Malvan is a small city situated on the coast of Western India. The main attractions for the tourists are beautiful beaches of the region like Tarkarli Beach, Chivla Beach, Tondavali Beach. There are few more attractions including Sindhudurg Fort, Mobar Point. The city of Malvan is surrounded by small creeks: Karli, Kalavali, and Kolamb. There are many concoctions and some believable stories related to the origin of Malvan's name. According to a popular story, large quantities of salt were produced in the Malvan region. The salt producers used to address this area as "Mahalavan" due to excess of salt. Another possibility is that the word Malvan is derived from the phonetic combination of the two words of the Malvani dialect, "item" ie coconut and "ban", meaning garden, and meaning the garden where coconut trees are found in abundance.
History
Available historical records suggest that the Chalukyas invaded the region between the sixth and eighth centuries. He was followed by the ruler of Devagiri (10th century) and the ruler of Vijayanagara (14th century). Adilshahi came under control in the 15th century, Maratha rule of Shivaji in the 16th century and British rule in the 17th century. The Malvan city was made up of two main regions Medha and Deulwada. The surrounding area of about 3 kilometers was completely flooded and marshy. Medha was an island while Deulwada was the end of the land. The bamboo forest surrounded the Medha region which was inhabited by the Bhandari (tree tappers as well as manual laborers) and Gabbit (fishermen) communities. Keno (Light Nail Combo Boat) was the main mode of transport between Medha and Deulwara.
Culture
Malvan is a town in the Sindhudurg district in the south, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Culturally and historically important, this town is also a taluka of Sindhudurg district. Malvan is famous for the Sindhudurg and Malvani food produced by Shivaji. The place is also famous for various varieties of mangoes such as Alphonso and Malvani hapus. Along with this, sweets made here such as Malvani Khaja and Malvani Laddu are famous all over Maharashtra and adjoining areas. The play based on mythological stories, Malavani Dashavatar, is a very important part of Malvani culture. Renowned playwright and TV actor Mr. Machhendra Kambli comes from Malvan. For daily life, people depend on fishing with a staple diet of fish and rice of the locals. The city produces Alphonso mangoes and is also known for sweets such as Malvani Khaja, besan flour, and coated jaggery as well as Malvani Lado. Other sweets that attract tourists are Konkani Meva, Ambawadi, Phansapoli, Dryfruits, Kajuwadi, Narlachya Vadya, Malvani Masala. Malvan Drama based on mythology is an important cultural element of the Dashavatar region. There are many apocryphal and some more reliable stories related to the name Malavan.
Main Attractions
1. Sindhudurg Fort
Sindhudurg Fort is a fort which is situated in western India at a place in the Arabian Sea, not far from the coast of Maharashtra. The fort is located on the banks of Malvan city in Sindhudurg district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, 450 km from Mumbai. It is a protected monument.
2. Beaches in Malvan
There are 6 beaches in and around Malvan. Tarkarli, Donkey Mahal, Chiwala, Tondavali, Achra, and Devbag. They have minimal human intervention and thus favor tourists.
3. Kolamb Beach
If you are someone who does not like crowds, Columba Beach is one of the less crowded tourist destinations to visit in Malvan. It is possibly one of the most attractive beaches of Malvan enjoying its pristine nature and amazing serenity. Located 6 km from the main city of Malwa, this beach also has provisions for various water sports.
4. Tarkali Beach
Whether it is a breathtaking sea and sun-kissed beaches, buzzing beaches, or thrilling water sports, the beauty of Tarkley Beach will never give you a dull moment. Surrounded by Shuru trees, it is one of the best places to visit in Malvan, which is located at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and the Karli River, overlooking the Tarkarli drain and the estuary. Tarkarli beach is the main point for snorkeling and scuba diving. The location is famous for parasailing, diving, snorkeling, water scooter rides, and houseboat stay.
