Jamkhandi

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?Jamkhandi Karnataka • India
Jamkhandi
Coordinates: 16°31′N 75°18′E / 16.52, 75.3
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	12.6 km² (5 sq mi) • 543 m (1,781 ft)
District(s)	Bagalkot
Population • Density	57,887 (2001) • 4,594.21 /km² (11,899 /sq mi)
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle	• 587 301 • +08353 • KA-48

Coordinates: 16°31′N 75°18′E / 16.52, 75.3 Jamkhandi (Kannada: ಜಮಖಂಡಿ) is a town in Bagalkot district in the Indian state of Karnataka.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Emphasis on education
5 References
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Jamkhandi was one of the princely states of British India, under the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. It was one of the southern Mahratta Jagirs. Its Hindu rulers were of the Pathwardhan dynasty and used the title "Raja" or “Raja Sahib”. The Patwardhan family also ruled several other nearby princely states including Sangli, Miraj and Kurundwad and chiefs of Budhgaon and Tasgaon, all of whose ruling families claimed descent from a common ancestor, Hari Patwardhan. The state gained prestige after it defeated Tipu Sultan in a battle. The Raja's descendants now live in nearby Kolhapur.

Jamkhandi state covered an area of 1357 square kilometers, and had a population of 103,375 in 1901, while the population of the town itself was 13,029 in that year. In 1911, the state enjoyed a revenue estimated at Rs.91,163/- and paid a tribute to the British Raj of Rs.1,300/-. Its flag was an orange rectangle, containing the royal coat-of-arms.

The state was founded by Shri Shankarji Narayan in the year 1811, and was acceded to Dominion of India on February 19, 1948. In doing so, Jamkhandi became the first princely state to have voluntarily merged in the Indian Union.

The town of Kundgol, which is in the neighboring district of Dharwar, was a non-contiguous part of Jamkhandi state until Jamkhandi merged into Indian Union.

[edit] Geography

Jamkhandi is located at 16.52° N 75.3° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 543 metres (1781 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Jamkhandi had a population of 57,887. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Jamkhandi has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 67%, and female literacy is 52%. In Jamkhandi, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Emphasis on education

Jamkhandi has been a pioneer in northern Karnataka in the field of education. The then ruler of Jamkhandi, Sir Parashuram Bhaurao Patwardhan started P B High School (named after him) in the year 1879. This school has produced perhaps the highest number or matriculation rank holders in the pre-independence Bombay state. In one year, the school produced four rank holders which is probably a record in itself for Bombay state of that time.

Sir Parashuram then went on to found S P College in Pune.