Mandvi
Encyclopedia
Mandvi is a city and a Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...

 in Kachchh district in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort, and remains of the fort wall can still be seen to this day. The city has a more than four hundred year old ship building industry that still manufactures small ships.

Geography

Mandvi is a port city located at 22.81°N 69.36°E where the Rukmavati River
Rukmavati River
The Rukmavati River is a south flowing river originating in the central Kutch District and empties into the Arabian Sea in the district of Gujarat. Mandvi, an ancient port town, is located on the banks of this river just at the mouth where it meets the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of...

 meets the Gulf of Kachchh. It is about 56 km south of the regional capital, Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...

. It is approximately 446 km from the major Gujarati city of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...

. Because Mandvi has no rail transport, the nearest public airport and train station is Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...

.

History

  • As per chronicles of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
    Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas
    Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris of Kutch or Kadia Kshatriyas of Kutch, are a Hindu community of the Kutch District of Gujarat state in India...

     - many clans of their community, especially Gohil
    Gohil
    Gohils are Suryavanshi Rajputs who have descended from the Guhilots of Mewar. As per the Sikarwar Khyat, Prince Shiladitya was born on Jesth Sudhi Chaturdashi of V.S 543 . He was the son of Emperor Aditya Sen and Queen Subhaga Devi. Though born at Chitor he was educated at Vallabhi...

    , Bhatti, Jethwa
    Jethwa
    Jethwa is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana...

     , Solanki
    Solanki
    The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....

    , Rathod clans & also Visavaria Brahmin
    Brahmin
    Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...

    s shifted to Mandvi in between 15th to 16th Century AD, from Dhaneti
    Dhaneti
    Dhaneti or Dhanetee is village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is at a distance of about 26 km from Bhuj the Taluka and District Headquarter of Kutch...

    .

  • The establishment of the town dates back to the late 16th century (1581 AD) and is attributed to the first Jadeja
    Jadeja
    Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...

     ruler of Kachchh, Rao Khengarji I.

  • In 18th century, the Mandvi merchants collectively owned a fleet of 400 vessels trading with East Africa
    East Africa
    East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...

    , Malabar coast
    Malabar Coast
    The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing mountain...

     and the Persian Gulf
    Persian Gulf
    The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...

    . In the early 19th century, it was a major port of entry for the inland trade with Malwa, Marwar
    Marwar
    Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...

     and Sindh
    Sindh
    Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

    .

  • Mandvi was at the junction of two famous trade routes the maritime spice
    Spice
    A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...

     trade-route and the desert
    Desert
    A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...

     camel
    Camel
    A camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...

     caravan
    Camel train
    A camel train is a series of camels carrying goods or passengers in a group as part of a regular or semi-regular service between two points. Although they rarely travelled faster than the walking speed of a man, camels' ability to handle harsh conditions made camel trains a vital part of...

     route, acting as an important trade center.

  • Mandvi was originally a fortified town having a fort wall of about 8 m high and 1.2 m wide stone masonry. The fort had several gateways and 25 bastion
    Bastion
    A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...

    s; but at present, most of the wall has disappeared. The bastion on the southwest is largest and acts as a lighthouse.

  • In the heyday of maritime
    Shipping
    Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...

     trade, before the arrival of steamboat
    Steamboat
    A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...

    s, Mandvi was a rich and prosperous town, earning four times more revenue from export
    Export
    The term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...

     than import
    Import
    The term import is derived from the conceptual meaning as to bring in the goods and services into the port of a country. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an "importer" who is based in the country of import whereas the overseas based seller is referred to as an "exporter". Thus...

    . It was a profit-making center of the Kutch state, surpassing the capital city of Bhuj
    Bhuj
    Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...

     in terms of wealth. Dr.Manubhai Pandhi, a local social leader, recorded shipbuilding art and collected old documents which is treasured now in Prince of Wales Museum (www.bombaymuseum.org ) in Mumbai.

  • As most of the top ports of India
    India
    India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

     were controlled by European
    European ethnic groups
    The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....

    s, especially the Portuguese
    Portugal
    Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...

    , even the Mughals
    Mughal Empire
    The Mughal Empire ,‎ or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...

     held the Maharao
    Maharao
    Maharao is a variation on the Indian royal title Maharaja, also meaning 'Great king' in Hindi. It is composed of Maha- 'great' and the royal title Rao, a variation on Raja.-Salute states :...

    s of Kachchh in high esteem, as they needed the port of Mandvi for exports, imports and also for pilgrimages to Mecca
    Mecca
    Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

    .

