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MUKERIAN 17
Muhammadot.—An estate in Ferozepore District, Punjab. See
MAMDOT.
Muhammadpur.—Village in the Magura subdivision of Jessore
District, Bengal, situated in 23 0 24' N. and 89 0 37' E., on the right
bank of the Madhumati. Population (1901), 44. Muhammadpur was
formerly a large town ; and a quadrangular fort, many fine tombs, and
other remains bear testimony to its ancient greatness. The place is
now very unhealthy, and it was in its neighbourhood that the virulent
epidemic known as ' Burdwan fever' was first noticed about 1840.
Muhpa.—Town in Nagpur District, Central Provinces. See MOHPA.
Mukama.—Town in Patna District, Bengal. See MOKAMEH.
Mukandwara (or Mukandara).—Village in the Chechat tahsil of
the State of Kotah, Rajputana, situated in 24 0 49' N. and 76 0 E., in
the hills of the same name, about 32 miles south-by-south-east of Kotah
city and about 80 north-east of Nimaeh. The range is here pierced by
a pass, about 1,500 feet above the sea, which is of great importance as
being the only defile practicable for wheeled traffic for a considerable
distance between the Chambal and Kali Sindh rivers. This pass
is called Mukandwara, ' the gate or portal of Mukand,' after Mukand
Singh, who was the second chief of Kotah, and built the gates of the
defile as well as a palace to his favourite mistress, Abli Mini, on
the slope of the hill. The pass has been the scene of many obstinately
contested battles between the Khlchl and the Hara Rajputs, and is
famous as the route of Colonel Monson's retreat before Jaswant Rao
Holkar in July, 1804. Some distance up the valley are the fragments
of the chaori or hall of Bhim. Fergusson thought the building might
be as old as A.D. 450, or even older, but only the columnar part of the
mandap or portico remained and no inscription could be found. The
lintels and consoles are elaborately carved all over with strange
animal forms and floral scrolls; and the pillars, though scarcely ten
feet in height, look larger and nobler than many of twice their
dimensions.
[J. Tod, Rajasthan, vol. ii; J. Fergusson, Picturesque Illustrations
of Ancient Architecture and History of Indian and Eastern Architecture;
also, Archaeological Survey of Northern India, vol. xxiii.]
Mukerian.—Town in the Dasuya tahsil of Hoshiarpur District,
Punjab, situated in 31 0 57' N. and 75 0 38' E. Population (1901),
3,589. It was a stronghold of Sardar Jai Singh Kanhaya, whose power
was paramount in the Punjab about 1774-84; and Ranjit Singh's
reputed son, Sher Singh, who afterwards became Maharaja, was born
here. The town has no trade of any importance. The municipality
was created in 1867. The income and expenditure during the ten
years ending 1902-3 averaged Rs. 3,100. In 1903-4 the income was
Rs. 3,200, chiefly derived from octroi; and the expenditure was