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A typical view of the Konkan, consisting of white-sand beaches and palm trees (mostly coconut and betel nut).

The Konkan (Marathi: कोकण\Konkani:कोंकण\Kannada:ಕೊನ್ಕನ್), also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali, is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from 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 of its costal 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 South Canara and Udupi of Karnataka state.

The Sanskrit term Konkanastha (कोंकणस्थ), means "Resident of Konkan".

[edit] Boundaries

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 Uttar Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka.

Detailed tourist map of Konkan in Hindi/Marathi (click to view full)

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, mangoes, cashews and jackfruit) and the physique (tall and well-built) of people dwelling in this area.

[edit] The Konkan division

The Konkan division is an administrative sub-division of Maharashtra which comprises all the coastal districts of the state.

[edit] 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 Canara ("Uttara Kannada") 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.

[edit] Ethnology

The Gabit tribals of the Maharashtra Konkan (districts of Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad or Alibag or Colaba, Mumbai Urban, Mumbai Suburban and Thane in "Maharashtra State") are among the original settlers in the region^{[citation needed]}.

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.

Bhandari community is found majorly along coastal line in konkan. they are basically originated from warriors family.

Also Tilori or Tilori Kunbi is a major community in Raigad and Ratnagiri districts. Agaris are found in Thane and Raigad district.

Major Brahmin castes of Konkan include Chitpavans, Karhade, Padye, Samavedi, Haviyak. They are called 'Kokanastha Brahmin'

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• People of the Konkan Division
• Konkani people
• Konkani language
• Konkani (dialect of Marathi language)
• Konkan Railway
• National Highway 17 (India)

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Konkan

• Konkan Travel Guide, Beaches, Forts, Hotels
• History of the konkan
• Konkan Tourism, Hotels, Photos, Maps
• Konkan Railway