PLACES OF INTEREST

JALGAON.

Jalgaon (25° 55' N, 75° 30' E; p. 68,412), on the Bombay-Itarsi railway line, is a centre of cotton trade and cotton textile manufacture. Though from its situation it appears probably an old settlement, Jalgaon was, before the introduction of British rule, inferior both to the town of Nasirabad and to the neighbouring village of Mehrun, from which it is still locally known as Jalgaon-Mehrun. Under the British its jjosition on the high road from Asirgad to Bombay, and its central situation among the local marts of Neri, Jamthi, Savada, Faizpur, Dharangaon and Erandol attracted traders and weavers, and before 1860, it could boast of more than 400 handlooms. In 1860, when the railway was opened, it remained for some time the terminus and rapidly increased in importance. In that year it was said to be one of the chief towns in Nasirabad, later greatly increased, extending its trade to Berar, and with many agencies of Bombay houses to buy cotton, linseed, and sesamum. [Mr. Davidson, Bom. Gov. Sel XCIII, 367, 368.] During the American war (1862-1865) Jalgaon became the great cotton mart of Khandesh. Ginning mills and full and half presses were started. In the recession at the close of the American war, Jalgaon suffered severely. Many local merchants were ruined, and mills and other buildings were left unfinished. Since then the town slowly but steadily recovered, and is now the headquarters of the district of the same name. The population which in 1872 was returned at 6,893, has within about 80 years increased tenfold.

Population.

Of the total population of 68,412 according to the census figures of 1951, the agricultural classes number 6,809 and the non-agricultural classes 61,603. Of the latter, 17,737 persons derive their principal means of livelihood from production other than cultivation; 13,200 persons from commerce; 3,542 persons from transport; and 27,124 persons from other services and miscellaneous sources.

Municipality.

Jalgaon municipality with an area of 6.8 sq. miles was established in 1864 and is now governed by the Bombay Municipal Boroughs Act of 1925. The municipal council consists of 35 members. There are four seats reserved for women and two seats each for the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes. There is a Standing Committee, with committees for public and waterworks, finance, sanitation and drainage, law and reference and octroi.

In 1956-57, the income of the municipality excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 18,60,874; from municipal rates and taxes Rs. 12,37,910; revenue derived from municipal property and powers apart from taxation Rs. 2,60,065; grants and contributions Rs. 3,21,737; and miscellaneous Rs. 41,162. The expenditure for the same year excluding extraordinary and debt heads amounted to Rs. 17,36,125 comprising general administration and collection charges Rs. 2,19,935; public safety Rs. 59,021; public health and convenience Rs. 7,09,421; public works Rs. 6,51,197; and miscellaneous Rs. 96,551.

Water from the Girna river is supplied to the town. The Municipality had constructed in 1929 the Mooljee Jaitha waterworks at a cost of Rs. 6,83,054. Water is pumped through a jack well into a reservoir situated on a high level at a distance of two miles and from which it is supplied 1O the town. There are pakka open drains in the city. Sullage water flows through these drains into a nala, flowing from north to south in the town.

The municipality maintains three fire-fighters. The municipality has undertaken the work of constructing a market (1958).

The town has three miles, four furlongs and 227 ft. of asphalted roads; four furlongs 113 ft. concrete; four miles, two furlongs and seven feet kacha roads.

Primary education is made compulsory by the municipality. Primary schools are managed by a municipal school hoard, Government giving a grant-in-aid of Rs. 1,82,680. There were, in. 1958, 278 teachers and 10,212 pupils in the primary schools. There were eight high schools and an arts and science college called the Mooljee Jaitha Arts and Science College. The city has a library called the Vallabhdas Valji Library which maintains two reading rooms in the town to which the municipality pays an annual grant of Rs. 1,500.

The municipality runs the Sane Guruji Allopathic Dispensary, a maternity home and an Ayurvedic dispensary. Government maintains one Civil Hospital. A veterinary dispensary is managed by the District Local Board, the municipality paying a yearly contribution.

There is a cremation ground for Hindus and a burial place for the Muhammedans situated to the east of the town, both managed by the municipality. On the southern side of the town is a cemetery for the Christians managed by the local missionaries.

The Lokmanya Tilak Sabha-Grha and the Maharana Pratapsingh Sabha Grha are maintained by the municipality. Two beautiful parks are maintained by the municipality, viz., Dr. Shyarna Prasad Mukherji Udyan and Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Udyan.

