city, north-central Maharashtra (Mahārāshtra) state, western India, on the Murna River. An important road and rail junction in the Tapti River valley, it is a commercial centre trading chiefly in cotton. In the past it was incorporated in turn into several local Muslim kingdoms. Akola is an important educational centre with several colleges affiliated with the University of Amaravati. The chief crops grown in the surrounding area are rice, cotton, wheat, millet, and peanuts (groundnuts). The region's industries are agriculturally based; cotton ginning, oil processing, and bidi (cigarette) manufacture are important. There are also textile and vegetable oil industries. There is a thermal power station at Paras. Pop. (2001) 400,520.