Devgad taluka


Devgad is a taluka in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra India consisting of 98 villages. It is located on the Arabian Sea in the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra, south of Mumbai. Devgad is known globally for its exports of locally grown Alphonso mangoes.
Devgad is a natural harbour. However, only small vessels can enter the harbour.

History

It is noted for its harbour, its beach, and a lighthouse built in 1915 at the Devgad fort. Shilahara dynasty Raja Bhoja II constructed Fort Vijaydurg, ruled later by Adil Shah and eventually by King Shivaji and lastly Kanhoji Angre is a national monument situated 45 minutes by road from the main city of Devgad. Fort Vijaydurg, named as 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.

Transportation

The nearest railway station is Kankavli on Konkan Railway on Mumbai-Goa road. From Kankavli, one can get an auto-rickshaw or a state transport bus to reach Devgad-Vijaydurg.
There is a wall under the sea at shores of the Vijaydurg built such that an enemy's ships, trying to attack, would crash and sink.

Trade

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. Mangoes grown here are characterized 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 Alphonso.
Devgad Alphonso mango is grown on an area of 45,000 acres and reaches a production of about 50,000 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 Maryadit or Devgad Taluka Mango Growers Society Ltd with over 700 alphonso growers and 25-year-old in 2013.
Fishing is carried out on a large scale in the sea as well as in the creeks throughout the taluka region. The staple diet of this region is rice and fish.
The first windmill project in Maharashtra was installed at Girye.

Climate

Places to visit

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.
The following is a list of villages and their populations according to 2011 Census data:
#VillageAdministrative divisionPopulation
1AadbandarDevgad292
2AreDevgad1,335
3BagamalaDevgad303
4BagatalavadeDevgad136
5BandegaonDevgad222
6BapardeDevgad1,304
7BurabavadeDevgad603
8ChafedDevgad629
9ChandoshiDevgad697
10ChinchwadDevgad280
11DabholeDevgad2,356
12DahibaonDevgad1,517
13DevgadDevgad2,417
14DhalavaliDevgad1,230
15DhoptewadiDevgad796
16ElayeDevgad1,697
17GadhitamhaneDevgad648
18GavaneDevgad693
19GiryeDevgad2,457
20GovalDevgad1,039
21HadpidDevgad522
22HindaleDevgad1,714
23HurshiDevgad1,206
24JamsandeDevgad14,487
25JuveshwarDevgad1,057
26KalambaiDevgad1,066
27KalviDevgad604
28Kasaba WaghotanDevgad313
29KatvanDevgad794
30KatwaneshwarDevgad829
31KhudiDevgad1,527
32KinjawadeDevgad2,491
33KorleDevgad681
34KotkamteDevgad1,808
35KunkawanDevgad896
36KunkeshwarDevgad1,829
37KuvaleDevgad1,255
38LingdalDevgad491
39MahalungeDevgad1,054
40MalegaonDevgad1,025
41MalpewadiDevgad632
42MancheDevgad2,261
43MithbaonDevgad2,241
44MithmumbariDevgad920
45MohulgaonDevgad715
46MondDevgad1,564
47MondparDevgad907
48MorveDevgad408
49Mouje WaghotanDevgad1,380
50MunageDevgad1,883
51MutatDevgad1,933
52NadDevgad990
53NadanDevgad2,105
54NaringreDevgad1,516
55NimatwadiDevgad629
56OmbalDevgad527
57PadelDevgad3,673
58PadtharDevgad1,074
59PadvaneDevgad660
60PalekarwadiDevgad1,210
61PatgaonDevgad942
62PavnaiDevgad732
63PendhariDevgad1,053
64PhanaseDevgad738
65PhanasgaonDevgad1,328
66PombhurleDevgad1,910
67PoyareDevgad943
68PuralDevgad1,203
69RahateshwarDevgad628
70RameshwarDevgad2,099
71RembavaliDevgad259
72SalashiDevgad1,164
73SandveDevgad473
74SaundaleDevgad1,939
75Sherighera KamteDevgad4
76ShevareDevgad368
77ShiravaliDevgad478
78ShirgaonDevgad2,555
79SomlewadiDevgad602
80TalavadeDevgad1,163
81TalebajarDevgad689
82TambaldegDevgad731
83TembavaliDevgad829
84ThakurwadiDevgad1,033
85TirlotDevgad2,307
86TorsoleDevgad1,172
87UndilDevgad623
88ValivandeDevgad962
89VijaydurgDevgad1,735
90VirwadiDevgad391
91VitthaladeviDevgad668
92Wadaker PoiDevgad178
93WadeDevgad1,728
94WadetarDevgad293
95WaghivareDevgad381
96WanivadeDevgad811
97WareriDevgad1,869
98WelgaveDevgad400