Rajapur Town, Ratnagiri
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.
Rajapur Town
(i). Head-quarters of the taluka of the same name in Ratnagiri District, Bombay, situated in 16 34' N. and 73 31' E., at the head of a tidal creek, 30 miles south-by-east of Ratnagiri town and about 15 miles from the sea. Population (1901), 5,178. Rajapur is the oldest-looking and best preserved town in the Konkan; its streets are steep and narrow, and the market paved and roofed. The old English factory, a massive stone building with an enclosure leading to the creek, now used as a Government office, gives the town a special inteiebt. It is also peculiar as the only Ratnagiri port to which Arab boats still trade direct, though vessels of any size cannot approach within 3 miles of the old stone quay. Since the opening of the Southern Mahratta Railway the trade of Rajapur has greatly declined* In 1903-4 the exports amounted to 1-3 lakhs and the imports to 1-6 lakhs. On the south point of the bay stands a lighthouse; erected in 1873, the light of which is visible for 9 miles. Jaitapur, situated ii miles lower down, is the outlet for sea traffic and the place of call for coasting steamers. The municipality, established in 1876, had an average income during the decade ending 1901 of Rs. 7,500. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 6,600. The water-supply of the town is from a lake, upwards of half a mile long, with an average breadth of 250 feet, containing about 60,000,000 gallons of water, which has been formed by damming the Kodavli river at a point 3 miles above the town. The present supply is about 39,000 gallons a day, which is insufficient for the needs of the town, and most of the pipes are in serious need of repair. The town contains two Subordinate Judges 1 courts, two dispensaries, of which one is private, and eight schools, including one for girls.
At the time of the first Muhammadan conquest (1312), Rajapur was the chief town of a district. In 1660-1, and again in 1670, Sivaji plundered the town, sacking the English factory. In 1713 Rajapur was handed over to Angna. In 1756 it was taken by the Peshwa from Angria; and in 1818 it came into British possession, together with the rest of the Peshwa's domimonb.
A hot spring, about a mile from the town, is much frequented on account of its virtue in curing rheumatic and skin diseases. About a mile from this spring is another which flows at uncertain intervals. The flow lasts for periods varying from one or two days to three months. It is held in great reverence and called a Ganga. Immedi- ately the flow begins, Hindus come from long distances to bathe in it. In the middle of the town is a temple of Vithoba, where fairs are held in honour of the god twice a year.
