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PLACES
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MANDVA
Mandva (T. Alibag) about twelve miles north of Alibag on the north coast, right across from Bombay, is a landing place of some importance. The village is hid in a grove of coco-palms at the head of a short broad bay with a shallow sandy beach. Entering the bay from the sea, on the right are several bare hillocks from the top one of the largest of which rises a white masonry beacon pillar. On the left a bare spur runs to the sea and to the south rise the north slopes of the Kankesvar hills. The water is low at half tide, and about a mile from the anchorage ground there are a few shoals and a reef, which run in the direction of Karanja hill. During the rainy season this reef, together with the strong current from the Nagothana creek, make the waves rise very high. Though dangerous to strangers, the local boatmen cross this bar nearly everyday without accident. Cargo boats have to lie some distance from the shore. In spite of this drawback, a considerable quantity of rice was embarked for the Bombay market from which it is only about ten miles distant. At present, however, it is carried to Revas by truck from where it is shipped to Bombay. The sameness in sound suggests that Mandva is the Mandava mentioned in the Kuda cave inscriptions (A. D. 130). But no trace of old remains Has been found in the village, and Mandad, which has Dr. Burgess's support, is a more likely identification. There was a Gadhi known as Shrivardhan Gadhi built by Sivaji at Mandva. The same was looted during the encounter between Cimaji Appa and Sidi Saat.
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