  • In decade of 1960, the famous Dabeli
    Dabeli
    Dabeli or Kutchi Dabeli or Kachchhi Dabeli is a snack of India, originating in the Kutch or Kachchh region of Gujarat. It is a spicy snack made by mixing boiled potatoes with a Dabeli Masala, and putting the mixture between Ladi-Pav and served with chutnies made from tamarind, date, garlic,...

     is said to be have been invented here by Keshavji Gabha Chudasama.

Demographics

Mandvi houses a population of about 45,000 people, mainlyBrahmkshatriya (Hindu Khatri), Bhatia
Bhatia
Bhatia is a group of people and a caste originating from Sindh Province and Rajasthan. The Bhatias primarily live in Northwestern India and Pakistan. They are mainly found among the following ethnic groups or clans: Rajputs, Khatris, Gujjars, Yaduvanshi/Yadav and Bhati...

s, Lohana
Lohana
The Lohana also referred to as Luvana are an Indian caste,largely classified as merchants and are categorized as Vaishya or Bania caste although their ancient history proves that they are Kshatriya of Suryavanshi descant, claiming their lineage from Lava, son of Rama...

s, Kharvas, Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra
Dawoodi Bohra is a subsect of Ismāʿīlī Shīʿa Islām. While the Dawoodi Bohra is based in India, their belief system originates in Yemen, where it evolved from the Fatimid Caliphate and where they were persecuted due to their differences from mainstream Sunni Islam...

,Muslims(Memon, Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...

, Sumara, etc.) and Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...

 (kandoi), Gurjar Kshatriyas.

Mandvi is a unique town which captures the true Gujarat, Kutchi
Kutchi people
The Kutchi people traditionally reside in the Kutch region of the northwestern Indian state of Gujarat and in the Sindh province of Pakistan...

 culture. Mandvi also incorporates the neighbouring 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 Maharaj. As it took 16 years to build this palace, longer than the Taj Mahal. 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
2001 Gujarat earthquake
The 2001 Gujarat earthquake occurred on January 26, 2001, India's 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 AM local time and lasted for over two minutes. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India...

..

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

Industries

Most of the industries in Mandvi are small-scale in nature, mainly in the areas of Bentonite
Bentonite
Bentonite is an absorbent aluminium phyllosilicate, essentially impure clay consisting mostly of montmorillonite. There are different types of bentonite, each named after the respective dominant element, such as potassium , sodium , calcium , and aluminum . Experts debate a number of nomenclatorial...

 mining, edible oil production, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

, traditional ship building, cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....

 products and household Bandhani
Bandhani work
Bandhani is a type of tie-dye practiced mainly in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, India. The term bandhani is derived from the Sanskrit word banda .Bandhani is also known as Bandhej or Tie Dye or Bandhni or Bandana, etc...

, and food-products like, sweets & farshan
Farsan (Food)
Farsan is a collective term used for a type of snacks Gujarati cuisine, from the Indian state of Gujarat.Some are fried items which are then dried and can be stored, others fresh, fried or steamed.Some popular examples are:* Dhokla...

 production.

Points of interest

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

  • Vijay Vilas Palace
    Vijay Vilas Palace
    Vijay Vilas Palace is the famous one time summer palace of Rajas of Kutch located on sea-beach of Mandvi in Kutch, Gujarat, India.-History:The palace was built during reign of Maharao Shri Khengarji III as summer resort for his son & successor, the Yuvraj Shri Vijayaraji and is therefore, named...

    : The center of attractions at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas Palace, a Royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The architect and craftsmen from Jaipur
    Jaipur
    Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....

     designed and constructed the palace in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput
    Rajput
    A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...

     architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha
    Orchha
    Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...

     and Datia
    Datia
    Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...

    . The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal
    Bengal
    Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...

     domes on the sides, the windows with coloured glass, carved stone 'jali
    Jali
    A jali is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy and geometry. Early work was performed by carving into stone, while the later more elegant used by the Mughals employed the technique of inlay, using marble...

    s', domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. The Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. Being private with conditional access it is a must visit for all beach lovers who want to enjoy their solitude and admire its Eco-friendly pristine beauty.For these reasons, this palace has been used as the set in many Hindi
    Hindi
    Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...

     films and has now become a popular tourist destination.


  • Swaminarayan Temple at Mandvi: This scenic temple is on the main road of Mandvi - Naliya.


