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TAKVE BUDRUKH.

TALEGAON DABHADE.

Talegaon Da'bha'de, in Maval about ten miles south-east of Khadkala and about twenty miles north-west of Poona is a municipal town with a railway station, and had in 1881 a population of 4900. Talegaon is a half alienated village belonging to the Dabhade family. It has a large pond with temples and tombs, a dispensary, a girls' school, and a large oil industry. The 1872 census showed a population of 5040 of whom 4585 were Hindus, 450 Musalmans, and five Christians. The 1881 census showed a decrease of 140 or 4900, of whom 4410 were Hindus, 485 Musalmans, and five Christians. The 1883 railway returns showed 132,645 passengers and 13,060 tons of goods. The municipality was established in 1866 and had in 1882-83 an income of £245 (Rs. 2450) and an expenditure of £139 (Rs. 1390). The dispensary was opened in 1876 and in 1883 treated ten in-patients and 5609 out-patients at a cost of £66 (Rs. 660).

To the south of the town is a reservoir which has been improved and built round by successive generations of Dabhades, and some small temples of Mahadev line its northern bank. The water in this reservoir and also in existing wells is unfit to drink. Arrangements have therefore been made for building a reservoir to the west of the town which will provide an ample supply of pure drinking water. [Mr. J. G.. Moore, C .S.] To the north of the town in a thick grove is an old temple of Vaneshvar or the Forest God. In front is the bull under a canopy and behind the bull is a square cistern with flights of steps leading to the water. The temple has a battlemented cornice with three small minarets over the entrance. The dome or Shikaar over the shrine resemblence the dome of Siddheshwar temple in Khed and has similar snake ornaments. On either side of the temple in enclosed spaces are the tombs or chhatris of the Dabhade family, raised platforms, each supporting a tiny shrine, built over the spots where the Dabhades were burnt.

History.

The Dabhade family rose to importance, in the reign of the first Peshwa Balaji Vishvanath (1714-1720). Its founder was Khanderav Dabhade who was appointed commander-in-chief or senapati in 1716. [Grant Duff's Marathas, 196-197.] In 1721 Khanderav died and was succeeded in his command by his son Trimbakrav Dabhade. [Grant Duff's Marathas, 209.] Trimbakrav was an instrument in the hands of Nizam-ul-Mulk who was always ready to thwart the aims of Bajirav I. (1721 - 1740). Bajirav suspected this and when he heard of Dabhade's preparations against the Deccan in 1731, aided by the Nizam, he marched to Gujarat with a small force, met and killed Dabhade and completely routed his force. The victory led to a bitter feud between Bajirav and the Dabhade family. For several days every year the Dabhades used to feed a thousand Brahmans at Talegaon. After the defeat Bajirav continued the practice at Poona and distributed sums of money to learned men. This was the origin of the Dakshina grant which has been continued by the British Government tinder the form of college fellowships and encouragement of vernacular literature. [Grant Duffs Marathas, 224-225. See above pp. 48, 60-62.] In 1779 Talegaon was the furthest point reached by the English army which came to restore Raghunathrav as Peshwa and made the capitulation of Vadgaon about three miles to the west. On the 9th of January 1779, after a short advance, the Maratha army retired under orders from Nana Fadnavis, and set fire to the village of Talegaon. The English feared that Poona and Chinchvad would be burnt in the same way, and instead of advancing to Poona which was only eighteen miles off, in spite of Raghunathrav's advice, they determined to return to Bombay. On the 11th of January the army of 2600 British troops threw their heavy guns into the large Talegaon pond, and burning their stores left Talegaon at dead of night. [Grant Duff's Marathas, 414-416.] In 1817, five days after the battle of Kirkee, two brothers of the name of Vaughan, one of them a Major, in the 15th Madras Native Infantry and his brother in the Marine service, while on their way from Bombay to Poona, were seized at Talegaon and, in spite of their remonstrances and the offer of a ransom, were hanged to a tree by the roadside on the 10th of November. Their graves side by side are about twenty yards off the road. [Fitz Clarence's Journey, 314. It is said that the brothers were first captured Karle, dragged almost naked to Talegaon, and one brother was made to hang other. Fifteen Years in India, 481; Grant Duff's Marathas, 654.] About this side Talegaon is described as a town with a remarkably fine pond and a mango grove. In 1827 Captain Clunes notices Talegaon with 1500 houses, the thief town of the Dhabarry's (Dabhades). [Itinerary, 10.]

TALEGAON DHAMDHERE.

Talegaon Dhamdhere [The town takes its name probably as it was a convenient halting place or camping ground, tal. The late Mr. G. H. Johns, C. S. It is called Dhamdhere after the Dhamdhere family who live in it to distinguish it from Talegaon Dabhade to Maval.] on the Vel river about twenty miles south-west of Sirur is a municipal and market town, with in 1881 a population of 3620. The weekly market is held on Monday. Besides the municipality the town has a sub-judge's court, a post-office, and a dispensary. The municipality was established in 1855 and in 1882-83 had an income of £70 (Rs. 700) and an expenditure of £49 (Rs. 490). The dispensary dates from 1876. In 1883 it treated four in-patients and 4724 out-patients at a cost of £57 (Rs.570).

Temples.

The town has several temples the chief of which are five of Ganpati, Nath, Siddheshvar, Takleshvar, and Uttareshvar. Ganpati's temple was built by a member of the Dhamdhere family. The temple porch is entered on the east and south through large arched openings and has a vaulted roof. The spire is profusely adorned with quaint little figures in niches. Nath's shrine, dedicated to an ascetic of that name, is built on the river bank. Nath is said to have lived in Shivaji's time and to have been a friend of a Musalman saint Itnak Bawa whose tomb is in the Musalman graveyard to the northeast of the town. [According to a local story Nath and Itnak spent their spare time in playing cards.] A fair, attended by about 3000 people, is held on Mahashivratra in February-March. The shrine enjoys rent-free land assessed at £4 18s. (Rs. 49). Siddheshvar's is a large shrine built on raised ground and enclosed by lofty battlemented walls. High flights of steps lead on the east and west into the temple enclosure. The temple is said to have been built by a village accountant of Talegaon who rose to be Sindia's minister. Takleshvar's temple is an old building to the west of Ganpati's shrine. The temple is entered through a curious old rest-house which opens into the market place. Uttareshvar's temple was built by a member of a family called the Mahajans about 200 years ago. To the north of the temple is a fine well and an old lamp-pillar outside the enclosure. Besides these five shrines, outside the town about half a mile to the north-west, is a temple of Bhairav, a quaint old structure enclosed by walls. Its hall or mandap is divided into three small aisles by two rows of low stone pillars supporting brick arches. In 1751 Talegaon Dhamdhere was totally destroyed by the Moghals. [Grant Duff's Marathas, 276.]

THEUR.

TULAPUR.