Latest revision as of 19:42, 11 October 2014

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.

[edit] Songarh

Head-quarters of the taluka of the same name, Navsari prant, Baroda State, situated in 21° 10' N. and 73° 36' E., on the Tapti Valley Railway. Population (1901), 2,533. It is of historic interest as the place where the Gaikwars first fixed their head-quarters. Formerly it must have been a flourishing town, and vast ruins still remain. The fort of Songarh is situated to the west of the town on a small hill, but the only portion of the defences stfll kept in repair is the entrance at the north end. In the lower part of the enclosed space are the ruins of what must have been a handsome palace with several storeys. This fort was originally seized from the Bhils, some families of whom still hold jagirs in connexion with it. The town possesses a magistrate's court, a dispensary, and a special boarding-school for the boys and girls of the forest tribes. The boys are trained in carpentry and agriculture on a model farm attached to the school, where experi- ments in cultivation and sericulture are also being carried out. Songarh is administered as a municipality, with an annual grant from the State of Rs. 800.