Devgad, Maharashtra
Devgad is a coastal village in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra state in western India. It is a taluka within the Sindhudurg District and consists of 98 villages.[2] Devgad is known globally for its exports of locally grown Alphonso mangoes.[3] Mangos grown here are characterised by their distinct aroma, smooth exterior, thin skin and thick saffron pulp. The variety is different from the Alphonso mangoes grown in the Ratnagiri district. Such is the popularity of the Devgad Alphonso Mango that vendors often pass off other similar looking mangoes under the name of Devgad.
Devgad Alphonso Mango is grown on an area of 45000 acres and reached production of about 50000 tons in a year of decent production. Devgad is also home to the oldest and biggest co-operative society of mango farmers in India, called the Devgad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Ltd, with 700 members and 25-year-old in 2013.
Devgad is located on the Arabian Sea in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai.
It is noted for its harbor, its beach, and a lighthouse built in 1915 at the Deogad fort. Shilahara dynasty Raja Bhoja II constructed Fort Vijaydurga (Gheria), ruled later by Adil Shah and eventually by King Shivaji and lastly Kanhoji Angre. Peshwas is the Indian national monument situated 45 minutes by road from the main city of Deogad. Fort Vijaydurga, named the "Eastern Gibraltar" because of its virtual impregnability, was impressive as seen by British, Dutch, Portuguese armies and travellers 400 years ago and even today as seen by visitors. The nearest railway station is Kankavli on Konkan Railway on Mumbai-Goa road. From Kankavli, one can get autorickshaw and state transport buses to reach Devgad-Vijaydurga. There is a wall under the sea at shores of the Vijaydurga built such that an enemy's ships, trying to attack, would crash and sink.
Devgad is also widely known for its pure Alphonso mango cultivation/farming and the whole development has evolved due to undertaking of the cultivation of Alphonso mango farming.[4]
Fishing is carried out on a large scale in the sea as well as in the creeks throughout the Deogad taluka region. The staple diet of this region is rice and fish.
The first windmill projects in Maharashtra are installed at Vijaydurga, Deogad. There is a temple dedicated to the goddess Devi Bhagwati at the village of Munge. There are temples to God Vishweswarayya and Swami Kartikaswamy at Hindale village which are the very oldest in Maharashtra. A small village known as Jamsande is situated near to Devgad. The famous Dirba Devi goddess temple is located in jamsande. It is approximately 4 km from the Devgad bus stand.Devgad is slowly becoming a tourist hot spot for tourists who want to avoid Goa beaches.This is perfect for family outing in a peaceful and calm backdrop. Tourists can do snorkeling,beach camping,boat cruise,visit Vijay Durg and Sindhu Durg, the famous forts, and also visit the Konkan village and have Malwan dinner.
The western coastline is highly sensitive, hence recently, Government of India installed static radar and electro-optic sensors at Devgad Lighthouse as a part of first of a coastal surveillance network. Devgad is one out of 46 locations chosen for the network and envisages real-time surveillance cover up to 25 nautical miles.
References
- ↑ Allen J. Mango mania in Portland, Oregon, New York Times, May 10, 2006
- ↑ India Village Directory
- ↑ http://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/RATNAGIRI/places_Devgad.html
- ↑ "Vagaries of nature, rising input costs to kill the famed Alphonso mango crop". The Times Of India. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.