Khed (Pronunciation: ʰeːɖ is a

municipal council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough cou ...

in the

Ratnagiri district Ratnagiri district (Marathi pronunciation: �ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a district in the state of Maharashtra, India. The administrative headquarter of the district is located in the town of Ratnagiri. The district is 11.34% urban. The district ...

of the

state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Khed town is situated on the Mumbai -

Ratnagiri Ratnagiri (IAST:Ratnāgirī ; �ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri District in southwestern Maharashtra, India. The district is part of Konkan division of Maharashtra. The city is known for the Hapus or ...

Highway A highway is any public or private road or other public way on land. It includes not just major roads, but also other public roads and rights of way. In the United States, it is also used as an equivalent term to controlled-access highway, or ...

. Khed is the headquarters of

Khed taluka Khed taluka is a taluka in the subdivision, near Pune city in Pune district of the state of Maharashtra in India. Rajgurunagar is the headquarter of the taluka. The taluka is known for being the birthplace of Santaji Jagnade.The name of city i ...

which connects the district administration with the village administration.

Geography

Khed is located at . It has an average

elevation The elevation of a geographic location (geography), ''location'' is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational equipotenti ...

of 25 metres (82 feet). Alphonso mangoes are grown in the area around the town. Khed lies between Kashedi Ghat and Bhoste Ghat. The region surrounding the town is mostly mountainous. The

Jagbudi River The Jagbudi river is the small river merging into Vashishti river. It meets Vasishthi near Bahirwali. It comes from Khed to Bahiravali. It Originates from Khopi, shirgaon, near Western Ghats region in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India. Wi ...

is a large river located in the area. Raghuveer ghat is mainly use for picnic spots.

Culture

The town is a melting pot of cultures, where traditional Maharashtrian customs blend seamlessly with modern influences. Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, Eid and Christmas are celebrated with great enthusiasm and vigor, bringing the community together in joyous harmony. The local cuisine, characterized by its use of coconut, rice, and seafood, offers a delightful culinary experience that reflects the region's coastal heritage. 'Raj Yuva Mahostav' & 'JCI festival' (Mela) is also organized in Khed once every year. Shimaga (Holi) and

Ganapati Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hi ...

are Konkan's favorite festivals. Gauri-

Ganpati Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions are found throughout India. Hind ...

festival is celebrated with cheer and enthusiasm all over the taluka.

Ram Navmi Rama Navami () is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Rama, one of the most popularly revered deities in Hinduism, also known as the seventh avatar of Vishnu. He is often held as an emblem within Hinduism for being an ideal king and h ...

festival is celebrated in Laxmi Narayan Temple. It is celebrated for 10 days starting from Gudi Padva.

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO: ), also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi () or Vinayaka Chavithi () or Vinayagar Chaturthi (), is a Hindu festival celebrating the birthday of Hindu deity Ganesh. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's ''m ...

is largely and joyfully celebrated in the city. One of the most important attractions of Khed is the annual rally conducted on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti. Hazrat Jalal Shah baba Dargah (Shrine) - The shrine of Hazrat Jalal Shah , is situated in the suburb of Khed along the NH 66 highway, near Khed Railway Station, on the edge of Veral village. The Dargah includes a modest courtyard, a multi purpose space, and an ablution area for devotees. The annual Urs of Dargah, a significant event, is celebrated with deep reverence between the 15th to 20th of Sha'ban (Islamic calendar), attracting numerous visitors from the surrounding regions. Vade-Mutton is a popular dish in Khed. The staple diet is rice and fish. Ghavane is one of the main dishes in the menu which prepared by the rice flour, eaten as Breakfast. Also, Monga is a well-known food item called as "Popati" in north Konkan.

Demographics

The 2001 Indian

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

reported that Khed had a

population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...

of 13,813. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Khed had an average literacy rate of 97%, which was higher than the national average of 69.5%. The literacy rate among males was 98%, and among females, it was 96%. In the 2011 Indian census, the town of Khed listed 15,249 inhabitants.

Industry

Several factories hat produce

chemicals A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...

and

pharmaceuticals Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy ( pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the ...

are located in Khed. Furthermore, the

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is a project of the government of Maharashtra state in India and is the leading corporation of Maharashtra. It provides businesses with infrastructure such as land (open plot or built-up spa ...

(MIDC) has developed the Lote-Parshuram industrial area in Khed.

Transport

Khed lies off National Highway NH-66, popularly known as Mumbai-Goa Highway, which connects Khed with cities like

Mangalore Mangaluru (), formerly called Mangalore ( ), is a major industrial port city in the Indian state of Karnataka and on the west coast of India. It is located between the Laccadive Sea and the Western Ghats about west of Bengaluru, the st ...

Panaji Panaji (; , , )also known as Panjim, is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river est ...

Madgaon Margao (, ) is the commercial capital of the Indian state of Goa. It stands on the banks of the river Sal. It is the district headquarters of South Goa, and administrative headquarters of Salcete sub-district. It is Goa's second largest ci ...

