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DAUND |
The Geography :
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One of the main talukas towards the Eastern side of Pune is Daund. East to West Distance of Daund is 75 kms and breath wise Daund is 45 kms wide. The total area of the Taluka is 1290 sq. kms.Daund taluka comprises of 65 villages. Bhima, Mula and Mutha are the three rivers in Daund. Average Rainfall over here is 350 to 375 m.m.
Daund In Ancient Times :
In ancient times 'Dhaumya Rishi' used to stay in this place,
hence people started calling this place after his name as 'Dhaum'. As the
times passed 'Dhaum' became 'Dhoand', then 'Dhaundh', and as the time
passed it got its name is 'Daund'.
According to the Epic Mahabharata
Shri Krishna's wife Rukhmini had gone in the 'Dhindir forest', this
ancient 'Dhindir Van' is todays Daund.Shri Vitthal's statue with black
statues of both Rahi and Rukhmini on the either sides is the only Vitthal
Temple. Because of the hugeness of the temple it is also called as the
'Prati Pandharpur' (like a replica of Pandharpur).
Daund In Shivaji's Era :
Father of Shivaji Maharaj Shahaji Maharaj was a Sardar in the Nizam Shahi. He had got Daund and surrounding area as a 'Jagir'. In this Jagir there was an important fort called Bahadurgad in Pedgaon which is 13 kms from Daund. Bhadurgad is even today standing on the banks of the river Bhima. Bahadurgad is four times as big as that of Shaniwarwada. 9 kms away from Daund is a place called 'Kurkumb', there are temples of two Goddess - 'Tukai' and 'Firangai', Shavaji's father Shahaji Raje along with his family used to come here. Teacher of Shivaji, Dadoji Konddeo was from Daund Taluka and used to stay in 'Malthan'. The place where he resided can be seen even today.
Daund And The Peshwas :
In 1739 the Bajirao - Mastani affair had brought clashes among the Peshwa family, hence Bajirao Peshwa took Mastani away from Pune and made her stay in Patas. Hence forth Bajirao and Mastani met at the Firangai Devi temple in Kurkumb.Water of the rivers Bhima, Nira, Pravara, Ghod and Godavari are best suited to the horses, hence the horses breeding on these waters used to be strong, quick and loyal. The area of 'Bhimthadi' which is close to Daund was famous for getting good breed of Horses and people preferred to get a pony only from this place. This breed was supposed to be the best of all. Hence the Horse business in Daund has flourished.At the end of the Peshwa Era due to heavy loans on them Daund and some villages from Pune had gone in control of 'Girgosavi'.
Daund And The British :
Daund got very much
developed during the British rule. When Railways were started during the
British rule in 1870, the 'Bombay-Solapur' railway passed via Daund. In
1894 'Daund-Baramati' Meter Gauge route was started. Daund became a
Junction after the 'Daund-Manmad' train. Daund got connected to Srigonda
when in 1928 the bridge over river Bhima was constructed.In the British period Daund was an important
center for the Coal Engines. There were more than 125 Coal Engines in
Daund. for this Daund also had a big work shop in it. Because of this the
ash of the coal was found in abundance. Hence the brick making business
started and it went to various big cities.
3 kms away from Daund there
was the Indian wireless center. At that time there only 2-3 wireless
centers in India. From 1942 to 1945 two Military camps were set up in
Daund.The first theater called 'Hind Cinema' was started in 1938, and the
first hotel in Daund called 'Maharashtra Khanaval' was started in 1930
which owned by Mule and in 1940 the 'Jogalekar Upahar Gruh' came into
existence.
More About Daund :
Daund is a Taluka with very hot temperature. This area
receives scanty rainfall. Lakes like Warvand, Kasurdi and Motoba fall in
this Taluka. Wheat and Sugarcane are grown over here. Fruits like Orange
and Sweet Lime are grown here. You can also find flower gardens in this
region. There is a Sugarcane factory in this Taluka. Main Occupation of
the people in Daund is Farming. One can reach Daund by the means of
(S.T)State Transport or by Train. There are Shuttles Running from Pune
Station to Daund. The major stops taken by the shuttle are Hadapsar,
Manjri Budruk, Loni, Urali Kanchan, Yavat, Kedgaon, Patas and then it
reaches Daund.
The famous Freedom Fighter Late Shree Kisandas
Gulabchand Kataria was from Daund. He was awarded with the degree of Natya
Bhushan, Shikshan Maharshi and many more. Daund Station is a Railway
Junction. Most of the trains pass through Daund Junction. There is the Old
Railway bridge towards Nagar which was built by the British Government.
The condition of bridge is very good even after a long period since it was
built. Newly built bridge over river Bhima is also mind blowing. Some area
of Kurkumbh in Daund is declared as Chemical Zone for the Chemical
Industries. Most of the Industries from all over Maharashtra have been
shifted to Kurkumbh.
The historical place in Daund is the Ancient
Vitthal Temple, there are some more attractive Temples in Daund . There
are 9 Masjids in Daund. The Norton Memorial Church and Christ Church are
two main Churches, including 10 more Churches in Daund. There are also a
few Gurudwaras in Daund. Narayan- Bet near Chaufula in Daund is a popular
picnic spot. Firangai Mata Temple in Kurkumbh is one of the Ancient
temples and a picnic spots just 7 Kms away from Daund. At Malthan which is
at a distance of 22 Kms from Daund is the Palace of Dadoji Kondhdev,
teacher of Shivaji Raje Bhosale. Ancient temple of Bhuleshwar is located
at Yavat which is 15 Kms from Daund. Hind Cinema and Panchsheel are two
Entertainment theaters in Daund.