htm |access-date=1 March 2007 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
 |publisher=IndianNGOs.com 
 |title=IndianNGOs.com 
 |url=http://www.indianngos.com/issue/education/districts/beed.htm 
 |access-date=1 March 2007 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309005616/http://www.indianngos.com/issue/education/districts/beed.htm 
 |archive-date=9 March 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref> On [[Human Development Index]] (HDI), using [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]] method, Beed ranks 18th out of 30 districts in the State of Maharashtra, with 0.47 HDI. It is 7th poorest district in the state with [[Human Poverty Index]] (HPI) of 21.21.<ref name="HDI">{{Cite web
 |title=Beyond the Human Development Index, Preliminary Notes on Deprivation and Inequality 
 |author1=Kamdar, S. 
 |author2=Basak, A. 
 |name-list-style=amp 
 |publisher=Mumbai University 
 |url=http://www.mu.ac.in/economics/File60_Sangitawp1.pdf 
 |access-date=27 February 2007 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209151700/http://www.mu.ac.in/economics/File60_Sangitawp1.pdf 
 |archive-date=9 February 2006 
}}</ref>
Deforestation, desertification, frequent droughts, shrinking water reservoirs and extreme shortages of drinking water, especially in rural areas are major issues which needs urgent attention. Beed district, according to the official statistics, has only 2.47% forest area, that too of lower quality.<ref name="SOCIO_ECO"/>
Attitude of people is the major concern. As the literacy is quite low, bringing change starts with change in the outlook and behaviour of people.

==Historical buildings==
[[File:Fateh Burj of Bab uz Zafar (Kotwali Gate) in Beed.jpg|thumb|Bāb-uz-Zafar (Gate of success) — now known as Kotwali Ves (Kotwali gate) was re-built in 1835 on the western bank of Bendsura. The gate is now in poor condition and the adjacent Fatah Burj on left is almost gone.]]
[[File:India2012 Maharashtra Bid Khandoba Tempel.jpg|thumb|[[Khandoba Temple, Beed]]]][[File:Kankaleshwar temple beed.jpg|thumb|Kanakaleshwar Temple]]
[[File:Shahinsha wali beed.jpg|thumb|upright|This main entrance of ''Kochak Shah'' alias Shahinshah Wali tomb was constructed by Amīr Nawāz Jang in 1830.]]
[[File:Mansur Shah tomb.jpg|thumb|''Mansur Shah'' tomb in the eastern part of Beed city.]]
[[File:Khazana well near Beed city.jpg|thumb|Khazana well about 6 km south of the city.]]

Beed is home to several historical buildings,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/docs/default-source/district-draft-toursim-plans/beed---district-tourism-plan.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 July 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821063129/https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/docs/default-source/district-draft-toursim-plans/beed---district-tourism-plan.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> some of the noteworthy are:

The Kanakaleshwar Temple which is one of old temples in beed. It is a temple of Lord Shiva. It is surrounded by water from all sides.

The [[Khandoba]] temple is situated on the eastern hills. Built in [[Hemadpanti architecture|Hemadpanti]] style. Two symmetrical, octagonal ''dīpmal'' (tower of light) rising 21.33 meters (70&nbsp;ft) are standing in front of the temple. Towers have carved figures of humans and animals, now most of them defaced. There are two stories about the construction of this temple. One says that it was built by Sultanji Nimbalkar a Jagirdar of Nizam era. The other says that it was built by [[Mahadji Scindia]]. ''Tārīkh-e-Bīr'' (History of Beed) mentions it with Nimbalkar.<ref name="QUAZI" />

The Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) is a Masjid situated in the centre of the city at ''Quila'' (fort) and is one of the largest Masjids of Beed city. It was built during the period of [[Mughal emperor]] Jahāngīr (1605–27) by his official in Beed ''Jān Sipār Khan'' in 1627 (1036 Islamic Year).<ref name="NATHAPURI"/> Constructed completely in stone, it has ten huge domes and four minarets. All the domes are having different designs from inside and does not match with each other.

