Mandvi
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For other uses, see Mandvi (disambiguation).
| ?Mandvi Gujarat • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 15 m (49 ft) |
| District(s) | Kachchh |
| Population • Sex ratio |
42,355[1] (2001) • 0.959 |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 370465 • +2834 • GJ-12 |
Coordinates: Mandvi is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort. Remains of the fort wall can still be seen. The city has more than four hundred years old ship building industry and still manufacturing small ships.
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[edit] Geography
Mandvi is a port city located at where river Rukmavati meets gulf of Kachchh. It is about 56 km south of Bhuj(district headquarter). Distance from Ahmedabad(a major city of Gujarat) is 446 km. Mandvi has no rail transport. The nearest public airport and train station is Bhuj.
[edit] History
- The establishment of the town dates back to the late 16th century (1581 AD) and is attributed to the first Jadeja ruler of Kachchh, Rao Khengarji.
- In 18th century, the Mandvi merchants collectively owned a fleet of 400 vessels trading with East Africa, Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf. In the early 19th century, it was a major port of entry for the inland trade with Malwa, Marwar and Sindh.
- Mandvi was at the junction of two famous trade routes the maritime spice trade-route and the desert camel caravan route, acting as an important trade centre.
- Mandvi was originally a fortified town having a fort wall of about 8 m high and 1.2 m wide stone masonry. The fort had several gateways and 25 bastions; but at present, most of the wall has disappeared. The bastion on the southwest is largest and acts as a lighthouse.
- In the heyday of maritime trade, before the arrival of steamboats, Mandvi was a rich and prosperous town, earning four times more revenue from export than import. It was a profit-making centre of the Kutch state, surpassing the capital city of Bhuj in terms of wealth.
- As most of the top ports of India were controlled by Europeans, especially the Portuguese, even the Mughals held the Maharaos of Kachchh in high esteem, as they needed the port of Mandvi for exports, imports and also for pilgrimages to Mecca.
[edit] Demographics
Mandvi houses a population of about 45,000 people, mainly Bhatias, Lohanas, Kharvas, Dawoodi Bohra Muslims and Jains
Mandvi is a unique town which captures the true Gujarat, Kutchi culture. Mandvi also incorporates the neighbouring villages of Nagalpur and Moti Rayan. Mandvi is a town of merchants and seamen, both mutually benefiting from each other.
Mandvi was one of the towns deeply impacted by the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake.
[edit] Industries
Most of the industries in Mandvi are small-scale in nature, mainly in the areas of Bentonite mining, edible oil production, fishing, traditional ship building, cotton products and household Bandhani production.
[edit] Points of interest
Mandvi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and was a summer retreat of the Kutch maharajas (kings).
- Vijay Vilas Palace: The center of attractions at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas Palace, a Royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The architect and craftsmen from Jaipur designed and constructed the palace in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on the sides, the windows with coloured glass, carved stone 'jalis', domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. The Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. Being private with conditional access it is a must visit for all beach lovers who want to enjoy their solitude and admire its eco-friendly priestine beauty.For these reasons, this palace has been used as the setting in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination.
- Mandvi Beach: Mandvi has one of the most beautiful beaches in Gujarat. The beach, known as 'Kashi-Vishwanath Beach' is the most visited local attraction in Mandvi.
- Wind Farms: There are a number of windmills on the Mandvi beach, engaged in the generation of power from wind energy.
- Rukmavati bridge: The bridge on the Rukmavati River was built in 1883; it is the longest existing structure of its kind in India today.
- Topansar Lake: Sitting in the heart of the city, this lake forms and important landmark as well as a source of water to the city.
- Bandhni Bazaar: Mandvi is known for the production of its famous Bandhani (tie-dye) and other country crafts.
- Traditional ship building: Mandvi is also a 400 year old ship building centre. The ships built here used to sail up to England and return back. Even today, master carpenters build fishing boats by traditional techniques.
- Shyamji Krishna Verma Smarak: The smarak(monument) is located near Lohana Mahajan Wadi. Shyamji Krishna Verma was a scholar and freedom fighter. He established India House in Britain to support Indian student going UK for studying, eventually India house become a foreign hub of nationalist activity for freedom of India. Shyamji Krishna Verma was born in Mandvi.
- Kasi Vishvanath Beach, Salaya: This is another beach near Mandvi. It derives its name from a Shiv temple nearby.
- Public Bath System “KUYDI”, Talav Gate
[edit] Other places nearby
- Ambedham, Village : Godhara
- 72 Jinalay, At Koday 4 way
- Dhrabudi, At Gundiyali Modhva Road
- Raval Pir, Maska Gundiyali Road
- Jyoteshwar Temple, At Village Don
- Ashar Mata Temple, At Village Nana Layja
- Nirbhay Pakshi dham,At Godhara
[edit] Trivia
- Mandvi is famous for its tasty double rotis, also known as 'dabeli'.
- Indian sweet (Penda) from Nangalpur
- The song 'Chaand Chhupa Baadal Mein' from the Hindi film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was shot at the Vijay Vilas Palace of Mandvi.
- Noted freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma was from Mandvi. There is a road named after him in Mandvi (SK Verma Road)
- Jug Suraiya who writes a popular column named Jugular Vein in Times of India, the famous Indian daily in the English language is originally from Mandvi.
- The sailors of Mandvi were known to be adventurous and it is said that even Vasco Da Gama used a sailor from Mandvi to navigate to Zanzibar.
- Home of Khaiya Khatri - devotee of Lord Swaminarayan
[edit] Other possible uses of Mandvi
For other uses, see Mandvi (disambiguation).
- Mandvi is also a neighbourhood in south Bombay, India, in the Masjid Bunder locality. It is known for its wholesale trade, mainly in spices and oil.
- Ahmedpur-Mandvi is another beach-town in Gujarat which may be confused with Mandvi. To distinguish, often Kutch-Mandvi is used for the Mandvi of this article.
- Mandvi Gate is one of the five gates in the city of Baroda. Mandvi is also a locality in Baroda, where the headquarters of Bank of Baroda are situated.
- Mandvi is the last name of actor Aasif Mandvi, an Indian actor based in New York who has acted in many English plays and films, some of which include Sakina’s Restaurant, American Chai and Mystic Masseur. He has played a small role in 'Spider-Man 2' playing Aziz, the pizza man who yells at Peter Parker "Always late!"
- There is also a bank by a similar name, called The Mandvi Co-operative Bank Ltd (Mandvi Bank), headquartered in Mumbai, India
