Jafrabad, Jalna

Jafrabad, the chief town, is situated at the confluence of the Purna and Kailna rivers. It is a large and populous town, surrounded by a fortified stone wall, now in a very dilapidated state; but a small stone gaddi inside is in fair order. The town derived its name from its founder, Jafar Khan, who received it with 115 other villages in jagir from Aurangzeb. It has several good houses of brick and stone, and about 50 bannia shops. The population amounts to 2,150 souls, of whom 859 are Muslims (including a few Patans), 244 Brahmans, and 197 Rajputs. The trade consists of grain, cotton, piece goods, and large quantities of blankets and native cloths for local use. There are 7 masjids and temples in the town, and the principal mosque has a Persian inscription, recording its construction under the orders of Aurangzeb, by Rizazath Khan in 1076 Hijri (A.D. 1664). A large handsome cistern within the fortification, has also an inscription, which states that it was erected under the orders of Shah Jahan by Mustafa Khan Turkoman, in Hijri 1040 (A.D. 1630). The town has bi-weekly markets on Tuesdays and Fridays