Krishnagiri 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.
Krishnagiri Town
Head-quarters of the taluk of the same name in Salem District, Madras, situated in 12° 31' N. and 78° 13' E. Population (1901), 10,446. It is connected with Tiruppattur on the Madras Railway by a road 24 miles long, and by a narrow-gauge (2 feet 6 inches) railway. The town consists of Krishnagiri proper, the old town, and a new suburb called Daulatabad, where the Government offices are situated. This last was built under the auspices of Munro and Graham, the first Assistant Collectors of the District ; the present public bungalow was their residence.
The town is commanded by a precipitous hill fort rising 800 feet above it. Such were its capabilities for defence that it was never carried by assault. In 1767, and again in 1791, British troops attempted it unsuccessfully; and on several occasions during the operations against Mysore it was necessary to blockade or mask it. In 1768 it surrendered to a blockading force, and was held by a British garrison for some years until restored by treaty. Grapes of an excellent quality are produced in the neighbour- hood.
