Konkan: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Ricky81682
Last edited March 19, 2026
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
Category changed
typo fix
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Region of India}}
{{Short description|Region of southwest India}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses}}
{{Distinguish|Kon Kan}}
{{Distinguish|Concan, Texas|Khon Kaen|Kanara}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
 
| official_name    = Konkan
[[File:Deogad Beach in Sindhudurg district ,Konkan region Maharashtra, India.JPG|thumb|[[Devgad]] beach on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra]]
| other_name      =
 
| native_name      =  
'''Konkan''' is the rugged section of the mid-western coast of the [[Indian Subcontinent]], the coastal  [[hinterland]] of Konkan consists 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 Cambay]], extends southwards all along the western seaside areas of [[Maharashtra]] and [[Goa]], and meets the [[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.
| native_name_lang = kok
| image_skyline    = Dabhol Beach.jpg
| caption          = [[Dabhol]] in Ratnagiri district, Konkan division, Maharashtra. Beaches dotted with swaying coconut palms are a ubiquitous sight along the Konkani coast.
| image_map        = Konkan Districts.png
| map_caption      = Districts encompassing the Konkan and [[Karavali]] region.
| coordinates      = {{coord|15.6|73.8|display=title}}
| settlement_type = Region
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| parts_type      =
| parts            =
}}


== Definition ==
The '''Konkan''' is a stretch of land by the [[West Coast of India|western coast]] of India, bound by the river [[Daman Ganga]] at [[Daman, India|Damaon]] in the north, to [[Anjediva Island]] next to [[Karwar]] town in the south; with the [[Arabian Sea]] to the west and the [[Deccan Plateau]] to the east.<ref name="history" />{{verify source|reason=Political boundary of [[Konkan division]] starts from [[palghar]] this page is about the historical Konkan region not just the Konkan Division occupied by Maharashtra|date=June 2022}} The [[hinterland]] east of the coast has numerous river valleys, riverine islands and the hilly slopes known as the [[Western Ghats]]; that lead up into the [[Table (landform)|tablelands]] of the Deccan. The Konkan region has been recognised by name, since at least the time of [[Strabo]], in the third century [[Common Era|CE]].<ref name="history">{{cite book |last=Saradesāya |first=Manohararāya |author-link=Manohar Rai Sardesai |title=A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1YILeUD_oZUC&pg=PA1 |isbn=978-8-1720-1664-7 |location=India |pages=1–14 |chapter=The Land, the People and the Language}}</ref> It had a thriving mercantile port with [[Arabs|Arab]] tradesmen from the 10th century onwards.<ref name="Wink1991">{{Cite book |last=Wink |first=André |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCVyhH5VDjAC |title=Al-hind: The Making of the Indo-islamic World |year=1991 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |isbn=978-90-04-09249-5 |page=68 |language=en}}</ref> The best-known islands of Konkan are [[Ilhas de Goa]], the site of the [[Goa state]]'s capital at [[Panjim]]; also, the [[Seven Islands of Bombay]], on which lies [[Mumbai]], the capital of [[Maharashtra]] & the headquarters of [[Konkan Division]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}


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>
==Definition==
Historically, the limits of Konkan have been flexible, and it has been known by additional names like "[[Aparanta]]" and "Gomanchal", the latter being defined as the coastal area between the [[Daman Ganga River]] in the north and the [[Gangavalli River]] in the south.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwYDPnEjTb4C&dq=daman+ganga+gangavalli&pg=PA7|title=Goa Through the Ages: An economic history - Volume 2|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=1990|isbn=9788170222590|editor-last=De Souza|editor-first=Teotonio R.|location=India|pages=8–9}}</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}}.
The ancient ''[[Coastal South West India|Sapta Konkan]]'' was a larger geographical area that extended from [[Gujarat]] to [[Kerala]] and included the whole region of coastal [[Maharashtra]] and [[Tulunad|coastal Karnataka Tulunad]].<ref name="history" /> However, this segment overlaps the Konkan, [[Tulunad|Tulunad coast]] and [[Malabar coast]] continuum; and usually corresponds to the southernmost and northernmost stretches of these locales respectively.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
</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==
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 the earth", or "piece of the 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=mr |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=mr |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" />


