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'{{Short description|Region of India}} {{other uses}} {{Distinguish|Kon Kan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2015}} [[File:Deogad Beach in Sindhudurg district ,Konkan region Maharashtra, India.JPG|thumb|[[Devgad]] beach on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra]] '''Konkan''' is the rugged section of the mid-western coastline of the [[Indian Subcontinent]], the coastal [[hinterland]] of Konkan comprises of numerous riverine islands, river valleys, and the hilly slopes of the [[Western Ghats]], that lead up into the [[tableland]]s of the [[Deccan Sultanates|Deccan region]]. Geographically, Konkan is bound by the [[Arabian Sea]] to the west, the [[Deccan plateau]] to the east. The Konkan Coast proceeds from the north at [[Damaon]] in the [[Gulf of Khambat]], extends southwards all along the western seaside areas of [[Maharashtra]] and [[Goa]], and meets the [[Karavali|Canara]] coast at the northern edge of [[North Canara|Karwar District]] in [[Karnataka]]. The most well known islands of Konkan, are [[Ilhas de Goa]], the site of the capital city of [[Panjim]] and [[Salsette Island]] on which Bombay ([[Mumbai]]), the capital of Maharashtra is situated. == Definition == Geographically, the stretch of land from the [[Daman Ganga River]] in the north to the [[Gangavalli River]] in the south is considered to form the Konkan.<ref>Bhandare, Vasant Ramchandra (1985) ''Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute: politics of manipulation''. Kirti Prakashan. p. [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=WbW1AAAAIAAJ&dq=Karwar+part+of+Konkan&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Gangavali+ 63].</ref> The ancient ''Sapta Konkan'' was a larger geographical area that extended from [[Gujarat]] to [[Kerala]].<ref>[[Manohar Rai Sardesai|Saradesāya, Manohararāya]] (2000) [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=1YILeUD_oZUC&pg=PA1&dq=isbn:9788172016647&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false "The Land, the People, and the Language"]. ''A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992''. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1–14. {{ISBN|9788172016647}}. </ref> The whole region of coastal Maharashtra and [[Kanara|coastal Karnataka]] is included within the Konkan. However, this segment overlaps the Konkan and [[Malabar coast]] continuum; and usually corresponds to the southernmost and northernmost stretches of these locales respectively. == Etymology == [[File:Dabhol Beach.jpg|thumb|Beaches dotted with swaying coconut palms are a ubiquitous sight along the Konkan coast]] According to the ''[[Sahyadrikhanda]]'' of the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'', [[Parashurama]] threw his axe into the sea and commanded the Sea God to recede up to the point where his axe landed. The new piece of land thus recovered came to be known as ''Saptah-Konkana'', meaning "piece of earth", "corner of earth", or "piece of corner", derived from [[Sanskrit]] words: ''koṇa'' (कोण, corner) + ''kaṇa'' (कण, piece).<ref name="skanda"> {{cite book | title = Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha) | editor-last = Shastri Gaytonde | editor-first = Gajanan | language = Marathi | publisher = Shree Katyani Publication | publication-place = Mumbai }} </ref><ref> {{cite book | title = Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti | version = Part 1 | page = 206 | last = Satoskar | first = B. D. | language = Marathi | publisher = Shubhada Publication }} </ref> [[Xuanzang]], the noted [[China|Chinese]] [[Buddhist]] monk, mentioned this region in his book as ''Konkana Desha''; [[Varahamihira]]'s [[Brihat-Samhita]] described Konkan as a region of India; and 15th century author Ratnakosh mentioned the word Konkandesha.<ref name="history"> {{cite book | title = A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992 | chapter = The Land, the People and the Language | pages = 1–14 | last = Saradesāya | first = Manohararāya | year = 2000 | publisher = Sahitya Akademi | isbn = 8172016646 }} </ref> == Geography == Konkan extends throughout the western coasts of [[Maharashtra]], [[Goa]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref name="history"/> It is bounded by the [[Western Ghats]] mountain range (also known as Sahyadri) in the east, the [[Arabian Sea]] in the west, the [[Daman Ganga River]] in the north and the [[River Aghanashini]] in the south. The Gangavalli flows in the district of [[Uttara Kannada]] in present-day [[Karnataka]]. Its northern bank constitutes the southernmost portion of Konkan. The towns of [[Karwar]], [[Ankola]], [[Kumta]], [[Honavar]] and [[Bhatkal]] fall within the Konkan coast. [[File:Map of Hill-stations