The municipality has very recently developed a site near Mehrun tank, 1½ miles from the town, which is visited by the people in large numbers.

Objects.

Traveller's Bungalow.

Traveller's Bungalow.-Situated at a distance of about two furlongs from Jalgaon railway station, its date of construction is not known. The building was purchased for Rs. 4,573. The area of the compound of the building is 1 acre and 36 gunthas. Originally there were only two suites. They are constructed of burnt brick in mud masonry and are lime-plastered. The roof is of Mangalore tiles with plank ceiling.

To these two suites are now (1956-57) added four more suites constructed of burnt brick masonry in cement mortar with a roof of Mangalore tiles. The cost of construction was Rs. 58,000.

Inspection Bungalow.

Inspection Bungalow.-Since 1947 the part of the Executive Engineer's bungalow was used as an Inspection Bungalow. But in 1958 a private building was purchased which is being used as Inspection Bungalow. It is situated in front of the Collector's bungalow in Mehrun village, and it has four acres of land under it. There are two suites. The cost of the bungalow including land is Rs. 30,000. The structure is of burnt brick masonry in lime with a roof of Mangalore tiles. The flooring is of Shahabad stone.

Municipal Dharmashala.

Municipal Dharmashala.-Situated adjacent to municipal hospital, the municipal dharmashala is an 'L' type building. It is a two-storeyed structure. It has two big halls, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor. The hall on the first floor is known as Maharana Pratap Hall. This hall measures 60' x 30' x 12' in dimensions. It is provided with ceiling fans and tube lights. On the ground floor, on the west, there are 16 shops. On the rear portion there are twelve rooms. On the first floor there are fourteen rooms. All the rooms are of equal size, viz., 10'x30'x 10'. It has a courtyard of 60'x50'. Above the second floor there is a terrace which is also 'L' type with an area of 4,700 square feet. It is constructed in burnt brick in lime masonry with lime and mortar plaster. It has a flooring of rough Shahabad tiles. It was constructed in 1954-55 for accommodating travellers.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market.

Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Market.-There are six blocks in this market. Of these, five blocks are of equal dimensions, i.e., of 90' x 33' and the sixth one is of 65' x 33'. In these six blocks there are 78 shops. The market occupies a total area of about 18,000 square feet. There are covered passages of 20 feet in width. The walls are of burnt brick in lime masonry with cement plaster. There is a roof of R. C. C. slab with provision for an upper storey which is to be constructed. It is situated in the heart of the town opposite to the office of the municipality.

The Town Hall.

Town Hall.-It is situated just near the Jalgaon railway station. It was constructed in 1909 at a cost of Rs. 8,000. It is a two-storeyed building with a terrace on the east. The ground-floor walls are of coarse rubble masonry in lime. Plinth on the north is of coarse rubble masonry in lime and on the south of burnt brick masonry. First-floor walls are of burnt brick masonry with plaster on both the sides. It has a pitched roof covered with galvanised corrugated iron sheets. The front portion on the north is given to Vallabhdas Valji library, and the hall at the rear is used for social functions. It has a spacious courtyard on three sides which is used as a playground.

Collector's Office.

Collector's Office.-With the division of old Khandesh district into East and West Khandesh districts, Jalgaon was made the headquarters of the East Khandesh district (now Jalgaon district) and consequently a building was constructed in 1910-11 at a cost of Rs. 1,45,168 where Collector's office was located.

It is situated on the western side of Jalgaon city and is constructed of local boulder trap. The middle block is doublc-storeyed and has an octagonal alcove in the front which is covered up and forms part of the room above it. It has a roof of Mangalore tiles. The roofing of the ground floor is of rolled steel beams and steel girders. The two wings are single-storeyed and are connected with the middle block by an arch opening. In the same compound is situated the office of the District Survey Officer in a recently constructed building which is a stone structure with R. C. C. slabs, costing Rs. 54,000.

District Local Board Office Building.

