Mandangad

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Mandangad is the northmost Taluka in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra Detailed information on Mandangad is available on http://www.aapalemandangad.com/main.htm

MANDANGAD (or MANDANGARH)

Mandangad is the Taluka (tahasil) Head Quarter in Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra State in India. The place is situated at extreme north of Ratnagiri District. In terms of geographical features, its area is about 43,100 Hactre, altitude is 882 feet (268 metres), latitude 17.9833 and longitude 73.2500 . Time zone is UTC+5.30 . Average rainfall in the taluka is 3996 mm. Mandangad is a hilly and coastal zone. Mandangad is 175 KM from Ratnagiri, 170 KM from Pune and 192 KM from Mumbai. It is connected by road. The nearest major town is Mangaon in Raigad District on Mumbai-Goa National Highway No. 17. Though, the taluka was neglected for years, now it has emerged as a significant zone in view of its natural beauty, seashore, lush green jungles and pleasant weather conditions. The taluka is almost surrounded by hills, ghats and valleys. Mandangad is absolutely free from air & sound pollution The Arabian Sea is about 35 KM from Mandangad. On the Mandangad-Velas State Highway, there are villages named as Devhare and Konhavali, which are famous for tasty alphonso (Haapoos) mangoes. Thorough information about Mandangad taluka can be read / viewed on the website www.aapalemandangad.com .

The places worth visiting in & around Mandangad town are (a) Mandangad Fort (b) Velas (c) Bankot or Himmatgad Fort (d) Kelshi Beach (Dapoli taluka) (e) Panderi (f) Ambavade and (g) Palgad (Dapoli Taluka). The brief information about the places is –

a) Mandangad Fort – The Mandangad Fort or Chitradurga Fort is about 2 KM from Mandangad town. This fort was captured by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the battle with Aadilshaha. There is a 400 years old & 8.4 feet long Tof (cannon or great gun or artillery) on the fort. The fort constitutes a Ganapati Temple and a tank. The tank is called as Thorla Talav.

b) Velas – The coastal place Velas is at the distance of about 36 KM from Mandangad. The unique Marine Turtle Conservation Festival is celebrated here. The festival is aimed at conservation of marine turtles. Details of this festival can be had from Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra’s website www.snmcpn.org. The recent Turtle Festival was celebrated on 15th & 16th Mar, 2008. Velas is also the birth place of Nana Phadanvis alias Balaji Janardan Bhanu, who was the influential personality in the history of Maratha Empire. Nana Phadanvis House and Mahalaxmi Temple are the main attractions in Velas. Gokulashtami Festival is the important event for Velas people.

c) Bankot – Bankot or Himmatgad Fort is also called as Victoria Fort. The River Savitri approaches the sea at Bankot. Bankot’s importance is also associated with the holy place Harihareshwar in neighboring Raigad District. From Bankot (Hanuman Tekdi), ferry boats or jetties are available up to Bagmandla in Raigad district; from where tourists can reach Harihareshwar temple by auto rickshaws / S.T.Buses.

d) Kelshi Beach (Dapoli taluka) – Kelshi is a small village in neighbouring Dapoli Taluka. Along the Mahalakshmi temple, Kelshi has got a scenic and unfamiliar beach, which is a very calm and quiet place. Another place worth visiting here is Uttambar.

e) Panderi – Panderi is the important irrigation project on the Savitri River in Mandangad taluka. Apart from the agricultural importance of the dam, of late, Panderi has become a picnic spot.

f) Ambavade – Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution was born in Ambavade village, which is about 20 KM from Mandangad. There is a monument in this village in commemoration of Dr.Ambedkar.

g) Palgad (Dapoli Taluka) – This is the place where the great Marathi author, freedom fighter and social activist Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, affectionately known as Sane Guruji was born. His famous work in Marathi literature includes Shyamchi Aai (Shyam's mother) & Dhadapadanari Mule (Struggling Children).

Devhare: Maruti Daulat Chorge.............. Devhare is must watch place. Is famous for its hapus magoes.... Its surrounded by durgadi, hodicha parya, swayamboo shankar mandir, Nagvi temple........So must see..