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PLACES
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NAVAPUR
Navapur, with 11,505 inhabitants in 1961,
is the headquarters of the taluka of the same name, lying about
38.62 km. (24 miles) east of Nizampur on the main road between
Gujarat and the Deccan. It is a railway station on the Surat-Bhusaval
line of the Western Railway, and is about 117.48 km. (73 miles)
distant from Surat. For timber, firewood and charcoal it is
perhaps the largest market place in the whole taluka, its
importance having been all the more increased due to the
availability of quick rail transport. Nawapur range, besides other
forest produce, contains large bamboo bans and grasslands
from which paper of fine quality can be manufactured. There is a
proposal to set up a paper factory somewhere between Navapur and
Akrani which is also rich in these resources. Quite a few persons
in the town are engaged in the manufacture of bamboo-baskets and
other bamboo articles of household utility. Recently the Forest
Department has introduced lacquer worms in Navapur forests which
feed on palas, bor and khair trees in which
the Navapur range abounds. A school imparting training in wood
turning and lacquer work has recently been started at Navapur with
good results.
In 1660 Navapur is mentioned as a great town
full of weavers. But to-day though the town is still inhabited by
Koshtis engaged in weaving, the number is not of much
consequence. The industry also has not been able to gain much
ground. It was also famous for its rice, which though smaller
than common rice, when boiled was white as snow and smelled like
musk. It was greatly prized by grandees and was sent in present
to Persia. [Tavernier in Harris, II,
352.] In 1666, it
is mentioned as a small city in Balaghat, four days from Surat,
famous for large and delicious grapes and for much cotton. In many
places there were sugarcane gardens and all the growers had mills
and furnaces. There were mountains hard to cross, and beautiful
plains watered with rivers and streams.[Thevenot's Voyages, V. 49, 219. In this as in many
other Tavernier seems to have borrowed from Thevenot.]
Being the headquarters of a taluka, Navapur has
the offices of mamlatdar and panchayat samiti, revenue, civil and
criminal courts, police station, a regulated market and a rest
house. The town has also other amenities like post and telegraph
office, civil and veterinary dispensaries, educational
institutions which include two high schools, etc. There is also a
seed and seedling growing centre and a branch of the district
central co-operative bank.
Among places of worship those dedicated to
Mahadev and Dattatraya may be noted. The first one of these,
perhaps the oldest, is popularly known as Nagnath Mahadev.
Situated in the centre of the town the whole is 6.096 X6.096
metres (20 feet X 20 feet) with a 3.048x3.048 metres (10 feet X
10feet) vestibule containing besides the ling, idols of
Parvati, Hanuman and Ganapati. It is said that new idols were
installed in the temple after the old ones were destroyed during
the Nandurbar riots.
The Datta temple is a modern edifice built by
one Dr. Bhangre in Shaka 1850. Enclosed by a 2.133 metres
(7 feet) high compound wall, the temple has two large marble-tiled
halls. A few of the pillars supporting the roof bear images of
various deities. This temple is well ventilated and lighted. In
the gabhara is installed a marble idol of Dattatraya.
Paintings on the walls illustrate various mythological scenes.
Dattajayanti is celebrated annually. The town has also a
temple dedicated to Ram.
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