The Shahinshah Wali tomb: Shahinshah Wali was a [[Sufi]] of the 14th century from Chishtiya clan. He came to Beed during the rule of [[Muhammad bin Tughluq|Muhammad Tughluq]]. His tomb and surrounding areas were built in different periods from 1385 to 1840. The details can be seen in the history of Beed. It is situated on the eastern elevations. Each year an ''Urs'' (fair) is held here on 2nd day of ''Rabi’ Al-Awwal'', third month of [[Islamic calendar]].<ref name="NATHAPURI"/>

The Mansur Shah tomb: Mansur Shah was 18th century Sufi of ''Suharwardy'' clan of Sufis. He is said to be a ''Dharma Guru'' (spiritual teacher) of Mahadji Scindia. His tomb is in the eastern part of Beed near Khandeshwari temple. The dome of the shrine is made of marble.<ref name="NATHAPURI"/>

==Notable people==

*[[Sundarrao Solanke]], Indian politician who served as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra state
*[[Gopinath Munde]], senior leader of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP)
*[[Pankaja Munde]], Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party
*[[Dhananjay Munde]], member of [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]], representing the [[Nationalist Congress Party]] [NCP(Ajit Pawar)] 
*[[Prakashdada Solanke]], three times MLA from the Majalgaon Constituency
*[[Suresh Dhas]], member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council and former state minister Maharashtra
*[[Vimal Mundada]], Indian politician belonging to the [[Nationalist Congress Party]]
*[[Sanjay Bangar]], cricket player and coach<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/sanjay-bangar-16-facts-about-indias-batting-coach-who-once-played-for-the-country-509091|title=Sanjay Bangar: 16 facts about India’s batting coach who once played for the country|first=Chinmay|last=Jawalekar|date=11 October 2017|work=Cricket County}}</ref>
*[[Bhaskaracharya]], famous mathematician 
*[[Makarand Anaspure]], famous marathi comedy actor 
*[[Sachin Dhas]], Indian cricketer u-19 represent India team in 2024

==See also==
*[[Marathwada]]
*[[Sonesangavi]]
*[[Kaij]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Qazi, M. Q. Bīri (1898): ''Tārīkh-e-Bīr (History of Beed in Urdu).''
* Nathapuri, Abdul Hamīd (1998): ''Zila Bīr Kī Tarīkh (History of Beed District in Urdu).'' Asian Printing Press, Gulshan Colony, Jogeshwari (W) Mumbai.
* [http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Beed/home.html ''Gazette of Beed district (1969)''] Gazetteers department–Bhir (Beed). Out of print but available online at the government of Maharashtra web site.
* [http://beed.nic.in Official website of Beed district]
* [https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer ''The Imperial Gazetteer of India.''] New edition, published under the authority of His Majesty's secretary of state for India in council. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1908–1931. Editors – Hunter, William Wilson, Sir, 1840–1900 /Cotton, James Sutherland, 1847–1918 ed./Burn, Richard, Sir, 1871–1947 joint ed./Meyer, William Stevenson, Sir, 1860–1922. joint ed.
* {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016201841/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1805/18051140.htm ''From the Sundarlal Report'']}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20010710073820/http://www.flonnet.com/ Frontline], Volume 18, Issue 05, 3–16 March 2001
* {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20011230164312/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1805/18051130.htm Noorani, A. G. ''Of a Massacre Untold''.]}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20010710073820/http://www.flonnet.com/ Frontline], Volume 18, Issue 05, 3–16 March 2001

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Beed|voy=Yes}}
*[http://beed.nic.in Official website of the Beed district]

{{Authority control}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = Beed
| North     = [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Jalna (city)|Jalna]]
| Northeast = [[Parbhani]]
| East      = [[Ambajogai]], [[Parli, Maharashtra|Parli]]
| Southeast = [[Latur]], [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]
| South     = [[Osmanabad]], [[Gulbarga]]
| Southwest = [[Barshi]], [[Solapur]]
| West      = [[Ahmednagar]], [[Pune]], [[Mumbai]]
| Northwest = [[Nashik]], [[Sangamner]]
}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Beed district]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Cities in Maharashtra]]