Mandvi

For other uses, see Mandvi (disambiguation).
Mandvi
मांडवी
માંડવી
city

Mandvi Beach
Mandvi
Coordinates: 22°50′00″N 69°21′20″E / 22.83333°N 69.35556°E / 22.83333; 69.35556Coordinates: 22°50′00″N 69°21′20″E / 22.83333°N 69.35556°E / 22.83333; 69.35556
Country India
State Gujarat
District Kutch district
Established 1580
Founded by Khengarji I
Elevation 15 m (49 ft)
Population (2001)
  Total 42,355
Languages
  Official Kutchi, Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 370465
Telephone code 2834
Vehicle registration GJ-12
Sex ratio 0.959 /
source:Census of India[1]

Mandvi (in Gujrati માંડવી ) is a city and a municipality in the Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Cutch State. The old city was enclosed in the fort wall and remains of the fort wall can still be seen. The city has a four-hundred-year-old ship building industry, which was started by the caste of Kharva that still builds small wooden ships.

History

Mandvi was founded by the Rao of Cutch State, Khengarji I in 1580.[2]

Fortress

The fortress of Mandvi was built by Raoshri Bharmalji in 1549. It was eight km long, 2.7 metre broad and three metre high with five gates, three windows and seven bastions (kotha). In 1978, Mandvi municipality was handed over the fort under condition that it will preserve the fortress. Later in 1992, the municipality decided to demolish 290 metre of wall to free the land but was opposed by citizens. The appeal was rejected in 1993 and the 300 metre long wall of west side was demolished in 1993. In 1999, the state archeological department considered it for declaring protected monument but later decided against it. After assessing condition of fort, the court rejected appeals against demolition in 2001. The fort wall was demolished in two phases except four gates and six bastions which were preserved as protected monuments.[3]

Geography

Mandvi is a port city located at 22°49′N 69°22′E / 22.81°N 69.36°E / 22.81; 69.36 where the Rukmavati River meets the Gulf of Kutch. It is about 56 km south of the regional capital, Bhuj. It is approximately 446 km from the major Gujarati megacity of Ahmedabad. Because Mandvi has no rail transport, the nearest public airport and train station is Bhuj.

Prominent personalities

History

Ruins of fort wall and gate near Brahmapuri area
Mandvi Bridge over Rukmavati

Demographics

Mandvi houses a population of about 45,000 people, mainlyBrahmkshatriya, Bhatalas, Lohanas, Kharvas MaheshwariDawoodi Bohra,Muslims(Memon, Khatri, Sumara, etc.) and Jains, Kandoi, Patidar, Mistris.

Mandvi is a unique town which captures the true Gujarat, Kutchi culture. Mandvi also incorporates the neighboring villages of Nagalpur and Moti Rayan. Mandvi is a town of merchants and seamen, both mutually benefiting from each other.

Mandvi has the famous Lal Bungalow / Arihant Bungalow Built by Khengarji III. It took 16 years to build this palace. with unique architecture and a lavishing of 55 Rooms and 5 Floors with all Teak Wood Ceilings. Lal Bungalow is now a Heritage Site and currently owned by Sanket Shah.

Mandvi was one of the towns deeply impacted by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake.

Noted social worker Dr. Chhotalal J. Mehta (1911–1982) and his brother Dr. Prabhudas J. Mehta (1925 - 1959) started first free TB hospital in 1950 in the district if Kutch, and school for deaf and mute children and 1000th Rotary club in the world. Mrs Hiraben C Mehta(1916–2011) started first Baal Mandir and Bhagini Mandal.

Industries

Ship being built from timber, Mandvi

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, and food-products like, sweets & farshan production.

Points of interest

Mandvi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and was a summer retreat of the Kutch maharajas (kings).

Gallery

Other places nearby

Famous food

Popular food items from Mandvi are pakvans and Dabeli, which, from Mandvi, spread all over Gujarat and Maharashtra.

See also

References

  1. "Census of India". Office of registrar general and census commissioner of India. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  2. Cutch
  3. "500-year-old Mandvi fort being demolished in Kutch". The Times of India. 29 October 2001. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. Kadia Kshatriya Itihas by Nutan Prakashan : 1897
  5. Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in year 1999 from Vadodara.It is a diary of Railway Contracts done by KGK community noted by Nanji Govindji Tank of Hajapar/Jamshedpur, complied by Dharsibhai Jethalal Tank of Nagalpar/Tatanagar. (This book was given Aank Sidhhi award by Kutch Shakti at Mumbai in year 2000) Vishram Karman Chawda of Chandiya : Railway Contracts in Cutch State Railway, MSM Rly, BNR, etc. Rukmavati Bridge and Mandvi Port Docks in 1883 are done by him: Page: 69
  6. Ratna Bhagat ni Chopdi: 1930 IInd Endition : Vishram Karman of Chandiya : Rukmavati Bridge and Docks of Mandvi Year of Construction 1883
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