Sihor, 1908
Sihor
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.
Town in the State of Bhaunagar, Kathiawar, Bombay, situated in 21 43' N. and 72 E., on the Bhavnagar-Gondal Railway, about 13 miles west of Bhaunagar town, and on the slope of the Sihor range of hills. Population (1901), io,ror. The name is a corruption of Singhpur, 'the lion city.' A still more ancient name is Saraswatpur. It formed a capital of the Bhaunagar branch of the Gohel Rajputs until Bhaunagar town was founded in 1723. The old site of the city is about half a mile to the south. Sihor is famous for its copper- and brasswork, snuff, and plaster (chunam). The dyers are numerous and skilful, and dye women's scarves (sddlas) with various colours, but they are especially famous for their chocolate dye. Sihor is also a great place for oil- pressers. Near the southern wall of the town is situated the Brahma kund, the water of which possesses special virtues for bathers. Farther up the river Gautami lie the Gautami kund and Gautameshwar Maha- deo. The Sihor stone found in the Ranio hill is much used for building.
