Karmala 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.
Karmala Town
Head-quarters of the of the same name in Sholapur District, Bombay, situated in 18 degree 24' N. and 75 degree 12' E., 11 miles north of the Jeur station on the south-east section of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway. Population (1901), 7.301. Karmala was originally the seat of a branch of the Ximbalkar family. The founder began and his son finished a fort, which still exists and is used for the offices. This fort, one of the largest in the Deccan, extends over a quarter of a square mile, and contains about a hundred houses. Karmala grew and became a large trade centre, being a crossing station for the traffic from Balaghat through Barsi to Poona, and between Ahmadnagar and Sholapur. Most of this traffic has now passed to the railway, but Karmala is still a large mart for cattle, grain, oil, and piece- goods. A weekly market is held on Friday, and the town has a small weaving industry. The water-supply is derived from wells three-quarters of a mile to the south, the water being carried through an earthenware conduit to dipping wells in the town. An annual fair is held here, last- ing four days. The town possesses a large temple of Amba Bai. The municipality, established in 1867, had an average income during the decade ending 1901 of Rs. 8.800. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 9,100. Karmala contains a Subordinate Judge's court, three schools, includ- ing one maintained by the American Congregational Mission, and a dispensary.
