Ramtek 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.
Ramtek Town
Head-quarters of the tahsil of the same name, Nagpur District, Central Provinces, situated in 21 24' N. and 79 20' E , 24 miles north-east of Nagpur city by road and 13 miles from Salwa railway station. Population (1901), 8,732. The town lies round the foot of a detached hill forming the western extremity of the small Ambagarh range As is shown by its name ('the hill of Rama ' or Vishnu), it is a sacred place of the Hindus. On the hill, standing about 500 feet above the town, are a number of temples, which, owing to their many coats of whitewash, can be seen gleaming m the sun from a long distance. The principal temple is that of Ram Chandra, standing above the others in the inner citadel, which is protected by two lines of walls, both of recent origin, while a third line runs round the Ambala tank at the foot of the hill.
The tank is lined throughout with stone revetments and steps ; it is said to be very deep, and fish abound in it. From the west end of the tank a long flight of steps leads up the hill, at the opposite end of which another flight descends to the town of Ramtek. About 2 7 tanks in all have been constructed round the town Ramtek was constituted a municipality in 1867. The municipal receipts during the decade ending 1901 averaged Rs. 8,400. In 1903-4 the receipts were Rs, 10,000, derived mainly from octroi. A large religious fair is held here in December and a smaller one m March. The December fair lasts for a fortnight, and a considerable amount of traffic in cloth and utensils takes place, dealers coming from Jubbulpore and Mandla. A large area in the vicinity of the town is covered with betel-vine gardens. The variety called kapuri is chiefly grown, and is much esteemed locally. The importance of the town is now increasing, owing to the manganese mines which are worked in the tract adjoining it. A weekly cattle market is held. The educational institutions comprise an English middle, girls', and branch schools, and a dispensary has also been established.
