Although it is not considered a common tourist destination, Akola is an important city due to its history, culture, politics, and agriculture.

It also has a prominent road and rail junction in the Tapti River valley that functions as a commercial trading centre.

Akola is an important educational centre with several colleges affiliated with Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University.

The city's etymology encapsulates its role in regional governance and its geographical context as a prominent location in Maharashtra.

[6][7] Akola is mentioned to be a part of Berar province and the legendary kingdom of Vidarbha in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata.

[8] The period of Muslim rule began when Alauddin Khalji, Sultan of Delhi, conquered the region in the early 14th century.

The Congress's proposed linguistic provinces plan before the Independence of India had positioned Akola as the headquarters of the Berar region.

Akola experiences a tropical wet and dry climate, characterized by high temperatures and significant variations in rainfall throughout the year.

[27] The Mayor, Archana Masne, oversees the implementation of policies and administrative functions within the Akola Municipal Corporation.

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) provides extensive intercity and interstate bus services from Akola, including routes to Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Amravati, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Indore, and Hyderabad.

National Highway 6 (NH 6), which extends from Surat to Kolkata, passes through Akola, making it a key route for long-distance travel.

The expansion and potential resumption of airport operations have been impeded by difficulties in acquiring land from the Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth university.

Notable among them are: Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth: This agricultural university is a key educational and research institution in Akola, covering the eleven districts of Vidarbha.

The All Saints Church, established in 1873 during the British era, features beautiful Christmas decorations and serves as a major Christian place of worship in Akola.