District Local Board Office Building.-It is situated to the east of the Jalgaon railway station at a distance of about a furlong. The District Local Board Office building was constructed during 1939-41. It was originally 'F' type building built in burnt brick and lime masonry with lime plaster on both the sides. Flooring is of R. C. C. slab with roof of Mangalore tiles. There is one meeting hall of 28'x 48' dimensions. It has three octagonal rooms, one at the centre facing the porch and two at the corners. It is constructed at a cost of Rs. 87,000. There are ten rooms on the ground floor and an equal number on the first floor. On the ground floor there is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi erected in front of the porch in 1949 at a cost of about Rs. 5,000. On the first floor there is a bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji erected in 1958 at a cost of Rs. 6,000. Both these statues face the west as the building does. The total plinth area is 10,881 sq. ft.

To this building was added in 1956-57 a new structure of burnt brick masonry with R. C. C. slabs at a cost of Rs. 55,000. There are three garages-cum-store-rooms and three rooms on the ground floor and six rooms on the first floor. As this new building was constructed to the southern side of the original 'F' type building, this building has now become 'E' type building.

There are four gates, two at the front and two at the back side. There is a small garden in front of the building.

There are two out-houses containing four garages on the ground floor and eight rooms on the first floor to the north-west and south-west of the building.

The following offices are housed in this building:-

(1) the District Local Board office,

(2) the District School Board office, and

(3) the District Educational Inspector's office.

Municipal Office Building.

The original building of the municipality was constructed in 1930 while the annexe was constructed in 1952-53.

To the front there is an old building which faces the south and which measures 125'x 34'. It is constructed in burnt brick and lime masonry with outside plaster. It has two wings to the two sides of the staircase, viz., East Wing and West Wing. At the entrance to the staircase there is one circle and there are three more arches in each wing. There is a hall and two rooms with a verandah of seven feet in each wing. The construction is the same on the first floor. It has a pitched roof with Mangalore tiles.

As the accommodation for municipal offices was insufficient in the old building, the annexe was constructed in 1952-53. It is constructed at the rear portion of the old building. Its dimensions are the same as those of the old one. It is a two-storeyed structure in burnt brick with lime with R. C. C. slabs. It has a spacious meeting hall of 60'x 25'x 12' in the West Wing. There are three rooms in the East Wing. On the ground floor there are two rooms in each wing. There is also a cellar where records and files are kept.

The two buildings, the old one and the annexe, are connected with passages on both the floors.

Civil Hospital.

Civil Hospital.-The Civil Hospital is situated in-between the place of weekly bazar and Mission Building and is at a distance of a furlong from the Surat-Dhulia-Edlabad-Nagpur Road, National Highway No. 6 on the approach road to Mehrun village. It is an old type building constructed in the year 1912-13. The area of the compound of the Civil Hospital is 12 acres and 8 gunthas. The Hospital originally consisted of-

(1) Main building costing-Rs. 43,674.

(2) Dispensary building including porch, etc.-Rs. 7,009.

(3) Patients ward-Rs. 58,281.

(4) Paying patients ward-Rs. 9,775.

Along with these buildings there arc the Nurses' quarters, Sub-Assistant Surgeon's quarters and Class IV servants' quarters.

All the buildings are constructed in red brick in lime masonry with a roof of Mangalore tiles over cut teak plank ceiling.

Accommodation in the Male Ward is for 20 beds and that in Female Ward is for 13 beds and that in Maternity Ward is for 10 beds.

Municipal Hospital.

Municipal Hospital.-Situated adjacent to the Municipal Dharmashala, the municipal hospital is a new structure, constructed in 1954-55. The walls of this building are of burnt brick masonry in cement. The flooring is of Shahabad polished paving. It has a roof of R. C. C. slab. The area of the compound of this building is 3.425 square feet. On the ground floor there is a dressing ball, a compounders' hall, a chamber for the doctor and a big waiting hall for patients. The ground floor is used for general patients. On the first floor there is a hall of 50' x 30' dimensions and two rooms. The hall is used as a maternity ward. Of the two rooms one is used for keeping medicines and the other one as an examining room. It accommodates 20 beds.

Mooljee Jaitha Arts and Science College.

Mooljee Jaitha Arts and Science College.-The present building of the Mooljee Jaitha College was constructed in 1949. It is situated near the Municipal water reservoir at a distance of four furlongs from the Collector's office. The total expenditure on the building was rupees four lakhs. It is a magnificent cement concrete structure occupying an area of 23,430 square feet. Its front is 310 feet long. It has 135 feet long wings on each side and has three storeys. The building is owned by the Khandesh College Education Society, Jalgaon, which runs the college. The neighbouring hostel building is a single-storeyed structure occupying an area of 16,700 square feet and consisting of 58 rooms and a mess hall of 2,025 square feet. East Khandesh East Khandesh Maralha Vidyd Prasdrak Samdj, Jalgaon.

