Good water is scarce at Ridhpúr; the people drink from what is called Lála's well. There is a Government school established. The principal buildings of interest are Rámchandar's temple, and the Mánbháu building, called Ráj Math. The land revenue is Rs. 2,088, and the municipal tax Rs. 297. Sirasgaon is a large village about 14 miles to the north-east of Elichpúr. It is noted on account of being the richest village in the district. It contains 1,220 houses, with a population of 5,599, and it pays a revenue of Rs. 14,817. A small bazár is held once a week. A police outpost is stationed in the village. Sendúrjana is in the Morsí taluk, about 60 miles east of Elichpúr. It belonged in jágir to an agent of the Nágpúr Rája, called Gáikwár, who lived there, and who made the village one of considerable importance. He built a splendid well about a mile distant, which goes by his name, and which cost, it is said, some 20,000 rupees. There are 1,510 houses, chiefly flat-roofed; the inhabitants, for the most part male, number 7,032. The revenue amounts to Rs. 4,862; a large bazár is held on Friday, the principal trade being in turmeric, cotton, and opium. The municipal tax amounts to Rs. 1,361, and there is a municipal committee. A Government school and a police outpost are in the town. Salbaldi is about 5 miles north of Morsí, and is partly in the Baitúl district. It is an insignificant village, but holds an important position in Hindú mythology. It is here that Sita is said to have come when she was deserted by Rám, and to have given birth to her two sons, Lahú and Kusa; these were taught by Wálmík after he had been reformed by Nárad, who released him from his entombment at Sálbaldi. It is here that the great fight is said to have occurred, when Rám, having let loose his horse Sámkarna (five colours), was, with his three brothers, defeated and slain by his sons. When his clothes were recognized by Sita, he and the other slain were brought to life. again by Walmík; Sita and the sons. were then acknowledged by Rám, and were taken by him to Oude. Sálbaldi is situated on the Márú river, and is celebrated on account of two springs-one very cold, and the other hot, or decidedly tepid. Anjangaon is in the Dariápúr taluk, and about 16 miles west of Elichpúr; it is situated on the banks of the Sháhnúr river, and is a place of considerable importance, particularly noted on account of the treaty entered into there between the British, under General Wellesley, and Sindia, on the 30th of December 1803. The town was formerly walled in, and a náik or tahsildár used to reside there. It contains 3,125 houses with a population of 8,615 inhabitants; the land revenue is Rs. 6,380 and the municipal tax 2,901. A large bazár is held on Mondays. The principal trade is in pán, and cloth manufactured there. It is also well konwn on account of its basket-work. There is extensive and rich garden cultivation round the town. There are a municipal committee, three schools, and a police station at Anjangaon. Antiquities and Remarkable Places. Ridhpúr. Sirasgaon. Sendúrjana. Sálbaldi. Anjangaon. Description of Amráoti District. Amra'oti District. Description of Towns. A brief description will be given of the following towns of the Amráoti district, viz. : Amráoti. As a general rule, it may be said that their present importance is in an inverse proportion to their antiquity. Ancient name " Amráoti," from "Amráoti," from the goddess Amba, whose temple is still standing here. The legend goes that it was from Amráoti that Krishna carried off Rakmini, who came here with her brother Rakmya to pay her vows at Amba's temple, before her marriage with Shushupál. With them, to witness the ceremonies, came a number of persons called Warhádis or Warháris, who, settling here, gave their name to the country, Warhár (corrupted) = Berár. Rakmya, after Rakmini's enlèvement, tried the chances of a battle with Krishna, but was defeated, and only spared to the urgent entreaties of his sister. He then settled at Bhátkoli, a town some 8 or 10 miles to the westward, where his name has been perpetuated by a temple erected in his honour. About 125 years ago there was a great immigration into Amráoti of persons from the neighbourhood of Akola, who had been driven away by the tyranny of their talukdárs. It was about this time also that Raghoji Bhonsla, to protect the inhabitants, built the wall which still environs the city, at a cost of about 11⁄2 lákhs. Under the Nizám a force of 1,150 men was kept up to protect the city. In 1804 General Wellesley encamped here after the capture of Gáwilgarh. It had then no commercial importance. Now it is the chief cotton mart (except Khámgaon) in Berár, besides being the centre of the spice trade. The city, which is divided into two parts-the Kasba and the Pethis but badly supplied with sweet water, most of the wells being *Doubtful.