Sindhudurg district

Sindhudurg district
सिंधुदुर्ग जिल्हा

Location of Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra
State Maharashtra, India
Administrative division Konkan Division
Headquarters Oros
Area 5,207 km2 (2,010 sq mi)
Population 868,825 (2001)
Population density 166.86 /km2 (432.2 /sq mi)
Urban population 9.47%
Literacy 80.3%
Sex ratio 1079
Tehsils 1. Dodamarg, 2. Sawantwadi, 3. Vengurla, 4. Kudal, 5. Malvan, 6. Kankavli, 7. Devgad, 8. Vaibhavwadi
Lok Sabha Constituencies 1. Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg (shared with Ratnagiri district) (Based on Election Commission website)
Assembly Seats 4
Major highways NH-17
Average annual precipitation 3,287 mm
Official website

Sindhudurg (Marathi: सिंधुदुर्ग जिल्हा) is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India, which was carved out of the erstwhile Ratnagiri District. The district headquarters are located at Oros (ओरस). The district occupies an area of 5207 km² and has a population of 868,825 of which 9.47% were urban (as of 2001). [1]

As of 2011 it is the least populous district of Maharashtra (out of 39).[1]

Contents

Origin of name

The district is named after the fort of Sindhudurg (which means "fort in the sea"), which lies on a rocky island just off the coast of Malvan (मालवण).

History

Sindhudurg district was established in 1981.

Location

Sindhudurg is bordered on the north by Ratnagiri District, on the south by the state of Goa, on the west by the Arabian Sea, and to the east across the crest of the Western Ghats or Sayadhris is Kolhapur District. Sindhudurg is part of Konkan (coastal) region, a narrow coastal plain in western Maharashtra which lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.

Climate

Sindhudurg has a semi-tropical climate and remains warm and humid in most of the year. It has three clear seasons : Rainy (June - October), winter (November-mid February) and Summer (mid February–May). Temperatures vary between Max. 32°C and monsoon winds bring heavy rains (average rainfall 3240.10 mm).

Major crops are = Rice, Mango, Cashewnut, Coconut, Vari, Nachani, Groundnut, Jackfruit, Beetlenut and spices. Sindhudurg has lot many tourist attraction spots / temples as well as historical places. Among them are the famous Sindhudurg Sea-fort at Malwan built by the Great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & other forts like Padamgad, Sarjekot, Rajkot, Nivti, Bharatgad and Bhagwantgad. At a distance of 7 km from Malwan is "Tarkarli " beach. Dhamapur lake, near from Malwan has become an attraction now. Malwan is also famous for its Seashore, Cashew nuts and the Jatra (Annual Festival) of BharadiDevi at Aangnewadi- Masure. In Devgad region, major attraction spots are– the Seashore, Vijaydurg Sea fort, & Kunkeshwar temple (Shiva, about 15 km from Devgad). Sawantwadi is famous for its Wooden Toys, Narendra Hill, Moti lake & Amboli hill station (Hiranyakeshi & Nagartas waterfall). Great Saints like Shri Satam Maharaj of Danoli, Shri Raul Maharaj of Pinguli, Shri Tembeswami of Mangaon, Shri Bhalchandra Maharaj of Kankavli belong to this Sindhudurg district. In & around Vengurla, there are lot many places to see like its clean & beautiful Seashore, Sagareshwar (Shiva) Temple, which is built in the Sands, Shri Mauli Devi Temple at Shiroda & Redi, Shri Navadurga Temple at Redi, Shri Ganesh Temple (with only two hands), Shri RamPurush Temple & Swayambhoo Shiva Temple at Redi. Also Shri Vetoba & Shri Sateri Devi Temple at Aaravali-Shiroda, shri dev giroba temple ,navladevi temple and karnekhol temple [MOCHEMAD],the Shiroda Seashore, and Shri Vetaleshwar Temple at Ajgaon are worth visiting among the others. Rameshwar (Shiva) Temple is the Gramdaivat of Vengurla. Also there is a beautiful temple of Sateri Devi in Vengurla. Shiroda has a historic importance that the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 took place here. Salt is still produced here in plenty. Soil in this Konkan region is very different, with rich greenery everywhere and a pleasant atmosphere.

People

The people of Sindhudurg District mostly speak a distinct Konkani dialect Malvani, though Marathi, Konkani and English are also spoken and understood by majority of population. Cities in the district include Sawantvadi, Kudal, Oros, Kankavli, Devgad, Vengurla and Malvan. Smaller towns include Talere, Vaibhavwadi, Shirgaon, Kharepatan, Achara, Banda and the hill resort of Amboli.

Cuisine

The cuisine of the district is popularly known as Malvani cuisine. Coconut, Rice and Fish assume prime significance in the Malavani cuisine. Seafood containing fish, especially Bangada (Soloman) Paplet (Pomfret), Prawns, Bombil (Bombay Duck) and Tisrya (Mussels) is very popular. "Kombdi Vade", a chicken savoury, is the most popular dish here. Others include Ukadya Tandulachi Pej (उकड्या तांदळाची पेज - a semi-fluid boiled preparation made of brown-red rice variety) and Sol Kadhi (सोल कढी - A preparation made of Sol (Kokum) सोल and coconut milk). Dry fish is also a local delicasy like "Golma" (dried prawns).

Mango is a major factor to the life of Sindhudurg. Varieties of Alphonso Mango (हापुस आंबा ) from Devgad are particularly popular. Other varieties of mango: Mankur (मानकुर), Pāyari (पायरी) and Karel (करेल - used for preparing Mango Pickle) are also popular for their distinct taste.

The Malvani cuisine also has many vegetarian dishes, including garyache sandan, pickle of karmal, bimble, amba halad, karadichi bhakri, kanyacha sanja, appe, ghavan, dalimichi usual, and kaju usual.

Places of attraction

Beaches

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Sindhudurg district has a population of 848,868 ,[2] roughly equal to the nation of Qatar[3] or the US state of South Dakota.[4] This gives it a ranking of 474th in India (out of a total of 640).[2] The district has a population density of 163 inhabitants per square kilometre (420 /sq mi) .[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -2.3 %.[2] Sindhudurg has a sex ratio of 1037 females for every 1000 males,[2] and a literacy rate of 86.54 %.[2]

Divisions

The 8 talukas of this district are Devgad, Kankavli, Malvan, Kudal, Savantwadi, Vengurla and Dodamarg and Vaibhavwadi.

There are 3 Vidhan Sabha constituencies in this district. These are Kankavli, Sawantwadi and Kudal. All of these are part of the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency[5].

References

  1. ^ "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php. Retrieved 2011-09-30. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. http://www.census2011.co.in/district.php. Retrieved 2011-09-30. 
  3. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html. Retrieved 2011-10-01. "Qatar 848,016 July 2011 est." 
  4. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php. Retrieved 2011-09-30. "South Dakota 814,180" 
  5. ^ Election Commission, Maharashtra - No. of Voters 1.8.2006

External links