East Khandesh Maralha Vidyd Prasdrak Samdj, Jalgaon.-The East Khandesh Maratha Vidya prasarak Samai was established in 1917. It runs five high schools of which only one, viz., The Nutan Maratha Vidyalaya is in Jalgaon and was established in 1940. It was shifted to the present building in 1946. It conducts classes from the 8th standard to the 11th standard. The number of students was 416 in 1958.

The Nutan Maratha Vidyalaya is situated to the south-west of the Jalgaon railway station at a distance of about two furlongs. This building faces the east. There are arches in the verandah. On the ground floor there are two halls, one to the north and one to the south. These two halls measure 31' x 16'. There are eight rooms, four to the north and four to the south of the stair-case which is at the centre. Of these, four are used as office rooms and teacher rooms and four are used as class rooms. These rooms measure 24'x 16'. On the first floor there are two halls of 49'x20' dimensions of which one is used as a science hall and as a class room. There are four more halls on the first floor of which one is used for office, one as a drawing hall and two as class rooms.

To the south of this building there is hostel building which faces the north. In this building there are two halls at the centre, one on the ground floor and the other on the first floor, with eight rooms on the ground floor and four rooms on the first floor on both the sides of the hall. The 12 rooms in the east wing are used as hostel for students in the secondary school while the eight rooms on the ground floor in the west wing are used as a hostel for students in the Primary Training College, and four rooms on the first floor are used by the Jalgaon Co-operative Training School conducted by the Maharashtra State Co-operative Union. The hall on the ground floor is used as the spinning hall while the hall on the first floor is used by the Co-operative Training School. On the back side of this building there is a kitchen and dining hall of 100'x 17' and seven rooms which are used by Practising School.

In between these two buildings there are quarters for the superintendent and secretary. In front of both these buildings there is an open space of about four acres which is used as a playground.

Balaji's temple.

This temple is said to be 250 years old. The renovation of this temple took place around 1914. It is a burnt brick construction with the room of Mangalore tiles in some parts and of tin sheets in other parts and with a flooring of marble stone.

In 1914, silver sheets have been fixed on the inner door and on the pedestal on which the image of Balaji stands.

The temple gets an annual income of about Rs. 2,400 while the expenditure amounts to Rs. 3,000. This deficit is made up by contributions from the 'Maheshvari' people who manage this temple.

The following are the fairs held every year:

1. Ram Navami-Chaitra Shudh 1 to 9 (March-April).

2. Gokul Ashtami-Shravan (July-August).

3. Kartika Shudh 1st (November-December).

It is situated in Balaji Peth to the south-east of Jalgaon railway station at a distance of about 5 furlongs.

Balaram's temple.

This temple was constructed around 1895. But the consecration of the images of Balaram and his wife Revati took place in 1901. These idols have been brought from Jaipur.

It occupies an area of 5,000 sq. feet. Inner room where idols arc kept is of 15'xl5' dimensions. There is one sabhamandap (congregation hall) of 20'x 30'. Behind this, there is a kitchen. To the south of this room, there are six rooms of 10'xl2' dimensions. To the east of this room, there is an outer gate and two shops on south. On the north there are five rooms of 10'xl2' and a cow-pen and a room for the officiating priest of the temple. It is a two-storeyed structure and the tapering top of the temple is about 60' in height.

This temple has an income of about Rs. 1,000. But this income is not sufficient for its upkeep. There is a deficit of about Rs. 500 every year which is met by the officiating priest from his personal property and from donations.

The following fairs are held annually: -

1. Ram Navami-Chaitra Shudh 9 (March-April).

2. Gokul Ashtami--Shravan Vadya 8 (July-August).

3. Sharad Purnima-Full moon day in Ashvin (October-November).

The temple of Balaram is a peculiar feature of Jalgaon, as a temple of Balaram is rarely found anywhere.

Bhavani's temple.

It is one of the old temples in Jalgaon but the renovation of this temple took place on Chaitra Shudh 1, Samwat 1874. It is reticulated Malabar wood construction without walls with a roof of Mangalorc tiles. There are cement-concrete walls on the first floor. It occupies an approximate area of 1,500 sq. ft. with sabhamandap (congregation hall) of 20'x 30' dimensions. It is constructed at a cost of Rs. 25,000. Along with the shrine of Bhavani, there are shrines of Mahadev and Maruti.

