Katwa 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.
Katwa Town
Head-quarters of the subdivision of the same name in Burdwan District, Bengal, situated in 23 degree 39' N. and 88° 8" E., at the junction of the Bhaglrathi and Ajay rivers. Population (1901), 7,220. Katwa was at one time considered the key to Murshidabad when that town was the capital of Bengal, and an old fort here was the scene of the defeat of the Marathas by All Vardl Khan. It is held sacred by the Vaishnavas, as having been the place where their apostle Chaitanya entered upon the life of an ascetic. Steamers used to visit it the year round, but owing to the silting up of the Bhaglrathi and the opening of the East Indian Railway its commercial importance has greatly declined ; it is now proposed to construct a branch railway from Hooghly. Katwa was constituted a municipality in 1869. The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 7,800, and the expenditure Rs. 7,000. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 10,200, half of which was derived from a tax on persons (or property tax) ; and the expenditure was Rs. 8,300. The town contains the usual public offices ; the subsidiary jail has accommodation for 24 prisoners.
