Mahad (pronunciation (help·info) [məɦaːɖ]) is a city in Raigad district (formerly Kulaba district) situated in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra state, India. It is located 108.5 km (67.4 mi) from District’s headquarter Alibag, and 167 km (104 mi) from Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra and economic capital of India, towards western coast. Mahad is home to Raigad Fort, the capital of the Maratha Empire in Shivaji‘s era and revolutionary Mahad Satyagraha launched by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar at Chavdar Tale (Testy Lake) in the wake of modern India.

Geography

Mahad is situated at southernmost tip of Raigad district in Konkan region and is surrounded by Sahyadri Mountains. Savitri river originates from Savitri Point in Mahabaleshwar and flows through Mahad to the delta in Arabian sea via Bankot.

Mahad has a tropical climate and witnesses heavy rainfall during monsoon. Summers are very hot and winters are cold with a thick fog lay over city during morning hours. Mahad receives the highest rainfall in Raigad district because of the rain catcher forest of Raigad Fort Natural Reserve and famous hill station Mahabaleshwar. Mahad averages with an annual rainfall of above 4,000 mm (160 in). The city is located at an altitude of 59 ft (18 m). Mahad has a favourable climate for the growth of alphonso mango and coconut trees.

Demographic

As of 2011 India Census, Mahad has a population of 1,80,191.

Natural Disasters

The Savitri River Bridge Incident

In 2016, a major flood hit Mahad because of the collapse of the British era bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway and caused great losses. The incident resulted in the loss of 42 lives.

Several disasters like floods and landslides have continuously devastated markets and old houses, specifically classic Konkani-styled architecture, causing great loss of life. This is primarily due to lower elevation of the city compared to surrounding areas and being surrounded by rivers on all sides, making the city like a triangular island. Also, Konkan, receives predominantly very heavy rainfall in comparison to rest of Maharashtra.

Tourist attractions nearby

Raigad, popularly known as “Gateway of Konkan”, is among the city’s tourist destinations. Other attractions include:

Raigad Fort
Pratapgad Fort
Gandhar Pale Buddhist Caves
Shivthar Ghal
Lingana Fort
Birwadi Fort
Warandha Ghat
Mulshi-Tamhini Ghat (Bhira)
Poladpur
Mahabaleshwar
Vireshwar Temple
Chavdaar Tale Park
Walan kond
Mandala waterfall
Sav hot water spring
Kol caves
Mangad
Hari-Hareshwar, Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach
Dapoli-Mandangad Beach

Etymology

The word “Mahad” is derived from Konkani-marathi words “महा” (Mahā) and “हाट” (Hāt).”महा” meaning “Great or big” and “हाट” meaning “market”, collectively meaning “a big market”.

The oldest reference of Mahad is found in historical documents in 225 BC. Around 130 AD, Mahad was under rule of Buddhist king Vishnu Pulit of Kambhoja dynasty. He built the Gandharpale caves opposite to Mahad port. Under his rule, Mahad was a port and business centre which continued until British Raj. The development of Mahad as a business centre continued under the rule of Yadavas of Deogiri in the 13th century. Yadavas were the first make Marathi the official language of Maharashtra. Mahad was taken by British in 1818 and was a place of administrative work when Raigad fort was made the capital of Shivaji.

Chavdaar Tale Satyagraha and Freedom Movement

Mahad is considered as the land of freedom fighters. Many revolutionary freedom movements of India originated in Mahad.^{[citation needed]}

It is famous for the Chavdaar Tale Water Satyagraha of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar for Dalits at Chavdar Tale, which played as a turning point in Indian sociopolitical history.^{[citation needed]} Dr. Ambedkar and his followers of over 2,500 dalits marched to the tank. Dr. Ambedkar was the first to take his hand and sip water from the tank, followed by the rest. This was a revolutionary step for the time and broke the taboo of caste discrimination. This came to be known as the Mahad Satyagraha. Many disciples of Lord Buddha and followers of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar visit Chavdaar Tale every year on Kranti Din (Day of Revolution).

However, this was not the end of the struggle. There was tremendous backlash from the rest of the community and some even performed a purification ritual to counter the act of revolution.^{[citation needed]} Dr. Ambedkar made another statement by burning the Manusmriti at the very same spot on 25 December 1927.

