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PLACES
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JANEPHAL
Janephal (Mehkar T., p. 4,600): This village, is about 20 miles north of Mehkar, was for a year or two previous to 1867 the head-quarters of the district. The weekly bazar is held here on Saturdays which is a large cattle market. The village is pleasantly situated with many fine trees in the neighbourhood, and here and there may be traced the foundations of old construction. The village gadhi is of an unusual size, but of no special interest. It formerly belonged to the Lakhuji Jadhav family of Deulgaon Raja. In the middle of the village is a small temple dedicated to Maruti. It stands on a masonry dias covered with a tin roof. In front of the temple are two dipmals. The one to the left of the temple is said to sway sideways when shaken from the top. Besides, there are temples dedicated to Maruti, Bhalachandreshvara, Mahadeva and Ghrushneshwara.
There is a samadhi of the saint Avadhutananda also known as Mukundaraja. By the side of the samadhi is the temple of Dartatreya constructed through public contributions. The padukas of this saint who was born in Shaka 1765 and who took samadhi in Shaka 1843, are kept there. By the side of the temple is a well with steps leading downwards. The well water is not used for drinking purposes.
Around the village are seven temples known as Saptarshi dedicated to Gomeshwara (Gautameshvara). Varaparna (Valmiki), Bagadal Svami. Delap, Vadali (Vashishtha), Isadi (Vishvamitra) and Vagdeva. There are waterfalls near the temples of Varaparna and Gomeshvara. All the temples are said to be of considerable antiquity.
Connected by motorable roads with Chikhli, Mehkar and Buldhana, the village has a police station, a school upto S.S.C.
standard, a primary school upto the Vllth standard conducted
by the Zilla Parishad, a primary health centre and a veterinary sub-centre also conducted by the Zilla Parishad and a branch
post office. Jowar, cotton and wheat are the principal crops of
the village mostly produced on well irrigation.
The Navaratra fair at Janephal is attended by more than 2,000 people.
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