on Konkan belt.png|thumb|A schematic map of the Konkan belt in Maharashtra, showing [[hill station]]s and the roadways and railways connecting them]] The largest city on the Konkan coast is [[Mumbai]], the state capital of Maharashtra. These are, from north to south:<ref>List of districts in Konkan division, http://www.swapp.co.in/site/indianstatedistrictlist.php?stateid=j1YKCtUvHkShwKBqk6iHow%3D%3D&divisionid=bRbHGKvCu7LMDJJGUsYuQA%3D%3D</ref> # [[Palghar district]] # [[Thane district]] # [[Mumbai Suburban district]] # [[Mumbai City district]] # [[Raigad district]] # [[Ratnagiri district]] # [[Sindhudurg district]] # [[Goa]] [[Uttara Kannada]] is also generally included within the Konkan coast and considered to be the southernmost part of the region.<ref> {{cite book | last = Charlesworth | first = Neil | date = 2001 | title = Peasants and Imperial Rule: Agriculture and Agrarian Society in the Bombay Presidency 1850–1935 | volume = 32 | series = Cambridge South Asian Studies | edition = revised | publisher = [[Cambridge University Press|CUP]] | page = [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=jIbRhV00p6AC&q=Karwar+Kanara+Konkani#v=onepage&q=Karwar%20North%20Kanara%20Konkani&f=true 60] | isbn = 9780521526401 }} </ref> However, due to its geographical and historical connection with [[Kanara]] (Karavali) or the larger [[Malabar Coast]], it was transferred back to [[Mysore State]] (later renamed as [[Karnataka]]) with some other [[Kannada]]-speaking districts of the southern portion of [[Bombay State]] in [[States Reorganisation Act, 1956|1956]].<ref name="sorg1956">{{cite web|url=http://www.commonlii.org/in/legis/num_act/sra1956250/|title=States Reorganization Act 1956|access-date=1 July 2008|publisher=Commonwealth Legal Information Institute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516123014/http://www.commonlii.org/in/legis/num_act/sra1956250/|archive-date=16 May 2008}}</ref> == Ethnology == {{main|Konkani people}} The main ethnolinguistic group of the Konkan region is the [[Konkani people]]. Specific caste and communities found in the region are the [[Agri caste|Aagri]], [[Koli people|Koli]], [[Kunbi]], [[Bhandari caste|Bhandari]], [[Maratha]], [[Kharvi]], Mangela, Karadi, Vaiti, [[Mahar]], [[Chamar|Chambhar]], [[Kumbhar]], [[Dhobi]], [[Teli]], [[Sutradhar|Sutar]], [[Gabit]], Padti, [[Dhangar]], [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]] (also includes Rajapur Saraswats and Chitrapur Saraswats), [[Daivadnya Brahmin|Daivajna]], [[Kudaldeshkar Gaud Brahmin|Kudaldeshkar]], [[Gomantak Maratha Samaj]], [[Chitpavan|Chitpawan]], [[Karhade Brahmin|Karhade]], [[Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu|Kayastha Prabhu]], [[Somvanshi Kshatriya Pathare]], [[Chaukalshi|Vadval]], [[Pathare Prabhu]], [[Vaishya Vani]], [[Komarpant]], [[Gavli]], Ghorpi, Nath Jogi, [[Gurav]], Ghadi, Namdev Shimpi and others. [[Billava]], [[Bunt (community)]] and Linghayat communities found in the parts of Karnataka which are near to Konkan. Tribal communities include the [[Katkari]], Thakar, [[Konkana]], [[Warli]], Mahadev Koli are mainly found in northern and central parts of Konkan. Dubla and Dhodia tribes in southern [[Gujarat]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]], and [[Maharashtra]]'s [[Palghar district]]. The Palghar district has the largest percentage of tribal population in Konkan. A small nomadic tribe called Vanarmare is found in southern parts of Konkan, which was originally associated with hunting of monkeys. The Gauda and Velip tribes found in Goa. Minorities of Muslim communities like [[Konkani Muslims]] and [[Nawayath]]s are scattered throughout the region. The Jew community called [[Bene Israel]] is mainly found in [[Raigad district]]. The Christians formed of [[East Indians]] in North Konkan and Mumbai, [[Goan Catholics]] in [[Goa]], [[Karwari Catholics]] in [[Uttara Kannada]] as well as [[Mangalorean Catholics]] in [[Udupi]] and [[Dakshina Kannada]]. Many Muslims, Christians and Jews have migrated to Mumbai as it is the economic hub of the region. ==See also== *[[Kunkeshwar]] *[[People of the Konkan Division]] *[[Konkani people]] *[[Konkani language]] *[[Konkan Railway]] *[[Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project]] *[[Malabar Coast]] *[[Coromandel Coast]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{wikivoyage-inline|Konkan}} *[http://www.konkan.me Konkan Tourism] - A Complete Guide on Tourism *[https://www.hotelinkonkan.com Konkan Hotels] *[https://www.kokansafar.com]- Best Places to Visit in Konkan Coast {{Maharashtra}} {{Western Ghats}} {{GeoSouthAsia}} {{coord|15.6|73.8|display=title}} [[Category:Konkan| ]] [[Category:Regions of India]] [[Category:Landforms of Goa]] [[Category:Coasts of India]] [[Category:Konkani]]'