Recently, i.e., on October 21, 1958, silver pedestal on which the image of Bhavani stands has been prepared and one maund of silver worth about Rs. 7,500, has been used for the purpose.

The following are the fairs held every year: -

(1) Navaratra holidays in Ashvin (September-October).

(2) Gokul Ashtami in Shravan (July-August).

(3) Every Monday in Shravan (July-August).

It is the only temple dedicated to the Goddess in Jalgaon at present (1958).

Ram's temple.

It is situated in Ram Peth at a distance of about a mile from the Jalgaon railway station.

It is built in burnt brick in lime masonry. To the east of the sabhamandap (congregation hall), there is one room where pictures of different staints are kept on a raised platform constructed of burnt brick in lime with slabbing of German tiles. The flooring in the sanctuary is of Shahabad stone.

This temple gets an annual income of Rs. 2,500 while the expenditure comes to Rs. 3,000. The deficit is made up by contributions from the public.

The fair is held from Kartika Shudh 1 to 15 (Purnima) which is attended by a large number of people.

The date of construction of this temple is not known.

Shani's temple.

The old temple of Shani which was in dilapidated condition was renovated about 60 years ago. It is an ordinary construction of burnt brick in lime with arches, the flooring being of Shahabad stone. There is a brass plate on the tapering top of the temple. There are images of other gods also such as Satyanarayan, Mahadev and Maruti.

No fair is held in honour of this deity. But the weekly bazar is held in front of this temple if a new moon day falls on Saturday.

It is situated in Shani Peth to the east of the Jalgaon railway station at a distance of about four furlongs.

Jain temple.

This is Porbundar stone structure occupying, an area of 14,400 sq. ft. It was constructed at a cost of Rs. 35,000 in 1890.

There is a dome over the temple. It is provided with staying accommodation for pilgrims. There are four shops and there is a small garden in front of the temple. There are ornaments worth Rs. 4,000 as the property of the temple.

A fair is held in Shravan every year from Vadya 8 to full moon day, i.e., July-August.

Church.

There is only one church in Jalgaon, viz., the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. It is situated on the Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit Road in Jilha Peth. Out of the five acres of land occupied by the mission a few gunthas have been occupied by the church.

The church was consecrated in about 1924. It is built in red bricks with no plastering. The flooring and sanctuary are of Shahabad stone. It has a roof of country tiles.

The church is now under the management of the Marathi Synod having headquarters at Akola.

Clubs.

The Gorjabai Gymkhana Club, situated near the Town Hall, was started about 1910-11. The total membership of the club is 32. It is situated in owned premises. The ground was donated by Seth Vallabhdas Valji and the building was constructed by the club itself. There is a billiards hall of 25' x 20' dimensions in the centre and two bridge halls of 25' x 20' at two sides of the billiards hall. There is an open ground of 100'x 100' dimensions. It is an earth-brick construction with a roof of country tiles.

Rotary Club.-This branch of the Rotary club was opened in Jalgaon in 1950. Its present strength is 29. The club holds its meetings in the Gorjabai Gymkhana hall.

Statue of Subhash Chandra Bose.

Statue of Subhash Chandra Bose-It is situated in Subhash Square (chowk) at the crossing of Subhash Road and Kasturba Road at a distance of about a mile to the south-east of Jalgaon railway station. It faces east, is in military uniform and it is six feet in height weighing about 25 maunds. The cost of this statue is Rs. 2,000. It is made of white marble.

It stands on a pedestal which is 4'-6" high. The pedestal is in three raised squares of equal height, i.e., l'-6". The raised square which forms the base is 10'x 10'x l'-6" dimensions. Upon this there is another raised square of 3'x8'xl'-6" dimensions. On this also there is one more raised square of 2'-6" x8'x l'-6" dimensions on which the statue is erected.

Over the statue there is canopy supported by four pillars. In the canopy there are four small statyes facing four directions. The statue of Bharatmata faces the east; that of Mahatma Gandhi faces the west, while the statues of Jawaharlal Nehru and Lokamanya Tilak face north and south respectively.

The pedestal as well as the statue are made of marble. The foundation stone of this statue was laid on 3rd May 1953 and was unveiled on 25th September 1955. The total expenditure came to Rs. 15,000.

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