Akola is a very old city. In 1857, it was the headquarters of West Berar forming a part of Nizam’s domain. In 1956 with the re-organization of states the district was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to then Bombay state and, in 1960, it becomes part of the Maharashtra state. The part of the city on the western banks of the river Morna is the old city. There is a fort in the old city on the western bank of the river Morna. The Municipal Corporation has laid a beautiful park know as Azad Park in the fort. The Havakhana in the fort still continues to be a monument worth seeing. The Rajeshwar temple, the Ram Mandir near the city Kotwali along the Tilak road, the Harihar temple in the old city on the Akola- Washim Road and the Juma Mosque situated in the old city on Agarbes are the important historical and religious landmarks in the city. The city had all along been an important commercial and trading center. The facility of goods transportation & communication system in the form of Railway and roads in addition with the extension of the electric grid system and establishment of the Paras Thermal Power Station ensuring adequate electric power supply have contributed to the industrial development of the city in recent years. The Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeth with its head quarters at Akola came into existence on 20 October 1969 and it added to the importance and development of the city. Akola is city with mix of religions and cultures. There are Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians etc. in Akola. It is a peaceful city where each citizen respects the beliefs of others.
Temples
Gram-daivat Shree Rajrajeshwar Mandir, Old City
Birla Mandir (Ram Temple)
Shreenath Dutta Mandir, Ramdas Peth
Annapurna Devi Mandir, NH6, Balapur Naka
Jain Temple at City Market Place
Swami Samarth mutthh (Temple) at Ramdas peth
Shree Kala Maruti
