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PLACES
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THAL
Thal (T. Alibag; 18°35' N, 72°55' E, p. 3,768; RS. Bombay,
22 m.) among palm groves, on the sea-shore, three miles north of Alibag, is a straggling village stretching three miles from north to south. There are more Koli fishermen here than in most of the Alibag coastal villages. It is also a great fishing centre. The Thal landing-place, like the landing-place at Alibag, is very difficult of approach. The creek dries at low tide and is not passable to vessels of more than six tons (25 khandis). On the shore to the north-west of Thal, about a mile east of the island of Underi, is the small ruined fort of Khubladha or the Great Fight.
Khubladha Fort.
Khubladha
fort consists of a square wall about twelve feet broad with corner towers. The enclosed space (100'x 94') is about three feet below the level of the present walls, and six feet below the level of the towers. The space inside is kept smooth and is divided into squares for drying fish. Most of the outer part of the enclosure is covered with stakes, connected by rice-straw ropes, on which fish and nets are hung. The walls are of massive undressed stones laid with considerable skill without mortar. About a mile to the west lies the low fortified island of Underl and, about a mile and a quarter further, the higher better wooded island of Khanderi with its southern point crowned by a light-house. From the shore, except in a few places, the Underi fortifications stand out against the sea and sky.
In 1740, Thal along with Alibag and Sagargad was taken by Sambhaji from his half-brother Manaji Angre, and it was pro-bably from Khubladha fort that Daulatkhan fired on Underl in the war with Sidi Kasim in 1680. [ Grant Duff's Maraths, Vol. I, 411. See below, Underi.]
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