== Etymology ==
==Geography==
 
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical |width=
[[File:Dabhol Beach.jpg|thumb|Beaches dotted with swaying coconut palms are a ubiquitous sight along the Konkan coast]]
|image1=Deogad Beach in Sindhudurg district ,Konkan region Maharashtra, India.JPG |caption1=Beach of [[Devgad taluka]], [[Sindhudurg district]], in the [[States and union territories of India|State]] of Maharashtra
 
|image2=Ratnagiri Mountain Ranges.jpg |caption2=View of the [[Western Ghats|Sahyadri Mountains]] in the village of Sathare Bambar, Ratnagiri district
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 ==
The Konkan extends throughout the western coasts of [[Maharashtra]], and [[Goa]].<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. The largest city on the Konkan coast is [[Mumbai]], the state capital of [[Maharashtra]]. Districts on the Konkan coast are, from north to south:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Konkan Division District List (कोंकण विभाग जिल्हा यादी)|url=http://www.swapp.co.in/site/indianstatedistrictlist.php?stateid=j1YKCtUvHkShwKBqk6iHow==&divisionid=bRbHGKvCu7LMDJJGUsYuQA==|access-date=26 January 2022|website=swapp.co.in}}</ref>
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.
* [[Daman district, India|Damaon]] district
* [[Palghar district]]
* [[Thane district]]
* [[Mumbai Suburban district]]
* [[Mumbai City district]]
* [[Raigad district]]
* [[Ratnagiri district]]
* [[Sindhudurg district]]
* [[Uttara Kannada|North Kanara]] (Karwar to Bhatkal)


[[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]]
==Ethnology==
 
{{main|Konkani people}}
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 ==
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]], [[Bhandari caste|Bhandari]], [[Kunbi]], [[Maratha (caste)|Maratha]], [[Gabit]], Mangela, Karadi, Phudagi, Vaiti, [[Kharvi]], [[Teli]], [[Kumbhar]], [[Nai (caste)|Nhavi]], [[Dhobi]], [[Twashta Kasar|Kasar]], [[Sutradhar|Sutar]], [[Lohar (caste)|Lohar]], [[Chamar|Chambhar]], [[Mahar]], [[Dhangar]], [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]] (also includes Rajapur Saraswats and Chitrapur Saraswats),  [[Kudaldeshkar Gaud Brahmin|Kudaldeshkar]], [[Pathare Prabhu]], [[Gomantak Maratha Samaj|Gomantak Maratha]], [[Chitpavan|Chitpavan Brahmins]], [[Karhade Brahmin|Karhade Brahmins]], [[Daivadnya]], [[Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu|Kayastha Prabhu]], [[Panchkalshi]], [[Vani]], [[Komarpant]], [[Chaukalshi|Vadval]]  [[Gavli]], Ghorpi, Nath Jogi, [[Gurav]], Pagi, Kalan, Ghadi, Padti, [[Vanjari_caste|Vanjari]], [[Shimpi|Namdev Shimpi]] and others. [[Billava]], [[Bunt (community)|Bunt]], [[Nador (caste)|Nadavara]], [[Mogaveera]] and Linghayat communities found in the parts of Karnataka which are near to Konkan.


{{main|Konkani people}}
Tribal communities include the [[Katkari]], Thakar, [[Konkana]], [[Warli]] and Mahadev Koli, mainly found in the northern and central parts of Konkan. The [[Halpati|Dubla]] and [[Dhodia]] tribes live in southern [[Gujarat]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]] and [[Palghar district]] of [[Maharashtra]]. Palghar district has the largest percentage of tribal population in Konkan. A small nomadic tribe called the Vanarmare is found in southern parts of Konkan, which was originally associated with the hunting of monkeys. The [[Gauda and Kunbi|Gauda]] and Velip tribes are found in Goa.
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)|Bunt]] and Linghayat communities found in the parts of Karnataka which are near to Konkan.  


Tribal communities include the [[Katkari]], Thakar, [[Konkana]], [[Warli]] and Mahadev Koli are mainly found in northern and central parts of Konkan. Dubla and Dhodia tribes in southern [[Gujarat]], [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli]], and [[Palghar district]] of [[Maharashtra]]. 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 the hunting of monkeys. The Gauda and Velip tribes found in Goa.
The Jewish community called [[Bene Israel]] is mainly found in [[Raigad district]]. The Christians included [[Bombay 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]].


