Mandvi Travel Guide

places of interest

 

 

 

Points of interest

Mandvi has a very pleasant climate throughout the year and was a summer retreat of the Kutch maharajas (kings).

* Vijay Vilas Palace: The center of attractions at Mandvi is the Vijay Vilas Palace, a Royal abode set in the middle of well-laid gardens with water channels and marble fountains. The architect and craftsmen from Jaipur designed and constructed the palace in 1920 AD. The palace has all the elements of Rajput architecture and draws largely on the plan of palaces of Orchha and Datia. The central high dome on the pillars, the Bengal domes on the sides, the windows with coloured glass, carved stone 'jalis', domed bastions at the corners, extended porch and other exquisitely stone-carved elements, make the palace worth visiting. The Vijay Vilas Palace has its own private beach which offers air-conditioned tented accommodation. Being private with conditional access it is a must visit for all beach lovers who want to enjoy their solitude and admire its eco-friendly priestine beauty.For these reasons, this palace has been used as the setting in many Hindi films and has now become a popular tourist destination.

* [[Swaminarayan mandir at mandvi ] mandvi has the best one and completely prepared in extra ornery marbal. This mandir is on main road of mandvi - Naliya. In mandir icon of God swaminarayan and Krishna Bhagvan are wirth to have Darsan. This mandir has great history. Gk suryaswami

Mandvi Beach: Mandvi has one of the most beautiful beaches in Gujarat. The beach; attraction in Mandvi is main attraction. As every day hundred of travelers and follower of God swaminarayan take bath and take rest there. This beach is really holy as God swaminarayan and His great saints had taken bath there before 175 years ago. Since many followers go there daily to enjoy both bodily and eternally. There is also Wind Farms

* Rukmavati bridge: The bridge on the Rukmavati River was built in 1883; it is the longest existing structure of its kind in India today.

* Topansar Lake: Sitting in the heart of the city, this lake forms and important landmark as well as a source of water to the city.

* Bandhni Bazaar: Mandvi is known for the production of its famous Bandhani (tie-dye) and other country crafts.

* Traditional ship building: Mandvi is also a 400 year old ship building centre. The ships built here used to sail up to England and return back. Even today, master carpenters build fishing boats by traditional techniques.

* Shyamji Krishna Verma Smarak: The smarak(monument) is located near Lohana Mahajan Wadi. Shyamji Krishna Verma was a scholar and freedom fighter. He established India House in Britain to support Indian student going UK for studying, eventually India house become a foreign hub of nationalist activity for freedom of India. Shyamji Krishna Verma was born in Mandvi.

* Kasi Vishvanath Beach, Salaya: This is another beach near Mandvi. It derives its name from a Shiv temple nearby.

* Public Bath System “KUYDI”, Talav Gate.


history

Mandvi is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was once a major port of the region and summer retreat for Maharao (king) of the Kachchh. The old city had a surrounding fort, and remains of the fort wall can still be seen to this day. The city has a more than four hundred year old ship building industry that still manufactures small ships.


History

* The establishment of the town dates back to the late 16th century (1581 AD) and is attributed to the first Jadeja ruler of Kachchh, Rao Khengarji.

* In 18th century, the Mandvi merchants collectively owned a fleet of 400 vessels trading with East Africa, Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf. In the early 19th century, it was a major port of entry for the inland trade with Malwa, Marwar and Sindh.

* Mandvi was at the junction of two famous trade routes the maritime spice trade-route and the desert camel caravan route, acting as an important trade centre.

* Mandvi was originally a fortified town having a fort wall of about 8 m high and 1.2 m wide stone masonry. The fort had several gateways and 25 bastions; but at present, most of the wall has disappeared. The bastion on the southwest is largest and acts as a lighthouse.

* In the heyday of maritime trade, before the arrival of steamboats, Mandvi was a rich and prosperous town, earning four times more revenue from export than import. It was a profit-making centre of the Kutch state, surpassing the capital city of Bhuj in terms of wealth.

* As most of the top ports of India were controlled by Europeans, especially the Portuguese, even the Mughals held the Maharaos of Kachchh in high esteem, as they needed the port of Mandvi for exports, imports and also for pilgrimages to Mecca.