Jalna 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.
Jalna Town
Head-quarters of the taluk of the same name in Aurangabad District, Hyderabad State, situated in 19 degree51’ N. and 75degree 54' E., on the right bank of the Kundlika, opposite the town of Kadirabad. Population (1901), 20,270, of whom 13,851 were Hindus, 5,812 Musalmans, and 317 Christians. According to local traditions, Jalna was founded in the time of Rama. During Sita's residence it was styled Jankapur, but the name was changed to Jalna by a rich Musalman weaver. Abul Fazl, Akbar's minister, resided here for a time, and Aurangzeb is said to have visited the place occasionally during bis viceroyalty. The only public buildings of any note are a mosque and a handsome stone saras, erected according to the inscriptions on them in 1568, and a Turkish bath.
The town also contains a number of less important mosques and shrines, besides three Hindu temples, the principal one being that of Anandi Swami, which is of considerable size. The fort of Jalna, which was built in 1725, is now in ruins. Its gardens produce large quantities of fruit, which is exported to Bombay and elsewhere. The cantonment of Jalna, till recently a station of the Hyderabad Contingent, lies to the east of the town ; it was built in 1827, but has been abandoned since 1903. There are several places of Christian worship, with a couple of schools attached.