* The Wind Farms Beach and Wind-mills, which line the horizon of Mandvi, offer a spectacular view from the Mandvi sea-beach. The Wind mills projects running in this beach was Asia's 1st Wind-Mills Projects in 1983.
  • Rukmavati bridge: The bridge on the Rukmavati River
    Rukmavati River
    The Rukmavati River is a south flowing river originating in the central Kutch District and empties into the Arabian Sea in the district of Gujarat. Mandvi, an ancient port town, is located on the banks of this river just at the mouth where it meets the Arabian Sea near the Gulf of...

     was built in 1883; it is the longest existing structure of its kind in India today. This bridge was built by Vishram Karman Chawda of Chandiya
    Chandiya
    Chandiya or Chandia is a village near the town Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 18 km from nearest town Anjar.-History:...

     belonging to the Mistris of Kutch community.

  • Topansar Lake: Sitting in the heart of the city, this lake forms and important landmark.

  • Bandhni Bazaar: Mandvi is known for the production of its famous Bandhani (tie-dye
    Tie-dye
    Tie-dye is a process of resist dyeing textiles or clothing which is made from knit or woven fabric, usually cotton; typically using bright colors. It is a modern version of traditional dyeing methods used in many cultures throughout the world. "Tie-dye" can also describe the resulting pattern or an...

    ) and other country crafts.

  • Traditional ship building: Mandvi is also a 400 year old ship building centre. The ships built here used to sail up to England and return back. Even today, master carpenters build fishing boats by traditional techniques.

  • Shyamji Krishna Varma Smarak: The smarak(monument) is located near Lohana Mahajan Wadi. Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma was an Indian revolutionary, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. A graduate of Balliol College, Krishna Varma was a noted scholar in Sanskrit and other Indian languages...

     was a scholar and freedom fighter. He established India House
    India House
    India House was an informal Indian nationalist organisation based in London between 1905 and 1910. With the patronage of Shyamji Krishna Varma, its home in a student residence in Highgate, North London was launched to promote nationalist views among Indian students in Britain...

     in Britain to support Indian student going UK for studying, eventually India house become a foreign hub of nationalist activity for freedom of India. Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma was an Indian revolutionary, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. A graduate of Balliol College, Krishna Varma was a noted scholar in Sanskrit and other Indian languages...

     was born in Mandvi.

  • Kranti Trith : The Smark of Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma
    Shyamji Krishna Varma was an Indian revolutionary, lawyer and journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London. A graduate of Balliol College, Krishna Varma was a noted scholar in Sanskrit and other Indian languages...

     was newly build just 3 km away from Mandvi on Mandvi-Dharbudi Road. This is Gujarat's 2nd Kranti Trith.

  • Kasi Vishvanath Beach, Salaya: This is another beach near Mandvi. It derives its name from a Shiv
    Shiv
    The word Shiv or shiv may refer to:* Shiv , a type of sharp weapon* Shiva, a Hindu deity* A fictional location in Magic: The Gathering, see Dominaria* Shiv, a villain in the animated series Static Shock...

     temple nearby.

  • Public Bath System “KUYDI”, Talav Gate.

  • Light House : Newly contracted Light House for Country Craft Sea Transportation, these structure newly contracted after earthquake.

Other places nearby

  • Ambedham, At : Godhara
  • Prena Dham, At Godhara
  • 72 Jinalay, At Koday 4 way
  • Jain Ashram, At Nagalpur
  • Dhrabudi, At Gundiyali Modhva Road
  • Raval Pir, Maska Gundiyali Road
  • Jyoteshwar Temple, At Village Don
  • Ashar Mata Temple, At Village Nana Layja
  • Nirbhay Pakshi Dham, At Village Godhara
  • Kranti Trith, 3 km. from Mandvi City, via Haji-Hasan Hospital Road,
  • Vijay Vilas Palace, Near Kathda village
  • Beach - Windfarm
  • Shitlamata Temple, Layja Road
  • Navjeevan Nature Cure, At kojachora
  • Bidada Sarvoday Hospital, At Bidada
  • Bhojay Sarvoday Hospital, At Bhojay
  • Vijay Sagar Dem, At kojachora
  • Gangaji, At Nana Asambiya
  • Vidyapith, At Nagalpur

See also

  • Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach
    Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach
    Ahmedpur Mandvi Beach is situated on the coastline of the state of Gujarat, India. It is located in Ahmedpur Mandvi, near Mandvi in Kutch district, which is the historic port town of Maharao of Kutch. -External links:*...


Famous Vadapaon of Chitchat Food Corner
OPP.The Main Bridge,Rotery Garden.
Mandvi-Kutch.
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