Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 2 (2nd edition).pdf/23

 — baliganj—baliranga:^. Baliganj.

13

— Suburb of Calcutta. See Eallygunge. — Village Vizagapatam

Balighatiam {Bdlighattam). Madras Presidency, near which of peculiar sanctity.

Lat.

1

in

is

District,

a shrine of Siva as Brahmeswarudu,

The Swami, The

7° 39' N., long. 82° 38' 30" e.

or idol, contrary to usual custom, faces west instead of east.

Panderu or Varahanadi, which washes the rock on which the This for some distance from south to north. combination of directions is particularly auspicious in Hindu estimation, and the shrine, under the name of Uttara Vahini, is held in great veneration. On the river bank is a small bed of pulverized shale, which, from its resemblance to ashes, is declared by the priests to be the site of a sacrifice performed by Balichakravarti. One of the oldest towns in Jabalpur (Jubbulpore) District, Balihri. river

temple stands, flows

—

Central Provinces.

Lat.

23° 47' 45"

n., long.

80° 19'

Muhammadans, 287

e.



pop. (1881)

and ab; Formerly called Babavat Nagarf, then Pipavat Nagari, finally Balihri, from the defeat here of a mythical Raja Bal. Others connect the name with a variety of pan (Chavica betel) ; and even now the pan gardens are numerous and beautiful. In ancient times, Balihri was 2657, namely, Hindus, 2217

original tribes,





Jains, 151

2.

It lay on the main line of city, 24 miles in circumference. communication between the valleys of the Ganges and the Narbada (Nerbudda), and contained hundreds of temples, to which pilgrims forIt is not now, however, a place merly flocked from all parts of India. An inscription found in an old building shows that the of pilgrimage. town was an early seat of Jain worship. Balihri, with the pargand of the same name, probably belonged to the kings of Mandla, till in 1781 they fell into the hands of the Maratha chief of Sagar (Saugor). In 1796 Balihri was presented to the Raja of Nagpur; and in 1817 was ceded by the Bhonslas to the British Government. During the Mutiny of 1857 the fort was occupied by a party of rebels under Raghunath Singh, Bundela but they decamped on native troops being Soon afterwards the fort was entirely dissent against the place. mantled by order of Government. The present town is picturesquely situated among groves of mango and other trees, in a fertile country diversified by numerous hills. The large tank, fine old masonry wells, and many ancient remains are full of interest. Balipara.— Forest reserv'e in the north-east of Darrang District, Assam. Lat. 26° 54' to 26° 55' n., long. 92° 51' to 92° 52' e. ; estimated area, 56,224 acres, or 88 square miles, to which is attached a

a flourishing



plantation of India rubber trees.

Balirangan {BHigiri-rangan).— Range of mountains in Coimbatore Madras Presidency, commencing in Mysore, and terminating

District,

at the

Hussanur Pass.

77° ii'

E.

The

Lat.

11° 40' to

portion lying within the

12°

10' n., long. 77° 10' to

Madras Presidency

consists of