Dahanu

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Palghar district map

Dahanu (डहाणू) is a coastal town and a taluka in Palghar district of Maharashtra state in Konkan division.

Variants

• Dhenu Gram

Location

Dahanu is located 65 km north of Virar on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Railway. It can be reached from National Highway NH-8, 24 km off from Charoti Naka. It is 22 km North of Boisar on the Western Railway line. Nearby Sai temple is located in Narpad. Also famous for Mahalaxmi Temple located just 4 km from Charoti. It is located 110 km from Mumbai city and hosts Adani Power’s thermal power station.

Origin

• Dahanu originates from Daha, a Jat clan.
• The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word Dhenu Gram meaning the village of cows.

Jat clans

• Daha (डहा)

History

Dahanu is an ancient town with a long history. It was settled probably as early as 500 CE. Some records show possible settlement as early as 150 BC. The reasons for nomadic lifestyle of locals are unknown. All these developments are before 100 CE and are in reference to Dahanu area rather than Dahanu village.

Later the village was settled. Soon it attracted many other communities like Tribals, Gujaratis and CKP community. Later the Zoroastrians arrived too. It was frequented by Arab travellers.

By the 1490s, the Portuguese established their influence on the region. The region was under De Facto control of Portuguese from circa 1495 to 1540. Before this, it was under weak administration of Sultan of Gujarat. The Maratha Conquest of Thane and Vasai caused great damage to their influence as well as dominance over the region. The Inquisition established at Goa and other Portuguese Colonies fueled this change of power. During their reign, Portuguese built a small church to convert people to Christianity. This plan backfired and caused great discontent among people. The church fell in ruins and was destroyed before 1940.

Dahanu enjoyed good treatment from Marathas and relatively low taxes. In 1818, with fall of Maratha Empire, it went under British rule. An unnamed officer was assassinated in the town by villagers over some dispute in the 1870s. Its details are unknown. The town became a part of Independent India after its Struggle for Independence. After the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement the Dahanu Taluka along with Talasari Taluka and Mumbai city became a part of Maharashtra state on 1 May 1960.

Tourism

Dahanu is famous for its beaches namely Parnaka beaches 1&2, Agar beach, Chikhale beach. People from Mumbai & Surat visit the town in large numbers during weekends and holidays, away from the rush and heat of the cities to enjoys its cool, calm, peaceful climate. Other places to visit nearby are:

1. Musalya Dongar, Mahalaxmi, NH8 (Mahalaxmi Gadh)
2. Bhim Bandh, Waghadi, Surya River
3. Gambhir Gadh, Kajal barichi Khind
4. Dhamani Dam, Dhamani
5. Kavdas Dam, Suryanagar
6. Kurza Dam, Kurza
7. Sakhara Dam, Sakhara
8. Sisana Killa, Sisana NH8
9. Kaneri Dongar, Ashta
10. Asheri gadh, Mendhavan
11. Surya River, Kasa
12. Laxmi Narayan Temple in Masoli, Dahanu station road.
13. Dargah Khwaja Shaikh Bapu Piya R.A (A very old Dargah in Town near the Dahanu Court)
14. Jain temple, Gopipura
15. Laxmi Narayan Temple in Dahanu Gaon. This temple is from Peshwa Era. It belongs to the Karandikar family. It is open to all.

List of Villages in Dahanu tahsil

1. Agwan, 2. Aine, 3. Alkapur, 4. Ambesari, 5. Ambewadi, 6. Ambiste, 7. Ambistewadi, 8. Ambivali, 9. Ambivali Tarf Bahare, 10. Asangaon, 11. Asangaon Bk, 12. Asave, 13. Ashagad, 14. Ashte, 15. Aswali, 16. Awadhani, 17. Bade Pokharan, 18. Bahare, 19. Bandhghar, 20. Bapugaon, 21. Bavade, 22. Bendgaon, 23. Bharad, 24. Bhavadi, 25. Bhisenagar, 26. Bodgaon, 27. Bordi, 28. Bramhanwadi, 29. Chalani, 30. Chandigaon, 31. Chandranagar, 32. Chandwad, 33. Chari Tarf Jamshet, 34. Chari Tarf Kotebi, 35. Charoti, 36. Chikhale, 37. Chimbave, 38. Chinchale, 39. Chinchani, 40. Dabhadi, 41. Dabhale, 42. Dabhon, 43. Dahigaon, 44. Dahyale, 45. Dapchari, 46. Dedale, 47. Dehane, 48. Deur , 49. Devgaon, 50. Dhakti Dahanu, 51. Dhamanagaon, 52. Dhamatane, 53. Dhaniwari, 54. Dharampur, 55. Dhumket, 56. Dhundalwadi, 57. Diwashi, 58. Gadchinchale, 59. Ganeshbag, 60. Gangangaon, 61. Gangodi, 62. Ganjad, 63. Gaurwadi, 64. Ghadane, 65. Ghol, 66. Gholwad, 67. Gowane, 68. Gungavada, 69. Halapada, 70. Jalwai, 71. Jambugaon, 72. Jamshet, 73. Jingaon, 74. Junnarpada, 75. Kainad, 76. Kalamdevi, 77. Kandarwadi, 78. Kankradi, 79. Kapshi, 80. Karanjvira, 81. Kasa Kh, 82. Kasara, 83. Khambale, 84. Khaniv, 85. Khubale, 86. Khunavade, 87. Kinhawali, 88. Kolavali, 89. Kolhan, 90. Komgaon, 91. Kosbad, 92. Kosesari, 93. Kotabi, 94. ashkari, 95. Manipur, 96. Mhasad, 97. Modgaon, 98. Motapada, 99. Motgaon, 100. Murbad, 101. Nagzari, 102. Nandare, 103. Naraliwadi, 104. Narpad , 105. Naruli, 106. Navnath, 107. Nikane, 108. Nikavali, 109. Nimbapur, 110. Osarvira, 111. Osarwadi, 112. Pale, 113. Pandhartaragaon, 114. Paraswadi, 115. Pardi, 116. Patilpada, 117. Pavan, 118. Peth, 119. Phanaswadi, 120. Pimpalshet Bk, 121. Pimpalshet Kh, 122. Pokharan, 123. Punjave, 124. Raipada, 125. Raipur, 126. Raitali, 127. Rampur, 128. Rankol, 129. Ranshet, 130. Saiwan, 131. Sakhare, 132. Sarani, 133. Saravali, 134. Sasvand, 135. Sawata, 136. Saye, 137. Shelti, 138. Shensari, 139. Shilonde, 140. Shisne , 141. Sogwe, 142. Somanath, 143. Sonale, 144. Sukad Amba, 145. Suryanagar, 146. Tadiyale, 147. Talothe, 148. Tanashi, 149. Tawa, 150. Thakurwadi, 151. Tornipada, 152. Urse, 153. Vadade, 154. Vadhane, 155. Vaghadi, 156. Vanai, 157. Vandhavan, 158. Vangaon, 159. Vangarje, 160. Vankas, 161. Varkhande, 162. Varor, 163. Varoti, 164. Vasantwadi, 165. Vasgaon, 166. Veti , 167. Vikasnagar, 168. Vire, 169. Vivalvedhe, 170. Vyahali, 171. Waki, 172. Zarali,