Honavar 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.
(or Onore). — Head-quarters of the tdhika of the same name in North Kanara District, Bombay, situated in 14° 17' N. and 74° 27 E., 50 miles south-east of Karwar, on the north of an ex- tensive inlet of the sea, which at its south-eastern extremity receives the Gersoppa or Sharavati river. Population (1901), 6,929. In 1903-4 the value of the exports was 6 lakhs, and of the imports 4 lakhs. The town is mentioned by Abul Fida (1273-1331); and shortly after- wards (1342) is described by Ibn Batuta as rich and well governed, with 23 schools for boys and 13 for girls. At the beginning of the sixteenth century it is said to have exported much rice, and to have been fre- quented by shipping.
In 1505 the Portuguese built a fort at Honavar; and two years later, in consequence of a dispute with the king of Vijayanagar, they attacked and burnt the town. Cesare de' Federici (1563-81) calls 'Onor' a fort of the Portuguese; and in 1623 De la Valle found it a small place, still in the hands of the Portuguese. On the decay of the Portuguese power in India, Honavar was acquired by the sovereigns of Bednur ; and on the conquest of Bednur by Haidar All, this town also submitted to him. In 1783 it was taken by assault by a British force dispatched from Bombay, under the command of General Mathews ; and in 1784 was successfully defended by Captain Torriano against Tipu Sultan, to whom, however, in the same year, it was ceded by the Treaty of Mangalore. On the over- throw of Tipu in 1799 it again came into the possession of the British. The town lies about 2 miles from the coast at the mouth of the Gersoppa river, which, with a dangerous bar and an entrance channel about 300 feet broad, expands into a lake 5 miles long and i to 2 miles broad. In the lake are five islands, the largest 3 miles long, covered with palm-trees. about 2 miles north of Honavar is Ramtirth, with a temple of Ramling. Basavrajdurg, also called Fortified Island, about 3 miles from Honavar, was fortified by Sivappa Naik. Honavar has been a municipality since 1890, and had an average income during the decade ending 1901 of Rs. 4,100. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 8,000. The town contains a Subordinate Judge's court, a dispensary, a middle school, and four other schools.
