Konkan

{{for|the village in Burkina Faso|Konkan, Burkina Faso}} [[Image:Dabhol Beach.jpg|thumb|A typical view of the Konkan, consisting of white-sand beaches and palm trees (mostly coconut and betel nut).]] The '''Konkan''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]/[[Konkani language|Konkani]]: कोंकण;) also called the '''Konkan Coast''' or [[Karavali]] is a rugged section of the western coastline of [[India]] from [[Thane district|Raigad]] to [[Mangalore]]. The '''''sapta''-Konkan''' is a slightly larger region described in the [[Skanda]]-purana. [[Konkan Division]] is also one of six administrative sub-divisions of the state of [[Maharashtra]], comprising its coastal districts. Residents of Konkan and their descendants are called ''Konkanis''. The name may also refer specifically to the [[Konkani people]], ethnic group of the region; most of whom speak the [[Konkani language]]. Besides the Konkanis the other major ethnic group are the [[Tuluvas]], mostly living the districts of [[Dakshina Kannada]] and [[Udupi]] of Karnataka state.In [[North Kanara|Uttara kannada]] district [[Kannada]] is also widely spoken. The [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] term ''Konkanastha'' (कोंकणस्थ), means "Resident of Konkan". ==Boundaries== [[Image:Konkanbellini1740.jpg|thumb|right|Map of the Konkan 1740AD.]] The precise definition of Konkan varies, but most include [[Maharashtra]]'s districts of [[Raigad]], [[Mumbai]], [[Thane]], [[Ratnagiri]] and [[Sindhudurg]], the state of [[Goa]], and the [[North Kanara]], [[Udupi]] and [[South Kanara]] districts of [[Karnataka]]. The ''sapta-Konkan'' as depicted in Skanda-purana stretches from Maharashtra to Karnataka . This is actually logical since there are a lot of similarities in the food-habits (rice and fish), crops cultivated ([[rice]], [[mango]]es, [[cashew]]s and [[jackfruit]]) and the physique (tall and well-built) of people dwelling in this area. ==The Konkan division== The [[Konkan division]] is an administrative sub-division of Maharashtra which comprises all the coastal districts of the state. == Geography == The [[Sahyadri]] Mountain range ("[[Western Ghats]]") forms the eastern boundary of the Konkan, and the [[Arabian Sea]] marks the western boundary. The southern boundary is the [[Gangavali River]]. The Mayura River forms the northern boundary. The Gangavali flows in the district of ("[[North Kanara]]") in present-day "[[Karnataka]] State"; the cis-Gangavali portion (seen from Bombay) of this district is the southern-most part of the Konkan. The towns of [[Gokarn]], [[Guhagar]], [[Honavar]], and [[Karwar]] fall within the Konkan. The exact identity of the Mayura River, the northern limits of the historic Konkan, is indeterminate. == Ethnology == {{main|Konkani people}} The [[Kharvi|Gabit]], [[Gauda and Kunbi]] tribals of Konkan are among the original settlers in the region . Tribal communities in Konkan include Konkana, Warli and Kolcha in Southern Gujarat, Dadra and Nagarhaveli and Thane district of Maharashtra. Katkaris are found more in Raigad and also some in Ratnagiri district. ==See also== *[[People of the Konkan Division]] *[[Konkani people]] *[[Konkani language]] *[[Konkan Railway]] *[[Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project]] ==External links== *[http://www.destinationkokan.com Destination Kokan] {{commons category}} {{Western Ghats}} {{GeoSouthAsia}} {{coord missing|Goa}}