Revdanda
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Revdanda is a village near
Alibaug Alibag, also known as Alibaug (Pronunciation: ™libaËÉ¡, is a coastal town and a municipal council in Raigad District of Maharashtra, India. It is the headquarters of the Raigad district and is south of the city of Mumbai. Alibag is part of t ...
, Raigad District,
Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
. It's the site of the medieval 'Chaul harbor'.


Directions

India. It is connected through a coastal highway (Sagari Mahamarg) away from Alibag, away from
Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
, 37km away from Roha and 33km away from Murud. Until a few years ago the coastal road that goes south from Alibag used to terminate at Revdanda where it encountered the Kundalika creek. A bridge now spans the creek and the whole stretch southward of Revdanda up to Murud-Janjira has now become accessible. Part of the town is situated within the premises of Revdanda fort, an old Portuguese fort.


History

The history of Revdanda and the surrounding villages are quite similar to
Chaul Chaul is a historic town located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Korlai Fort is located nearby. History The town was famous for cotton manufactured goods in the 15th and 16th century, According to Varthema, Chaul was p ...
, due to their close proximity to the town.


Muslim Rule

In 1490 the area fell under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate.


Portuguese Era

In 1505, Portuguese commander Dom Lourenço de Almeida defeated the Muslims and conquered the area around Chaul. In 1508, Venetian mercenaries along with the
Mamluk Mamluk ( ar, مملوك, mamlÅ«k (singular), , ''mamÄlÄ«k'' (plural), translated as "one who is owned", meaning " slave", also transliterated as ''Mameluke'', ''mamluq'', ''mamluke'', ''mameluk'', ''mameluke'', ''mamaluke'', or ''marmeluke'') ...
navy had allied with
Sultanate of Gujarat The Gujarat Sultanate (or the Sultanate of Guzerat), was a Medieval Indian kingdom established in the early 15th century in Western India, primarily in the present-day state of Gujarat, India. The dynasty was founded by Sultan Zafar Khan Muza ...
and defeated the Portuguese in the
Battle of Chaul The Battle of Chaul was a naval battle between the Portuguese and an Egyptian Mamluk fleet in 1508 in the harbour of Chaul in India. The battle ended in a Mamluk victory. It followed the Siege of Cannanore in which a Portuguese garrison succes ...
. The first Portuguese settlement at Chaul took place in 1521 with the construction of the first fort on the south bank of the Kundalika River. In October 1531, the Portuguese erected a new square stone fortress, named Santa Maria do Castello, which contained a church and dwellings for 120 men. A village developed around the fortress, which is now called Revdanda. A 1558 treaty precluded fortifying the town.


Maratha Era

The Marathas led constant raids against their neighbors, for more land and wealth. Chaul and Revdanda fell to the Marathas during the Battle of Bassein. After the successful campaign by the Marathas, the tower bells from the local churches had been taken as victory symbols and came to be installed in temples. They also gave out parcels of land to their subjects as well as plundered the churches and houses of the native people.


British Era

Revdanda became a British territory after they successfully defeated the Marathas in 1818, and took control of the confederacy.


Notability


Portuguese Fortresses

The Fort of Santa Maria do Castello is one of two 16th century fortresses built by the Portuguese, in the area around Tschoul - The other being
Korlai Fort Korlai Fort is a colonial fort in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Formerly a part of the Chaul in Portuguese India, the structure is a specimen of Portuguese colonial architecture. It was built as a companion to the fort at Chaul, at ...
.


Portuguese Church

It is where St. Francis Xavier delivered one of his early sermons in India. The Church of St. Barbara still exists, but in a run down condition. The church is within the walled fort, on the south side and not far from the main road.


Russian presence

Revdanda came into limelight when Russian historians found out that the first Russian traveller to India landed in Revdanda. A monument was raised in his memory on 23 November 2000. A foundation stone for the monument in memory of Afanasy Nikitin, the first Russian traveller to India was laid at Revdanda. A high level delegation from Russia, accompanied by Mr. V.T. Trubnikov, the first deputy of the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. A.M. Kadakin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India, all senior diplomats from the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, attended the function


Indian Jewry

Revdanda is one of the most important places of Konkan, Maharashtra for the Indian Jewish community. Almost 700 years ago after the destruction of the Holy Temple of Israel in Biblical era, a group of Jews who already knew about India and had been in contact with India. This group of people arrived in Nagaon Beach, Nagão which is 8 km north of Revdanda. They adopted Indian culture, names, lifestyle and founded an Indian Jewish community.


Flora

The area is known for the coconut and beetlenut plantations in the region. The plantations of coconut trees is called "naralachi baag" or "wadi" in Marathi language. The place is also known for a species of aromatic flower called "Bakuli". It's a small flower with a wonderful fragrance. Apart from the plantations of coconut and beetlenut the livelihood of people in this region comes from the production of rice. The best time to visit Revdanda is December and during the Monsoon season.


Temple

Datta Mandir located in the
Chaul Chaul is a historic town located in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. The Korlai Fort is located nearby. History The town was famous for cotton manufactured goods in the 15th and 16th century, According to Varthema, Chaul was p ...
part of Revdanda. It is a temple dedicated to Datta, who is mainly worshipped by Marathi immigrants to the
Konkan The Konkan ( kok, कोंकण) or Kokan () is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, running from Damaon in the north to Karwar in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau in the east. The hinterland ...
. The temple is situated at the top of the peak with almost 1500 steep stairs to be climbed to reach the peak. The entire region around the Revdanda can be viewed from the temple. The temple is said to have been built during
Shivaji Shivaji Bhonsale I (; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), also referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha clan. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the declining Adils ...
's reign to keep an eye out for hostile forces. The red-domed temple of Datta Mandir situated at the hill top is said to have been constructed by a Swami Bramhendra. The temple has a three-headed statue of ShriDatta and this idol represents the trinity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara.


References

{{Raigad district Villages in Raigad district