Mahad

In 2016, a major flood hit Mahad because of the collapse of the British era bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway and cause great losses. 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 due to lower elevation of the city compared to surrounding areas and being surrounded by rivers on all sides, making the city appear like a triangular island. Also, Konkan, receives predominantly very heavy rainfall in comparison to rest of Maharashtra. [1][2] The incident resulted in the loss of 42 lives.[3]

Mahad is considered as the Land of freedom fighters. Many revolutionary freedom movements of India originated in Mahad. 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. Dr. Ambedkar and his followers of over 2500 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.[4] Many disciples of 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. Dr. Ambedkar made another statement by burning the Manusmriti at the very same spot on there on 25 December 1927.[5]

Apart from this, it had a glorious history during the rule of the great Maratha King chatrapati Shivaji maharaj. The capital of Hindavi Swarajya and Samadhi of Shivaji Maharaj 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). The samadhi of chatrapati Shivaji's mother Jijabai is at Pachad situated at foothills of Raigad fort. Hirkani was from Raigadwadi village. It is true and widely accepted that the chatrapati Shivaji maharaj's political victory was followed by the social revolution carried out by his teacher Saint Tukaram. The village Umarath of Tanaji Malusare & Kinjaloli of Murarbaji are also in the vicinity of Mahad.

The Shivtharghal, which is the birthplace of the spiritual book Dasbodh written by Samarth Ramdas. A saint in Maharashtra

Mahad was a flourishing port in the past. The Gul (Jaggery) of Shahupuri Kolhapur and Satara was exported to Gujrat via Mahad.

Now the banks of Savitri river have changed during the course of time and only creek water fishing is carried out and Mahad is no longer a port.

According to the mythological story, Gandharpale Caves are the sculptured houses built in one night by the Pandavas. Originally these caves are Buddhist caves build during the reign of Prince Vishnupalita Kambhoja.[6]

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-fair 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.

Vireshwar is the most-worshipped Local deity of Mahad. The temple of Vireshwar was believed to be constructed during or before Shivaji Maharaj Era. 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 another 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.

Apart from this, Mahad was the central market for people of Poladpur, the Raigad villages and the hill station Mahabaleshwar. It has a large market. 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. "Mahadi Gul" was well known in Gujarat, which is made in Satara, Pune districts and exported to other locations through Mahad's port.

Mahad is now well-developed with town infrastructure. Mahad MIDC which is set-up near Birwadi is the small Chemical industry cluster. It houses several polymer, pharmaceutical, organic, pigments, fertilizers, Aroma Chemical manufacturing industries. Notable industries like: •Pidilite •Piramal Healthcare •Sandoz •Lakshmi Organic •Hikal ltd. Company •Maharashtra Aldehydes •Sudarshan •Maharashtra Seamless •EMBIO •Privi Organics India Limited[7] Mahad consists of two Industrial zones- Mahad-Birwadi and Mahad Additional Industrial zone.

Mahad is part of proposed Panvel-Mahad-Chiplun-Panjim Economic corridor under Bharatmala Project.

Nearest airports:

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

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

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

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

Since many people from Mahad are commuting to Cities like Surat Vapi and Valsad in Gujrat even before the Independence, for means of inter-state public transport Gujrat 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 in Gujrat.