Soron
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.
Soron
Town in the Kasganj tahsil of Etah District, United Provinces, situated in 27° 54' N. and 78° 45" E., on the Burhiganga, an old bed of the Ganges. It is the junction of a branch of the Cawnpore - Achhnera Railway from Kasganj with a branch of the Rohilkhand and Kumaon Railway which passes through Budaun to Bareilly. Population (190 1), 12,174. Soron is a place of considerable antiquity. According to tradition it was known as Ukala-kshetra, but after the destruction of the demon, Hiranya Kasyapa, by Vishnu, in his Boar incarnation, the name was changed to Sukara-kshetra (Sukar or ' wild boar '). A mound, known as the kila or fort, marks the site of the ancient town. A temple dedicated to Sita and Rama, and the tomb of a Muhammadan saint, Shaikh Jamal, stand on the mound ; but large antique bricks strew the ground on all sides, and the founda- tions of walls may be traced throughout. The temple was destroyed during the fanatical reign of Aurangzeb, but restored towards the close of the last century by a wealthy Bania, who built up the vacant interstices between the pillars with plain white-washed walls. The architectural features of the pillars resemble those of the quadrangle near the Kutb Minar at Delhi. Numerous inscriptions by pilgrims in the temple bear date from A. d. 1169' downward. .Soron lies on the old route from the foot of the hills to Hathras and Agra, and has some pretensions as a trading mart ; but it is chiefly important for its religious associations and as the scene of frequent pilgrim fairs. Up to the seventeenth century the Ganges flowed in the channel now known as the Burhi- ganga ; and devout Hindus, after visiting Muttra, come on to Soron to bathe in the stream, which here forms a considerable pool, lined with handsome temples and ghats. The pool is now fed by an irrigation channel. The most important bathing, however, takes place in the Ganges itself, 4 miles north of Soron. The road to Budaun crosses the Burhiganga by a fine stone bridge. There are many substantial houses and fifty or sixty temples shaded by fine pipal-trees, and thirty large dharmsalas or resthouses for pilgrims ; some of these, exquisitely carved in Agra stone, attest the wealth and piety of pilgrims from the Native States of Gwalior and Bharatpur. The town also contains a dispensary, a municipal hall, and a branch of the Church Missionary Society. Soron has been a municipality since 1868. During the ten years ending 1901 the income and expenditure averaged Rs. 10,000. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 15,000, chiefly derived from octroi (Rs. 8,000) ; and the expenditure was Rs. 20,000. The trade is largely devoted to supplying the wants of the pilgrims ; but sugar- refining is increasing in importance, and a great deal of cotton yarn is spun here as a hand industry. The municipality supports two schools and aids two others with a total attendance of 243 pupils.
