The Gazetteers Department

In 1961 Cikhaldara had a population of 1,338 inhabitants, but the figure is, however, swelled in the hot weather by the people coining from the Amravati district and outside. Even the indigenous population is largely dependent upon its popularity as a health resort and consists mainly of Gavlis, Musalmans, Mahars and Gonds. Korkus forming a comparatively smaller section. The town is divided into two parts, the upper and the lower plateau, the difference of height between these two parts being of only 24 metres (80 feet). On the upper plateau are situated the circuit house, a rest house, two class I bungalows of the Forest Department, a post and telegraph office, a civil dispensary and a few missionary bungalows. The Tribal Welfare Department manages a school here and the Roman Catholic Mission has its mission house and the female orphanage. On the lower plateau is chiefly the settlement of the local residents. The weekly bazar is held on Sundays. In addition to this there are the shops, municipal sarai, a police station, a middle school also conducted by the Tribal Welfare Department, quarters for the officials of the Revenue and Forest departments and a few privately owned bungalows. Around the Bir tank a new orphanage has been started and the Government have built a holiday camp. A high school is conducted by the Sivaji Education Society.

In addition to the rest houses, bungalows of the Forest department, a circuit house, a holiday camp and the municipal sarai, the bungalows belonging to the order of the St. Francis de Sales are let during the season to the visitors making a short stay.

Amusements.

In days gone by. when Cikhaldara was the summer headquarters of not only the departments of the Berar administration but also of the military from Acalpur, Hingoli and elsewhere, it was a place of considerable gaiety. The band of one or the other of the corps stationed at Acalpur used to play every evening at Band Point and the camping ground would be covered with tents. Today the greatest charm of the place is its quiet peacefulness. It is a fairly cool retreat from the burning heat of the plains during the summer, bur is at its best in October, when the hill sides are clothed in white clematis and there is a crisp coolness in the air. Its wildest distractions do not run beyond the tennis courts. Wealth of natural scenery apart, in which Cikhaldara abounds, there are all the amenities which go to make it a hill-station or modern type. The Cikhaldara Club maintains two excellent tennis courts, which dry quickly after the rains, and two badminton courts. The Cikhaldara Krida Mandal conducted by the local amateurs provides many indoor as well as outdoor games. Cikhaldara also affords ample wild game to the sikari, tigers and panthers being frequent, but the Government have restricted the shooting in view of its policy of wild life protection. Destructive carnivora are, of course, not protected.

The great difficulty of Cikhaldara which prevents it even to-day from becoming a large hill-station is the scarcity of water. There are six tanks (Sakkar, Kalapani, Dhobi, Macchi, Nagjhira and Bir talav), but the majority of these are at a considerable distance from the station on the road to Gavilgad and are not, therefore, of much use except to dhobis. Almost all the water that Cikhaldara receives is taken from the Sakkar and the Bir talavs. Near the tahsil office two reservoirs have been built and water is pumped into them and then distributed. Though this arrangement has very much alleviated the scarcity of water, the problem of adequate water supply still persists. The Sakkar tank has been brought under pisciculture by the Fisheries department with good results. Near the Bir tank a large nursery garden has been set up thereby enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the station.

Municipality.

Constitution

The Cikhaldara municipality was established in 1948 and has an area of 15.98 km.² (6.11 sq. miles) under its jurisdiction. The municipal committee is composed of ten members all of whom are nominated by the Government. The Collector, Amravati acts as the President while the Naib Tahsildar acts as the Secretary.

Finance.

Municipal income amounted to Rs. 38,267.53 in 1961-62. It comprised municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 7,878.66, revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation. Rs. 6,865.96, grants and contributions for special and general purposes. Rs. 23,421.79 and miscellaneous, Rs. 101.12. During the same year the expenditure was Rs. 31.565.59 excluding that incurred on account of extraordinary and debt heads. The expenditure heads were general administration and collection charges, Rs. 5.377.69, public safety, Rs. 3,792.76 public health and convenience and public instruction, Rs. 22,290.49 and miscellaneous. Rs. 104.65.

Health and Sanitation.

The Pancayat Samiti conducts one civil and one veterinary dispensary. The town has a natural drainage.

Education.

Primary education is compulsory and is conducted by the Tribal Welfare Department.

Roads.

The total length of roads within the municipal limits is 19.32 km. (twelve miles) of which only 0.60375 km. (3 furlongs) are metalled.

Cremation and Burial Places.

Cremation grounds and burial places are managed by the respective communities.

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