Rajapur, Maharashtra
|
Rajapur राजापुर |
|
|---|---|
| City | |
Rajapur Central Depot
|
|
 Rajapur
|
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| Coordinates: 16°40′N 73°31′E / 16.67°N 73.52°ECoordinates: 16°40′N 73°31′E / 16.67°N 73.52°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Ratnagiri |
| Government | |
| • Type | nagarpalika |
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 10,499 |
| Demonym(s) | Rajapurkar |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Marathi, Konkani |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Telephone code | 2353 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-MH |
| Vehicle registration | MH-08 |
Rajapur is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is 385 km away from Mumbai.
Rajapur has an average elevation of 72 metres (236 feet).
As of 2001[update] India census, Rajapur had a population of 10,499. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Rajapur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 74%. In Rajapur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
During the days of the Bijapur Sultanate, Rajapur was important maritime trade centre due to a navigable creek that connects it to the Arabian sea. It became an access point to the rich cities of Deccan for those involved in the Arabia-India commerce.
After defeating the Bijapuri general Afzal Khan, the Maratha king Shivaji entered the present-day Ratnagiri district and started capturing the important ports and towns. Many Bijapuri generals fled to Rajapur because its governor, known by the title Rustam-i-Zamani, was on friendly terms with Shivaji.
However, Doroji, one of Shivaji's generals, attacked Rajapur. The East India Company had stationed several men in the town, under the charge of Henry Revington to facilitate the trade of saltpeter, pepper, calicoes and cotton. When Rustam-i-Zamani heard about the approach of the Maratha army, he procured funds from one of the Company's brokers and escaped with the money in a junk (ship). Revington sent an English ship Diamond to stop him. When confronted by the English, Rustam offered the company the ownership of two of his junks in lieu of payment. At the same time, the Marathas also arrived, and asked the English to hand over the junks to them. The English declined to oblige, unless they were given the money that Rustam owed them. The angry Marathas seized two of the Company's brokers, Baghji and Balaji, in Jaitapur. When the English sent Philip Gyffard to demand their release, he was arrested as well. The three prisoners were taken to Kharepatan fort on 18 January 1660.
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Wikipedia