Akkalkot

History

During the British Raj, Akkalkot was a princely state of ruled by the royal Bhonsale dynasty. The non-salute state came under the Deccan States Agency and was bordered by Hyderabad State and the presidency of Bombay Presidency. The area of the state was 498 sq. miles. In 1911, the state enjoyed a revenue estimated at Rs.26,586/- and paid a tribute to the British Raj of Rs.1,000/-.Its population in 1901 was 82,047, while the population of the town itself was 8,348 in that year. The population of the state in 1921 was 81,250, comparable to 1901 but having seen 9% growth followed by decline in the intervening 20 years; the population of the town in 1921 was 9,189. Between 1901 and 1911 the state's population grew by 9%, after which it declined to 81,250 by 1921. Akkalkot is widely known for its association with Swami Samarth, held by his devotees to be a reincarnation of Dattatreya. His temple, located in Gogaon, is the main tourist attraction in Akkalkot. Swami Samarth lived for over two decades at Akkalkot, mainly at the residence of his disciple Cholappa, where his samadhi (tomb) and shrine are now located. The shrine complex, which is known the Vatavruksh Mandir since it encloses the banyan tree beneath which the swami would preach his message, is the hub of devotions for his followers.

Geography

Akkalkot taluka is bordered by South Solapur tehsil to the west and by Karnataka state on all other sides. The tehsil covers an area of 1,407 km2 and contains 138 villages, apart from the town. The total population of the taluka is approximately 314,570 (2011 census), giving a population density of 222 per km2. Jowar, bajra and pulses are the main crops grown in the taluka. Akkalkot is routinely hit by drought as it falls in a rain shadow and also no major river pass through this taluka. Although the soil is classified as 'medium to deep black' and is of rich quality.

Most-observed species

• Red-vented Bulbul

  Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  90
• Laughing Dove

  Spilopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  71
• Green Bee-eater

  Merops orientalis Latham, 1801 · Aves
  68
• Saxicoloides fulicatus (Linnaeus, 1766)

  Saxicoloides fulicatus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  62
• Purple Sunbird

  Cinnyris asiaticus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  51
• Ashy Prinia

  Prinia socialis Sykes, 1832 · Aves
  44
• Common Iora

  Aegithina tiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  43
• Common Tailorbird

  Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) · Aves
  43

Most recent

• M 4.5 — 2022-07-09
  Karnataka, India
• M 4.3 — 2021-10-11
  7 km ENE of Sh?h?b?d, India
• M 4 — 2011-09-19
  11 km NW of Umarga, India
• M 3.6 — 2007-09-06
  21 km S of Ausa, India