-(Editor.) brackish. The conservancy is on the whole very good, and is becoming Description of better every day. Amráoti is situated in 77° 49′ east longitude, and 20° 55' north latitude. It is celebrated for its cotton trade, but its general trade is also very extensive. It is a great depôt for all the local markets for piece-goods, metals, groceries, and other articles imported from the western coast. It is 6 miles from Badnera, the nearest railway station on the Great Indian Peninsula line, but a branch line to this place is to be immediately commenced. Badnera is 411 miles from Bombay, and 140 miles from Nágpúr. It is 1,332 miles from Calcutta by rail, as follows: Towns. Amráoti. Population, eensus of 1867 is 23,410, consisting of At the Civil station, two miles from the town of Amráotí— Up to the present time Amráoti has not been able to boast of a Market-place. regularly constructed market-place, but one is now being built. The weekly market has hitherto been held in an open space, near the Bhusári gate. There are five gates to the town of Amráoti, which is surrounded by a strong stone wall, 20 to 26 feet high, and 3,750 yards, or 2 miles, in length. Principal Gates. The names of the gates are as follows: 1. Bhusári darwáza, on the east, 2. Nágpúr do. 3. Amba on the north, do. on the south-east. on the west, 4. Kholápúr do. 5. Máhajanpúr do. on the south. Besides these there are four small gates, for foot-passengers only, called Principal Streets. Remarkable Buildings. are The names of the principal streets 1. Large Bhusár street, 2. Dhanráj street, 3. Bhusár or Corn street, 4. Bazár street, 5. Shroff street, 6. Bhawáni street, 7. Sáokár street, 8. Khumbhár street, 9. Málípúra street, 10. Lakarganj street. The following are the principal remarkable buildings: 1. Temple of Bhawárí, also called the Amba temple, 2. Do. do. 3. Do. of Báláji, and five other temples. The temple of Bhawání is said to have been built a thousand years ago. The other temples were built about a hundred years ago. The town is said to have been founded by Raghoji Bhonsla. At History relating to the town. The Bhonsla received 60 per cent. of the revenues, and the Nizám 40 per cent. The wall was commenced in 1214 Fasli by the Nizám's government, to protect the wealthy traders residing in the city from Pindáris. It was not completed until 1230 Fasli, thereby extending over a period of seventeen years. It is said to have cost four lákhs of rupees. The Khunári Khirkí is said to have obtained its name from the fact of 700 persons having been killed in a fight near it on the 10th of Moharam 1226 Fasli. In 1255 Fasli, on account of a failure of rain, the price of jawári was raised from 5 to 20 Rs. per candy, and the enraged populace murdered one Dhanraj Sahu, a wealthy trader, who had bought up large quantities of rice with a view to obtain large profits. Sadar station. The chief station was established in The deputy commissioner's cutcherry was completed in the year 1860. The large jail was commenced in the year 1866; it has not yet been completed. There are 17 houses and bungalows at the station. The house accommodation is at present insufficient for the requirements of the place. Amráoti boasts of one newspaper, a Maráthi one, called the Satya Prakásh. Badnera is a town on the Great Indian Peninsula railway, and is the station for Amráoti and Elichpúr. It is fast rising in importance, from being the place from which all the full-pressed and nearly all the half-pressed cotton is despatched to Bombay. The old town, in which is situated the mud fort built some two hundred years ago by Bulu Khán and Salábat Khán, is on the north side of the rail. There is a large quantity of garden land about it, in which pán and opium are grown for the Amráoti market. Under the Moghlái rule it was the residence of the náib talukdárs. In former days the Nizám had two and the Bhonsla one share in the revenue, which gave rise to frequent squabbles between the Nizám's officers and those appointed by the Nágpúr gov ernment. There is a large steam ginning and press factory here. It is called Badnera Bíbí, from having once formed part of the dowry of the daughter of the king of Ahmadnagar. From 1151 it was in the possession of the Nizám till 1182 (Fasli), when it came into the Description of Amráoti. Badnera. |