Bhiwani district is one of the 22 districts of the northern Indian state of Haryana. Created on 22 December 1972, it was the largest district of the state by area before the creation of Charkhi Dadri as a separate district, as it occupied an area of and administered 442 villages with a population of 1,634,445. Sirsa is now the largest district of the state.
The district headquarters is the city of Bhiwani, which is around from the national capital Delhi. Other major towns in the district are Siwani, Loharu, Tosham, Bawani Khera, Kohlawas, and Lamba.
As of 2011, it is the third most populous district of Haryana (out of 21) after Faridabad and Hisar.
History
Pre-Indus Valley Civilization mine, smelt, and houses have been found at Khanak hills of Tosham Hill range. Excavations (1968–1973 and 1980–1986) in the village of Mitathal in Bhiwani have unearthed evidence of pre-Harappan and Harappan (Indus Valley Civilisation) culture in the area. Near the village of Naurangabad, about east of Bhiwani city, preliminary diggings in 2001 revealed artefacts including coins, tools, sieves, toys, statues and pots up to 2,500 years old. According to archaeologists, the presence of coins, coin moulds, statues and design of the houses, suggests that a town existed here sometimes in the Kushan, Gupta and the Youdheya period till 300 BCE.
Bhiwani city is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari and has been a prominent centre of commerce since the time of the Mughals.
Wreckage of a Boeing 747, from Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763, fell in Bhiwani District as part of the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision.
Naurangabad is an ancient archaeological mound.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Bhiwani district has a population of 1,634,445, or the US state of Idaho. This gives it a ranking of 306th in India (out of a total of 640).
Religion
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in Bhiwani District (1941)
|-
! Religion
! Population (1941)
! Percentage (1941)
|-
| Hinduism 15px
| 127,740
|
|-
| Islam 15px
| 29,554
|
|-
| Sikhism 15px
| 533
|
|-
| Christianity 15px
| 169
|
|-
| Others
| 591
|
|-
| Total Population
| 158,587
|
|}