Karanja
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.
Karanja
Peninsula, village, and petty division (petha) in the Pan- vel of Kolaba District, Bombay, situated in 18 degree 51' N. and 7 2 degree 57' E., in the south-east of Bombay harbour, and about 6 miles south-east of the Carnac Bandar of Bombay. On a clear day the peninsula can be distinguished plainly, and apparently but a mile or two distant, from Bombay. It is 8 miles long and 4 broad. The peninsula consists of two rocky hills, between which stretch grass and rice lands, wooded with mango-trees and palms. The creek to the east is broken up into several salt-pans, the officers connected with which are stationed at the town of Uran close by. Besides its. rice crop, which is of considerable value, the two special exports of Karanja Island are salt and liquor made from the mahua or from the date-palm. The chief industry of the people, however, is fishing. The great area of the salt-works, about 3,000 acres, the shining white pans, regular boundaries, and heaps of glistening salt, produce a curi- ous effect to the eye. The salt pans are not of recent date ; reference is made to them in 163S, and in 1820 they are noted as having pro duced 20,000 tons of salt. During the year 1903-4 the salt export was about 2,000,000 maunds, and the revenue therefrom 29 lakhs. There are 19 distilleries at Mora on the island of Uran, all owned by Parsls. The mahua flowers distilled in these' are brought through Bombay from the Panch Mahals, and the annual revenue is about 35 lakhs. The water-supply is good, being derived from reservoirs, and from many ponds and wells which hold water for several months after the rains.
Karanja has passed under every form of rule and suffered every species of vicissitude. Under the Silaharas, in the twelfth century, the island was prosperous, with many villages and gardens. It formed part of Bassein province, under the Portuguese, from 1530 to 1740: was fortified with two strongholds, one at Uran, the other on the top of its southern peak ; and 100 armed men were maintained as garrison. At the present day may still be seen the ruins of Portuguese hermitages and churches. In 1535 the island was in charge of the Franciscans. In 1613 it was the scene of a great riot. In 1670 it was plundered by a Maratha freebooter. In 1737 the Marathas finally occupied the place, and held it until 1774, when the English took possession.
The most noteworthy ruins are on the summit of Dronagiri, the southern of the two hill peaks, including the Portuguese fort, guard- house, church, rock-temple, and reservoir. On the east face of Khar- avli (the north hill peak) is a Buddhist rock-cut chapel; at Uran town, the old Portuguese fort and churches ; in the village of Sheva, a ruined church, of which the broken walls of the graveyard are the only trace.
