PLACES

TEMBHURNI

Located in 18°00' north latitude and 75° 10' east longitude on the Pune-Sholapur road in Madha taluka about fifteen miles to the southwest of Kurduwadi railway station, Tembhurni is a market town of some importance with a population of 8,115 souls as per the Census of 1971. It has a post office and a police station the jurisdiction of which extends over 48 villages. There are two primary schools, one for boys and one for girls, conducted by the Zilla Parishad and a high school known as the Janata Vidyalaya conducted by the Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Tembhurni. The village is electrified. Wells form the main source of water-supply. Acute scarcity of water is often felt. The Government rest-house is also located at Tumbhurni. A weekly market is held at Tembhurni on every Friday which is also a cattle market.

The village is still a trading centre and though not regulated it is a wholesale trade centre in cotton, groundnut, karadi and other agricultural produce.

The growth of the village dates from its grant in inam to Sadashiv Mankeshwar. He built a fort now almost in dilapidated condition as also the temple of Vithoba and Rama now in bad repair. The village had a surrounding wall which even to this date stands in good condition on two sides. As per the local account there was a seven-storeyed mansion belonging to Sadashiv Mankeshwar which, it is alleged, was purposely set on fire by his descendents when a quarrel ensued about its heirship. The building contained many specimens of excellent wood carvings. There was a water-course in the village, which supplied water to the mansion mentioned above and to the residents of the village. The remains of this water-course are still to be seen in the village.

Every year a fair is held in honour of god Hanuman on Hanuman Jayanti, i.e., Chaitra Shuddha 15 (March-April). About 3,000 people assemble at the time of the fair. The local populace also celebrates Ram Navami and Kartiki and Ashadhi ekadashis in the temple of Rama and Vithoba, respectively.

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