Ahmednagar renamed as Ahilya Nagar: Maharashtra Cabinet approves name change

Maharashtra Cabinet today approved renaming of Ahmednagar as Ahilya Nagar. Last year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced the renaming of Ahmednagar city to ‘Ahilyanagar’ in honor of the esteemed 18th-century Maratha queen, Ahilyabai Holkar. This announcement was made on Ahilyabai Holkar's 298th birth anniversary.

Ahilyabai Holkar is renowned for her remarkable leadership during the tumultuous 18th century in the Malwa province, where she established Maheshwar as the capital of the Holkar dynasty. Her administration stood out for its effective governance and enlightened policies.

The renaming of Ahmednagar follows previous initiatives by the Shinde-Fadnavis government, including renaming Aurangabad to ‘Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar’ and Osmanabad to ‘Dharashiv’ earlier this year.


The demand for renaming Ahmednagar was championed by BJP leader and MLC Gopichand Padalkar, representing the influential Dhangar community. Ahilyabai Holkar holds a special place in the hearts of the Dhangar community, as both she and her father-in-law, Malharrao Holkar, hailed from this shepherd community.

Ahmednagar, founded by Ahmad Nizam Shah in 1494, later became the capital of the independent Sultanate of Ahmednagar. Aurangabad, established by Aurangzeb in the 1650s, and Osmanabad, named after Mir Osman Ali Khan, have also undergone name changes as part of this trend.

This decision adds to the series of renaming initiatives undertaken by the Maharashtra government, reflecting a deeper historical and cultural reevaluation.