Jambusar 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, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Jambusar Town
Head-quarters of the taluka of the same name in Broach District, Bombay, situated in 22degree 3' N. and 72 degree48' E., 5 miles north of the Dhadhar river, and 27 miles from Broach city. Popula- tion (1901), 10,181. The town was first occupied by the British in 1775 an d remained in their possession until 1783, when it was restored to the Marathas. Under the Treaty of Poona (181 7) it was finally surrendered to the British. To the north of the town is a lake of con- siderable size sacred to Nageshwar, the snake-god, with richly wooded banks, and in the centre of the water rises a small island about 40 feet in diameter, overgrown with mango and other trees. The water-supply is chiefly derived from this tank. In the town is a strong fort, erected by Mr. Callender when Jambusar was held by the British from 1775 to 1783. This fort furnishes accommodation for the treasury, the civil courts, and other Government offices. The town contains a Sub- Judge's court, a dispensary, and 7 schools — 6 (including an English school) for boys and one for girls — attended respectively by 553 and 106 pupils.
The municipality, established in 1856, had an average income of about Rs. 12,000 during the decade ending 1901. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 13,900, including grants of Rs. 2,000 from Government for education. In former times, when Tankari, 10 miles south-west of Jambusar, was a port of little less consequence than Broach, Jambusar itself enjoyed a considerable trade. Indigo was then the chief export. With the opening of a railway (1861), the traffic by sea at Tankari fell off considerably. On the other hand, Jambusar is only 18 miles distant from the Palej station on the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India Railway; and, as roads have been made connecting Jambusar with both Palej and Broach, a traffic by land has to some extent taken the place of the old sea-borne trade. It is in contemplation to connect Broach and Jambusar by rail. There are six cotton-ginning factories. Tanning, the manufacture of leather, and calico-printing are carried on to a small extent, and there are also manufactures of ivory armlets and toys.
