Bagalkot Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Bagalkot Town
Head-quarters of the taluka of the same name in Bijapur District, Bombay, situated in 16’ 11 N.and 75 42' E., on the Ghatprabha river, and on the Southern Mahratta Railway. Popula- tion (1901), 19,020. Bagalkot is a place of considerable trade, with manufactures of silk and cotton goods and five cotton-presses. At Muchkundi, about 5 miles to the south-west of Bagalkot, is a large tank, constructed for irrigation. Bagalkot has three markets - an old market and two Jain and Lingayat markets. The municipality, established in 1865, had an average income during the decade ending 1901 of Rs. 24,000. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 23,000. The town con- tains a Subordinate Judge's court, a dispensary, and a municipal middle school. In early times Bagalkot is said to have belonged to the musicians of Ravana, the demon king of Ceylon. In the sixteenth century it was in possession of the Vijayanagar kings. From 1664 to 1755 it was under the management of the Savanur Nawab, from whom it was taken by the Peshwa. In 1778 it passed to Haidar and again to the Peshwas, who in 18 10 handed it over to Nilkanth Rao, Sarsfibahdar, who held it until General Munro took it in 18 18. Under the Peshwas, Bagalkot had a mint which was not abolished till 1835. The town contains four boys' schools with 558 pupils, and a girls' school with 80.
