OJHAR.

Ojha'r or Wojha'r, on the left bank of the Kukdi, is a small alienated village six miles south-east of Junnar, with in 1881 a population of 674. Ojhar was the scene of one of the eight incarnations of Ganpati in whose honour a temple is built to the west of the village. [The seven others are at Junnar Ranjangaon and Theur in Poona, at Pali in the pant Sachiv's territory, at Madh in Kolaba, and at Sidhtek in Ahmadnagar.] The temple, which is about a hundred years old, lies in an enclosure entered by a fine gateway. The sides of the gateway have sculptured doorkeepers, and a row of four musicians in bas relief adorns the lintel. All the figures are brightly painted. Within the enclosure are two fine lamp-pillars in front of a fine corridor of seven cusped arches used as a rest-house. The temple is entered by three doors with sculptured side posts and lintels. The east entrance is the chief and bears, over the lintel, a relief figure of Ganpati with parrots and monkeys disporting in trees. A small dome flanked by four minarets surmounts the hall, and over the shrine is a spire adorned with the usual rows of figure-filled niches. The village revenues are alienated to the temple which is managed by the Inamdar. In 1827 Captain dunes notices it as an alienated village with a hundred houses and one shop. [Itinerary, 18.]

OTUR.

Otur, north latitude 19°16'and east longitude 74° 3', on the left bank of the Kushmavati [The Kushmavati rises about three miles above Otur from a deep gorge in the Sahyadris under the mountain of Bhambori. It cuts a deep and winding course through the black soil of Otur plain and flows four miles lower into the Kukdi near the Botanical gardens at Hivre Budrukh. The river is unfordable during July and August and almost isolates Otur.] or Mandvi a feeder of the Kukdi, ten miles north-east of Junnar, is a large and rich market town, with in 1872 a population of 6291 and in 1881 of 5780. Otur commands the eastern mouth of the Madmhora valley ending westward in the Malsej pass. About two miles west ot the town extends the mountain range which, beginning from the fort of Harishchandragad (4691) at the head of the Malsej pass, forms the northern wall of that valley and is the boundary between the Poona and Ahmadnagar districts at this point stretching far east into the Deccan. The highest points in this range are Gidani, Bhambori, and Chauria, the last within the limits of Otur and about 3700 feet above the sea. Three miles from Otur the Brahmanvada pass, fit for laden cattle, leads to the south-west corner of Ahmadnagar, and twelve miles to the east is the Ane pass, on the Poona-Nasik road, fit for wheels.

Otur has three main entrances, the Rohokad Ves or north gateway, the Nagar Ves or east gateway, and the Junnar Ves or west gateway. Two of these the Rohokad and Nagar are well preserved. The town has a post office and a Collector's bungalow not far from the northern entrance, a fort, and two temples on the river bank. The fort, near the Junnar gate, was built in the last century to guard against Bhil raids. It was described in 1842 as a small ruined gadhi built on rising ground. The fortifications are fast falling into decay. Inside was a large mansion or vada able to hold about fifty people. The water-supply was scarce and other supplies not available. The two temples are of Keshav Chaitanya the teacher of the famous Vani saint Tukaram and of Kapardikeshvar Mahadev. Chaitanya's temple is built over the tomb or samadhi of that saint. A yearly fair, attended by about two thousand people, is held at Kapardikeshvar temple on the last Monday of Shravan or July-August. The temple enjoys a Government cash grant of 4 10s. (Rs. 45) and some rent-free land. Otur had a municipality which was abolished in 1874 at the request of the people. In 1827 Captain Clunes notices it as a market town or kasba with 2500 houses and many gardens. [Itinerary, 18.]