Bhor

Bhor is a city and a municipal council in Pune district in the state of Maharashtra, India.

Geography

Bhor is located at . It has an average elevation of 588 metres (1929 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Bhor had a population of 17,882. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Bhor has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 83% and female literacy of 73%. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

Bhor was one of the princely states of British India, under the Poona political agency of the Bombay Presidency, and later the Deccan States Agency. Along with Akkalkot, Aundh, Phaltan, and Jath, it was one of the Satara Jagirs. Situated among the higher peaks of the Western Ghats, the state covered an area of 2357 square kilometres, and had a population of 137,268 in 1901. Its Hindu rulers, of the Deshastha brahmin caste, used the title "Pantsachiv" and were entitled to a hereditary 9-gun salute. Its flag was a red swallow-tailed pennant.

The state was founded by Shri Shankarji Narayan (Pantsachiv) in the year 1697, and was acceded to the Dominion of India on 8th March 1948. The last Ruler of Bhor was Raja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Babasaheb Pandit Pantsachiv. The town of Bhor, once the capital of the princely state, is located about 40 kilometres south of Pune, adjacent to Bhatghar dam. The royal palace is still present. In the town are two schools, the Raja Raghunathrao Vidhyalaya and the Shivaji Vidyalaya, and one senior college, A.T. College Bhor. Also present in the vicinity is the temple of Bhoreshwar, dedicated to Lord Shiva and the location for the film shoot of Aamir Khan's Mangal Pandey. A temple dedicated to goddesses Janubai and Khiloba are located in Mhalawadi, a village close by Bhatghar dam. Shooting of the marathi serial "Sonyacha Umbra" was carried out in the historical palace belonging to Pantsachiv.

Recent Rulers of Bhor

Pantsachiv Chimnajirao (-1827)
Pantsachiv Raghunathrao Chimnajirao (1827-1837)
Pantsachiv Chimnajirao Raghunathrao (1837-1871)
Pantsachiv Shankarrao Chimnajirao (1871-1922)
Raja Shrimant Sir Raghunathrao Shankarrao Bhausaheb Pandit Pantsachiv (1922-1951)
Raja Shrimant Sadashivrao Raghunathrao Bhausaheb Pandit Pantsachiv (1951-1979)
Raja Shrimant Chintamanrao Sadashivrao Pandit Pantsachiv (1979- present)

Trivia

Bhor is one of the Indian cities which has a Martian crater named after it. The other cities/towns are Amet, Broach, Kakori, Poona (Pune), Rayadurg, Sandila and Wer.