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PLACES |
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CHANDGAD
Chandgad (15° 55' N, 74° 10' E; p. 2,782) is
the headquarters of Candgad taluka. It lies 26 miles west of
Belgaum. In the temple of Ravalnath is a Persian inscription. The
temple, which was on the point of complete ruin was repaired with
the help of a grant from the Pesava in the 18th century. The present
two storey structure is a late addition to the original building of
the temple. Candgad has a ruined mud fortlet or gadhi. In
1827 the gadhi was described as a place of no strength,
useful only to protect the persons and property of the inhabitants
during incursions of predatory horse. There were forty irregulars
and one small gun in the fort. In 1724 Nag Savant, a son of the
great Phond Savant of Savantvadi, overran and reduced the Candgad
petty division and established a post or thana at Candgad. In
1750 Candgad fort with Pargad and Kalanandigad and land valued at
Rs. 5,000 a year were granted by the Kolhapur chief to Sadasivrav
Bhau the Pesava's cousin, who dissatisfied with his treatment at
Poona, had made overtures to Kolhapur and got himself appointed
Pesava of Kolhapur. In 1844 Candgad and Pargad were threatened by
insurgents [See Kolhapur History.] but timely reinforcement of
irregulars saved, the forts from attack. At present the fort is
completely in ruins and is beyond recognition. Its mud walls have
collapsed, and, except for the central part of the fort, which is on
a higher level than the plain, the whole site is in the process of
getting into level with the surrounding plains.
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