Chhatrapati Shivaji and Raigad fort === Mahad has a glorious history during the rule of the Maratha king Shivaji. The capital of Hindavi Swarajya and Samadhi of Chhatrapati Shivaji is at Raigad fort. which is around 24 km (15 mi) from the city. It was part of Birwadi Subha (Tehsil) and was ruled by Birwadi Subhedar’s Kadams (Mahamunkars).^{[citation needed]} The village Umarath of Tanaji Malusare & Kinjaloli of Murarbaji are also in the vicinity of Mahad.

Shivtharghal and Daasbodh

The Shivtharghal is the birthplace of Samarth Ramdas, author of the spiritual book Dasbodh.

Mahad Port

Mahad was a flourishing port in the past. The Gul (Jaggery) of Shahupuri Kolhapur and Satara was exported to Gujrat via Mahad. Since the banks of Savitri river changed during the course of time, only creek water fishing is carried out and Mahad is no longer a port.

Gangharpale Buddhist Caves

According to the mythological story, Gandharpale Caves are the sculptured houses built in one night by the Pandavas.^{[citation needed]} Originally these caves are Buddhist caves build during the reign of Prince Vishnupalita Kanbhoja.

Festivals

Mahad is one of the well-known holiday destinations in Konkan region. The festivals most celebrated by local people are Holi (which falls in summer around the month of March) and Ganpati festival (which falls during the monsoon, around the month of September).

Shimga Festival

The most important festival among whole Konkani community spreading from Thane, Raigad to Goa and Karawar coast is “Shimga”. It is speciality of “Konkan and Goa“. Every City, every town or village has its own way of celebrating it. Almost every Konkani working day and night, sleeplessly in metropolis like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi or in foreign countries rush to their homeland during Shimga. People worship their local deities, fun-fairs are organised; the Palkhis of local deities are main attraction and is considered prestigious among locals. Each town represents its own religious culture and traditions.

Shimgotsav in Mahad

Vireshwar is the most-worshipped local deity of Mahad. The temple of Vireshwar was believed to be constructed during or before Shivaji‘s reign. A local fair is organised during shimga called “Mahad chi Jatra”, uniquely known as “Chabina Utsav of Mahad”. The “Palkhis” of seven sisters of Vireshwar who are Gram-devi (goddess) of nearby villages and towns like Mangaon, Poladpur and Khed are brought at Vireshwar Temple in Mahad. Goddess Zolai Devi is considered the most favourite sister of Vireshwar. The people are so devoted that they bring Palkhis from many miles far villages by walking, sometimes bare-footed, they consider this holy and sacred and feel lucky to be part of it.

Economy

Central Market

Mahad was the central market for people of Poladpur, the Raigad villages and the hill station Mahabaleshwar. The city is surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain ranges and the Savitri, Kal and Gandhari rivers originating through Mahabaleswar, hills in Mulshi and Raigad fort respectively. Mahad was a flourishing port in the past.^{[citation needed]} “Mahadi Gul”^{[clarification needed]} was well known in Gujarat, which is made in Satara, Pune district and exported to other locations through Mahad’s port.

Transport

Airways

Nearest airports:

Navi Mumbai International Airport, Ulve-Panvel, Navi Mumbai
CSIA, Mumbai
Pune International Airport, Lohagaon, Pune

Railway

Konkan railway line starts from Roha-Kolad and exits Raigad district via Veer. Main railway stations in Mahad is Veer railway station.

Road

National Highway NH 66 (previously known as NH 17) passes through Mahad.^{[citation needed]} It connects Panvel (Southern Navi-Mumbai) to Kanyakumari, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

MSRTC[

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has a bus depot at Mahad for public transport. Buses plying from Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri have halt at Mahad MSRTC Bus depot.

GSRTC

Many people from Mahad commute to cities like Surat, Vapi and Valsad in Gujarat from even before the Independence. For inter-state public transport, Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation started buses from Mahad and Poladpur bus stand which are under operations of Mahad MSRTC Bus Depot to Surat and other cities of Gujarat.