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]]. Minorities of Muslim communities like [[Konkani Muslims]] and [[Nawayath]]s are scattered throughout the region.
Major Muslim communities like [[Konkani Muslims]] and [[Nawayath]]s are scattered throughout the whole region. They are reportedly descendants of people who came from [[Hadhramaut]] (in [[Yemen]] or [[South Arabia]]),<ref name="Khalidi1996">{{citation |last=Khalidi |first=Omar |author-link=Omar Khalidi |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O_WNqSH4ByQC&pg=PA52 |chapter=The Arabs of Hadramawt in Hyderabad |title=Mediaeval Deccan History |editor1=Kulkarni |editor2=Naeem |editor3=De Souza |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=[[Mumbai|Bombay]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-8-1715-4579-7}}</ref> and other parts of [[Arabian Peninsula|Arabia]] and the [[Middle East]]. The [[Siddi]]s have their roots in [[Africa]].<ref name="Wink1991" />


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Coast of India]]
*[[People of the Konkan Division]]
*[[People of the Konkan Division]]
*[[Konkani people]]
*[[Konkani language]]
*[[Konkan Railway]]
*[[Konkan Railway]]
*[[Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project]]
*[[Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project]]
*[[Malabar Coast]]
*[[Malabar Coast]]
*[[Coromandel Coast]]
*[[Coromandel Coast]]
*[[Tulunad|Tulunad coast]]


==References==
==References==
Line 111: Line 72:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Konkan}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Konkan}}
*[http://www.konkan.me Konkan Tourism] - A Complete Guide on Tourism
*[http://www.konkan.me Konkan Tourism] – a complete guide on tourism
*[https://www.hotelinkonkan.com Konkan Hotels]
*[https://www.hotelinkonkan.com Konkan Hotels]
*[https://trendifyworld.com/kokan-darshan-the-best-tourist-places-in-maharashtra/ Tourist Place to visit Konkan Darshan]
*[https://trendifyworld.com/kokan-darshan-the-best-tourist-places-in-maharashtra/ Tourist Place to visit Konkan Darshan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829150556/https://trendifyworld.com/kokan-darshan-the-best-tourist-places-in-maharashtra/ |date=29 August 2021 }}


{{Maharashtra}}
{{Maharashtra}}
{{Western Ghats}}
{{Western Ghats}}
{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{coord|15.6|73.8|display=title}}


[[Category:Konkan| ]]
[[Category:Konkan| ]]
[[Category:Geographical regions of India]]
[[Category:Regions of India]]
[[Category:Landforms of Goa]]
[[Category:Landforms of Goa]]
[[Category:Coasts of India]]
[[Category:Coasts of India]]
[[Category:West Coast of India]]
[[Category:Konkani]]
[[Category:Konkani]]
[[Category:Regions of Maharashtra]]

Latest revision as of 18:38, 19 March 2026


For other uses, see Konkan (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Concan, Texas; Khon Kaen; or Kanara.
Konkan
Region
Dabhol in Ratnagiri district, Konkan division, Maharashtra. Beaches dotted with swaying coconut palms are a ubiquitous sight along the Konkani coast.
Dabhol in Ratnagiri district, Konkan division, Maharashtra. Beaches dotted with swaying coconut palms are a ubiquitous sight along the Konkani coast.
Districts encompassing the Konkan and Karavali region.
Districts encompassing the Konkan and Karavali region.
Coordinates: 15°36′N 73°48′E / 15.6°N 73.8°E / 15.6; 73.8
Country India

The Konkan is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, bound by the river Daman Ganga at Damaon in the north, to Anjediva Island next to Karwar town in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan Plateau to the east.[1][verification needed] The hinterland east of the coast has numerous river valleys, riverine islands and the hilly slopes known as the Western Ghats; that lead up into the tablelands of the Deccan. The Konkan region has been recognised by name, since at least the time of Strabo, in the third century CE.[1] It had a thriving mercantile port with Arab tradesmen from the 10th century onwards.[2] The best-known islands of Konkan are Ilhas de Goa, the site of the Goa state's capital at Panjim; also, the Seven Islands of Bombay, on which lies Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra & the headquarters of Konkan Division.[citation needed]

