Sawantwadi
Sawantwadi is a town in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India. Sawantwadi was formerly the capital of the Sawantwadi State ruled by the Sawant Bhonsle royal clan of the Marathas. It lies in the Konkan region near Maharashtra's border with Goa. History. The name Sawantwadi came into usage because of the surname of the state's ruling family of Khem-Sawants. Sawant-Bhonsale family were the rulers of Sawantwadi. They also participated in 1857 National Revolt. The taluka headquarters is Sawantwadi which has a municipal council, which is a local civic body. Economy. Sawantwadi is known for its wooden  handicrafts, hand-made cards colourfully painted. It is also becoming a major tourist attraction. The focus of the town is a lake in the center of Sawantwadi called as "Moti Talav". The lake is surrounded by a paved pathway and has a bridge cutting through it. The city centre is located on the banks of the lake, while the royal palace is situated on the other side of the lake. The lake is a popular tourist destination with illuminated fountains and water sporting activities. Geography and climate. Sawantwadi is located at in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. It has an  average elevation of above mean sea level. It is the administrative headquarters of the Sindhudurg district. Sawantwadi is situated on the west coast of Maharashtra, India, and is bounded by the Arabian Sea to its west and the Western Ghats to its east. As a municipal entity, it spans an area of , and experiences moderate to gusty winds during the day and gentle winds at night. The topography of the city ranges from plain to undulating, with several hills, valleys and flat areas within the city. The geology of the city is characterised by hard laterite in hilly tracts and  sandy soil along the seashore. The city is often used as a staging point for traffic along the Konkan Coast. Sawantwadi has a tropical climate; summer and winter months experience similar temperate conditions, with average temperatures ranging from to . Humidity is approximately 78% on average, and peaks during May, June and July. The maximum average humidity is 93% in July and average minimum humidity is 56% in January. Under the Köppen climate classification, Sawantvadi belongs to the and is under the direct influence of the Arabian Sea branch of the South-West monsoon. It receives about 90% of its total  annual rainfall within a period of about six months from May to October, while remaining extremely dry from December to March. The annual precipitation in Sawantwadi is . The most pleasant months in Sawantwadi are from December to February, during which time the humidity and heat are at their lowest. During this period, temperatures during the day stay below and drop to about at night. This season is soon followed by a hot summer, from March to May, when temperatures rise as high as . The summer gives way to the monsoon season, when the city experiences more precipitation than most urban  centres in India, due to the Western Ghats. Rainfall up to could be recorded during the period from June to September. The rains subside in September, with the occasional rainfall in October. Culture. Arts and handicrafts. Sawantwadi's major works are based on arts and culture, especially wooden crafts, and various traditional arts. The artists employed in the palace create playing cards in the almost extinct art form of ganjifa. Education. There are many schools in Sawantwadi including schools ranging establishment 85 years ago and a CBSE school. Many of the schools are government ones. Ayurveda medical college, Engineering college ,law college,musical college,fine art college,sanskrut ved pathshala etc. Lacquerware. Its lacquerware, an art form was brought to the attention of public by Queen Satwasheela Devi. Local artisans employed in the palace have been in use for making of instrumental production of lacquer-ware furniture, chess sets, board games, candlesticks, fruits, vegetables, and dolls. The price varies by quality. Language. Malvani is the predominant spoken language in Sawantwadi. Marathi is the state language, spoken widely, and also the language of instruction in schools. Goan Konkani is slightly understood but not implemented. Hindi and English are also used in  social communication. Most of the town's population are Hindu, followed by a minority Muslim and Christian population. Transport. Roads. Sawantwadi is well connected to other towns of Sindhudurg district and cities of Maharashtra state by MSRTC buses as well as Goa & Belgaum. Private buses, Sharing Rickshaws & Bikes are used to travel locally to connect the small villages to the city. There is a national highway 10 km away from Sawantwadi and it connects Goa to Mumbai Rails. Konkan Railway Corporation Limited's railway line connecting Mumbai to Mangalore, popularly known as the Konkan Railway, passes through Sawantwadi Road railway  station which 6 km from the town. Trivandrum Rajdhani Express has a halt at Sawantwadi Road railway station. Air. Nearest Airport is Kolhapur which is 128 km, Belgaum in Karnataka which is 110 km & mopa in Goa which is 18 km. The new airport is being built at Chipi-Parule in Vengurla Taluka.