Beed (Marathi:) is a city in central region of Maharashtra state in India. It is the administrative headquarters and the largest city with a population of 146,709 in Beed district.[2] Nearly 36% of the districts urban population lives in the city alone. It has witnessed 6.1% population growth during 2001 2011 decade. Its official name is Beed, though; Bhir, Bir, Br, Bid or Bd is also seen in official and unofficial usage. Encyclopdia Britannica refer it as Bhir, Encyclopedia Encarta as Br and Google Maps as Bir while it is found at World Gazetteer as Bd. Beed's early history is obscure. Historians speculate; based on archaeological remains, that the city might have been founded by the Yadava rulers (11731317) of Devagiri (Daulatabad). Beed was a part of the State of Hyderabad (Asaf Jahi Kingdom) of Nizams in 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 the Indian Union. Beed remained in annexed Hyderabad state until 1956 when it was included in Bombay Presidency. On May 1, 1960 Maharashtra state was created on linguistic basis and Marathi dominant Beed district became part of Maharashtra.[1][3] The city has got several historical buildings of which Kankaleshwar temple is the most famous. Remains of fort (bee)[clarification needed] are still visible on the western bank of Bensura river. Being district headquarters, the city has several administrative offices including district and municipal councils, district and session courts, collectorate and office of the superintendent of police. Radio and television stations are also located in the city.