Definition[edit | edit source]

Historically, the limits of Konkan have been flexible, and it has been known by additional names like "Aparanta" and "Gomanchal", the latter being defined as the coastal area between the Daman Ganga River in the north and the Gangavalli River in the south.[3]

The ancient Sapta Konkan was a larger geographical area that extended from Gujarat to Kerala and included the whole region of coastal Maharashtra and coastal Karnataka Tulunad.[1] However, this segment overlaps the Konkan, Tulunad coast and Malabar coast continuum; and usually corresponds to the southernmost and northernmost stretches of these locales respectively.[citation needed]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

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 the earth", or "piece of the corner", derived from Sanskrit words: koṇa (कोण, corner) + kaṇa (कण, piece).[4][5] Xuanzang, the noted 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.[1]

Geography[edit | edit source]

Beach of Devgad taluka, Sindhudurg district, in the State of Maharashtra
View of the Sahyadri Mountains in the village of Sathare Bambar, Ratnagiri district

The Konkan extends throughout the western coasts of Maharashtra, and Goa.[1] 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. The largest city on the Konkan coast is Mumbai, the state capital of Maharashtra. Districts on the Konkan coast are, from north to south:[6]

Ethnology[edit | edit source]

Main article: Konkani people

The main ethnolinguistic group of the Konkan region is the Konkani people. Specific caste and communities found in the region are the Aagri, Koli, Bhandari, Kunbi, Maratha, Gabit, Mangela, Karadi, Phudagi, Vaiti, Kharvi, Teli, Kumbhar, Nhavi, Dhobi, Kasar, Sutar, Lohar, Chambhar, Mahar, Dhangar, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (also includes Rajapur Saraswats and Chitrapur Saraswats), Kudaldeshkar, Pathare Prabhu, Gomantak Maratha, Chitpavan Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins, Daivadnya, Kayastha Prabhu, Panchkalshi, Vani, Komarpant, Vadval Gavli, Ghorpi, Nath Jogi, Gurav, Pagi, Kalan, Ghadi, Padti, Vanjari, Namdev Shimpi and others. Billava, Bunt, Nadavara, Mogaveera and Linghayat communities found in the parts of Karnataka which are near to Konkan.

Tribal communities include the Katkari, Thakar, Konkana, Warli and Mahadev Koli, mainly found in the northern and central parts of Konkan. The Dubla and Dhodia tribes live in southern Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Palghar district of Maharashtra. Palghar district has the largest percentage of tribal population in Konkan. A small nomadic tribe called the Vanarmare is found in southern parts of Konkan, which was originally associated with the hunting of monkeys. The Gauda and Velip tribes are found in Goa.

The Jewish community called Bene Israel is mainly found in Raigad district. The Christians included Bombay 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.

Major Muslim communities like Konkani Muslims and Nawayaths are scattered throughout the whole region. They are reportedly descendants of people who came from Hadhramaut (in Yemen or South Arabia),[7] and other parts of Arabia and the Middle East. The Siddis have their roots in Africa.[2]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Saradesāya, Manohararāya (2000). "The Land, the People and the Language". A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1–14. ISBN 978-8-1720-1664-7.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wink, André (1991). Al-hind: The Making of the Indo-islamic World. Brill. p. 68. ISBN 978-90-04-09249-5.
  3. ↑ De Souza, Teotonio R., ed. (1990). Goa Through the Ages: An economic history - Volume 2. India: Concept Publishing Company. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9788170222590.
  4. ↑ Shastri Gaytonde, Gajanan (ed.). Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha) (in मराठी). Mumbai: Shree Katyani Publication.
  5. ↑ Satoskar, B. D. Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti. Part 1 (in मराठी). Shubhada Publication. p. 206.
  6. ↑ "Konkan Division District List (कोंकण विभाग जिल्हा यादी)". swapp.co.in. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Khalidi, Omar (1996), "The Arabs of Hadramawt in Hyderabad", in Kulkarni; Naeem; De Souza (eds.), Mediaeval Deccan History, Bombay: Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-8-1715-4579-7

External links[edit | edit source]

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Konkan&oldid=471215"
Discover more