Kuruntwad

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?Kurundvad Maharashtra • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Kolhapur
Population	21,325 (2001)

Kurundwad (sometimes spelled Kurandvad or Kurantwad) is a small town on the banks of the Panchganga river in Kolhapur District; it lies in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

During the British Raj, Kuruntwad was a native state of India, falling under the Deccan division of Bombay Presidency, and forming part of the Southern Mahratta jagirs. Originally created in 1772 by a grant from the peshwa, the state was later divided in into two parts, one of which, called "Shedbal", lapsed to the British government in 1857. In 1855 the remaining state of Kuruntwad was further divided between a senior (area of 185 mile²) branch and a junior (area of 114 mile²) branch. The territory of both was widely scattered among other native states and British districts. According to the 1901 census, the senior branch had the population of 42,474; and that of the junior branch was 34,003. The chiefs of both the branches were Brahmans by caste, belonging to the Patwardhan family. Both the branches had their residence in the town of Kurundwad which had the population of 10,415 in 1901. The last ruler (junior line) was Meherban Raja Raghunathrao Ganpatrao (Dadasaheb) Patwardhan.

Princely flag of Kurundwad

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Kuruntwad had a population of 21,325. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Kurundvad has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 68%. In Kurundvad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Kurundwad is situated near the banks of two rivers, Krishna and Panchaganga. Near Krshna river, there is a beautiful construction, Kurundwad Ghat, built by Raja Raghunathrao I Dadasaheb Patwardhan around the year 1795. There is a samadhi (memorial) of Santajiraje Ghorapade who was Commander-in-Chief of maratha forces that humbled Aurangzeb during the reign of Chhatrapati Rajaram (1689-1700).

[edit] Famous residents

Ringmaster Chhatre, a person who launched the first Circus in Asia was from Kurundwad.
History of Indian classical music will always remember three names: Rahimat Khan, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and his son Pandit D. V. Paluskar for their invaluable contribution to the field of classical singing. 'Bhoogandharva' Rahimat Khan received patronage of Raja Bhalchandrarao I Annasaheb Patwardhan. He passed away around 1919 and is buried within the precincts of the Bade Nal Saheb Durgah in Kurundwad.