Jajpur 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.
Jajpur Town
Head-quarters of the subdivision of the same name in Cuttack District, Bengal, situated in 20 51' N. and 86° 20' E., on the right bank of the Baitarani river. Population (1901), 12,111. Under the early kings of the Kesari dynasty Jajpur was the capital of Orissa, and in the sixteenth century it was the scene of the struggle between the Musalmans and Hindus, from which it emerged in ruins. It is still a resort for pilgrims, but has comparatively little trade.It contains many interesting buildings, among which the most striking are the temples of Biroda. Devi, of the Boar incarnation of Vishnu, and the great sun pillar that stands a mile outside the town. This latter con- sists of a huge and beautifully proportioned column of stone raised on a solid pedestal ; and if the temple was in proportion, it must have been of a remarkable size. All traces of it have, however, disappeared, and the column has escaped only owing to its great weight, which prevented its would-be destroyers from moving it. Besides these, some ancient heroic figures of gods and goddesses are standing or lying in the com- pound of the subdivisional office. They are considered to be fine specimens of Hindu art, but all bear traces of Muhammadan vandalism in their mutilated features, from which the noses were cut by the rene- gade Kala Pahar. Interesting, too, are the grim features of the seven 1 mothers of the earth * in a dark little gallery by the river bank, but there is little beauty in any of these early works. The Muhammadan mosque built by Nawab Abu Naslr in the seventeenth century is an elegant building, which has lately been restored by the Public Works department Jajpur was constituted a municipality in 1869. The income during the decade ending 1 901-2 averaged Rs. 5,800, and the expenditure Rs. 5,300. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 7,600, mainly from a tax on persons (or property tax) ; and the expenditure was Rs. 6,700. The town contains the usual public offices; the sub- jail has accommodation for twelve prisoners.
