Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/66

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54 MUVATTAPALAI-MUZAFFARGARII. render Muttra one of the niost interesting and artistic cities of modern India. Muttra was sacked by Mahmúd of Ghazní, with terrible atrocity, in 1017-18. About 1500, Sultan Sikandar Lodi utterly destroyed all the shrines, temples, and images ; and in 1636, Shah Jahán appointed a governor expressly to 'stamp out idolatry' in Muttra. In 1669–70, Aurangzeb visited the city, and destroyed many temples and shrines, so that the existing remains date back for the most part only to the period of Ját supremacy. (See MUTTRA DISTRICT.) Some relics of the Buddhist buildings may still, however, be traced. (See MUTTRA District.) Muttra was again plundered by 25,000 Afghán cavalry belonging to Ahmad Sháh Abdálí in 1756. The principal surviving edifices include the Satí-búrj (or “Tower of the Faithful Widow'), built by Rájá Bhagwán Dás in 1570; the Jama Masjid or mosque of Abd-un-Nabi Khán, built in 1662; the mosque of Aurangzeb, built in 1669 on the site of the temple of Kesva Deva; and the modern temples of Gata-srám (1800), Dwára Kádhís (1815), Bije Gobind (1867), and Radha Krishna (1871). Muttra still forms a great centre of Hindu devotion, and large numbers of pilgrims flock annually to its festivals. The surrounding country teems with associations and legends of the divine brothers Krishna and Balarána, who dwelt in the neighbouring plain. Population (1872) 59,281; (1881) 57,724, including the area within municipal limits, 55,016, and the cantonments, 2708. The city proper contained a total population of 47,483 in 1881, namely, males 24,650, and females 22,833. A light line of railway connects Muttra with the East Indian main line at Háthras road station. The CawnpurAchnera Railway also connects the town with Cawnpur, Agra, Bhartpur, and Rájputána. Government offices, courts, charitable dispensary, high school, jail, telegraph station. Municipal revenue in 1883–84, £5705 ; from taxes, £4787, or is. 8 d. per head of population (55,016) within municipal limits. Muvatta palai.—Téluk in Travancore State, Madras Presidency:-- See MUATTAPALAI. Muwánah. — North - eastern tahsil of Meerut (Merath) District, North-Western Provinces, lying along the west bank of the Ganges, and ineluding the ancient eity of Hastinapur.—See MAWANA. Muzaffarábád. — Town in Kashmir (Cashmere) State, Northern India. Lat. 34° 24' N., long. 73° 22' 2. Stands at the confluence of the Jellam with the Kishen Gangá, just beyond the Hazára border. Important as commanding the entrance of the BARAMULA L'Ass. Ferries over both rivers. Fort built by Aurangzeb, and subsequently replaced by a stronger one under the Afghán Gcvernor, Ata Muhammad. Muzaffargarh. — District in the Lieutenant-Governorship of the