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PLACES
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BAVDHAN
Bavdhan (Wai T; 18° 30' N, 73° 45' E,; RS. Wathar 23 m. NE; p. 4,712) village was alienated to Rajaram Bhonsle, the adopted son of the widow of the late Raja of Satara. It is situated three miles due south of Wai and a mile south of the Wai-Pancvad road, with which it is connected by a road leading down to the Krshna river which flows about 1½ miles to the north. To the west of the village is a bare range of hills branching from
Pasarni and containing two small caves very difficult of access believed to be Buddhist. On the hill top is a flat plateau with a temple of Devi which was in charge of a Gosavi. In the village is an old temple of Bhairav which was entirely rebuilt about 150 years ago, from village subscriptions. The temple is a rude stone work with a brick spire and a courtyard. A yearly fair is held on the dark fifth of Phalgun (February-March) and is attended by about 15,000 people. A far more interesting structure is the Mahadev temple down by the Krshna about a quarter of a mile north of the high road. A paved court has been built on the side which slopes gently down to the river. The temple consists of an image-chamber about twelve feet square apparently old and
a modern hall opens at the sides, with twelve pillars supporting a flat roof with a parapet and broad eaves. On the north of the image-chamber or gabhara is a small stone basin into which flows the water thrown over the ling and over a spring believed to be one of the mouths of the Sarasvati. The hall is about twenty feet square and the courtyard in front, eighty feet by sixty. The image-chamber is surmounted by a spire or shikhar in the old star shape. Leading from the temple to the river is a flight of stone steps thirty feet wide. The temple was added to and restored by a Peshva officer surnamed Kanitkar. Besides these temples the village contains a large but fallen mansion or vada belonging once to the Kulkarni family.
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