Karwar Karwar is a coastal City and the administrative headquarters of Uttara Kannada district, formerly part of the Bombay Presidency, located at the mouth of the Kali River (Karnataka), Kali river along the Konkan Coast in the present-day state of Ka ...

and

Udupi Udupi () also known as 'Odipu' () is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the administrative headquarters of Udupi district, and one of the fastest-growing cities in Karnataka. Udupi is one of the top tourist attractions in Karnataka an ...

. The Bharna Naka – Khed road, part of state highway SH-106, connects NH-66 to the town of Khed. Khed has a railway station on the

Konkan Railway The Konkan Railway (abbreviated KR) is one of the 19 railway zones in India with its headquarters at CBD Belapur in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The Konkan Railway line from Roha to Thokur is operated and maintained by Konkan Railway co ...

line and a

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation abbreviated as (MSRTC, or simply ST), is the state-run bus service of Maharashtra, India, which serves routes to towns and cities within Maharashtra as well as to its adjoining states. It also of ...

(MSRTC) bus station connecting Khed taluka to major cities in Maharashtra. Khed railway station connects three talukas (Dapoli, Mandangad, and Khed) to the railway map of India.

Tourism

Apart from its natural environment, Khed has several tourist attractions that draw visitors. The Parashuram Temple, dedicated to Lord Parashuram, is a significant religious site known for its architecture. Kalki devi temple is one of the most visited site by devotees. The Unhavare hot springs, located nearby, are another tourist attraction, believed to have therapeutic properties. The

jagbudi River The Jagbudi river is the small river merging into Vashishti river. It meets Vasishthi near Bahirwali. It comes from Khed to Bahiravali. It Originates from Khopi, shirgaon, near Western Ghats region in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, India. Wi ...

, which flows through Khed, provides opportunities for boating and fishing. The nearby Sahyadri mountains are visited by trekkers and nature enthusiasts.

Forts A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from ...

(killa) , khed is surrounded by the western ghats at east and has

dapoli Dapoli is a Village and taluka in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. It lies south of the state capital of Mumbai. The town is also known as Camp Dapoli, as the British had set their camps here. Many high-ranking British officers' g ...

taluka at west. Khed taluka has total six forts located nearby .The fort, bulit during the era of chhatrapati

shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...

maharaj are 1.

Rasalgad Rasalgad is a fort in the Maharashtra state of India. It lies 15 km east of Khed City. The fort has been developed as a tourist attraction. Its fortification is in good condition. The fort lied on the south end of a narrow spur which joins ...

(approximately 15 km east) 2.

Mahipatgad Mahipatgad is a hill fort situated on the east of the Khed. It is one of the largest forts in Maharashtra, with an area of 120 acres. This fort is located 23.6 km from the Khed City. The Mahipatgad. Suamargad and Rasalgad are situated ...

(approximately 24.5 km east) 3.

Sumargad Sumargad is a less-visited fort in the Ratnagiri district. This fort lies east of the Khed. It is about from Khed City. There are no human settlements around the fort. There are two ways to reach Sumargad; one from Mahipatgad and the other ...

(approximately 18 km east) 4. Mahimandangad(approximately 33 km northeast) Coordinates=17.7111159N,73.6097912E 5. palgad(approximately 24 km northwest) 6. Ramgad(approximately 25 km northwest) Coordinates=17.814536N,73.347910E

sumargad Sumargad is a less-visited fort in the Ratnagiri district. This fort lies east of the Khed. It is about from Khed City. There are no human settlements around the fort. There are two ways to reach Sumargad; one from Mahipatgad and the other ...

rasalgad Rasalgad is a fort in the Maharashtra state of India. It lies 15 km east of Khed City. The fort has been developed as a tourist attraction. Its fortification is in good condition. The fort lied on the south end of a narrow spur which joins ...

are famous for its range Trek among the trekker, with the beautiful mountain clips, valleys, jungle and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. 7. Caves - Just a few steps walking distance from the Khed Bus Station towards L.P. School and wonderful caves on the hills.

Education

Khed has many English, Urdu, and Marathi medium schools and colleges: * M.I.B Girl's High School And Junior College. * Sriman Chandulal Sheth High School & Jr.College. * Navabharat High School & Junior College, Bharne. * L. P. English School & Junior College. * Haji SM Mukadam High school and Junior College. * L. T. T. English Medium School & Junior College. * M. I. Hajwani English Medium School & Junior College. * Rotary English Medium School,DELHI AFFILIATED * Shiv Shankar Madhyamik Vidyalaya & Jr. College, Kulwandi. * Dnyandeep Vidya Mandir, Bhadgaon. * Vishwakarma Sahajeevan Institute of Management. * New English Junior College of Aambavali. * Yogita Dental College Khed. * S.I.Junior college, furus, khed. * New English school, Dayal, Khed. * I.C.S College Khed. * Ideal English school Furus. * New English school,hedali saveni * Z.P.School hedali

References

{{Ratnagiri district topics Talukas in Maharashtra Cities and towns in Ratnagiri district pt:Rajgurunagar (Khed)