# Konkan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Konkan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Konkan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkan > Source revision: 1356899593 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other uses, see [Konkan (disambiguation)](/source/Konkan_(disambiguation)). Not to be confused with [Concan, Texas](/source/Concan,_Texas) or [Khon Kaen](/source/Khon_Kaen) or [Kanara](/source/Kanara). The **Konkan** is a stretch of land by the [western coast](/source/West_Coast_of_India) of India, bound by the river [Daman Ganga](/source/Daman_Ganga) at [Damaon](/source/Daman,_India) in the north, to [Anjediva Island](/source/Anjediva_Island) next to [Karwar](/source/Karwar) town in the south; with the [Arabian Sea](/source/Arabian_Sea) to the west and the [Deccan Plateau](/source/Deccan_Plateau) to the east.[1][verification needed] The [hinterland](/source/Hinterland) east of the coast has numerous river valleys, riverine islands and the hilly slopes known as the [Western Ghats](/source/Western_Ghats); that lead up into the [tablelands](/source/Table_(landform)) of the Deccan. The Konkan region has been recognised by name, since at least the time of [Strabo](/source/Strabo), in the third century [CE](/source/Common_Era).[1] It had a thriving mercantile port with [Arab](/source/Arabs) tradesmen from the 10th century onwards.[2] The best-known islands of Konkan are [Ilhas de Goa](/source/Ilhas_de_Goa), the site of the [Goa state](/source/Goa_state)'s capital at [Panjim](/source/Panjim); also, the [Seven Islands of Bombay](/source/Seven_Islands_of_Bombay), on which lies [Mumbai](/source/Mumbai), the capital of [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra) & the headquarters of [Konkan Division](/source/Konkan_Division).[citation needed] ## Definition Historically, the limits of Konkan have been flexible, and it has been known by additional names like "[Aparanta](/source/Aparanta)" and "Gomanchal", the latter being defined as the coastal area between the [Daman Ganga River](/source/Daman_Ganga_River) in the north and the [Gangavalli River](/source/Gangavalli_River) in the south.[3] The ancient *[Sapta Konkan](/source/Coastal_South_West_India)* was a larger geographical area that extended from [Gujarat](/source/Gujarat) to [Kerala](/source/Kerala) and included the whole region of coastal [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra) and [coastal Karnataka Tulunad](/source/Tulunad).[1] However, this segment overlaps the Konkan, [Tulunad coast](/source/Tulunad) and [Malabar coast](/source/Malabar_coast) continuum; and usually corresponds to the southernmost and northernmost stretches of these locales respectively.[citation needed] ## Etymology According to the *[Sahyadrikhanda](/source/Sahyadrikhanda)* of the *[Skanda Purana](/source/Skanda_Purana)*, [Parashurama](/source/Parashurama) threw his axe into the sea and commanded the Sea God to recede up to the point where his axe landed. The new piece of land thus recovered came to be known as *Saptah-Konkana*, meaning "piece of earth", "corner of the earth", or "piece of the corner", derived from [Sanskrit](/source/Sanskrit) words: *koṇa* (कोण, corner) + *kaṇa* (कण, piece).[4][5] [Xuanzang](/source/Xuanzang), the noted [Chinese](/source/China) [Buddhist](/source/Buddhist) monk, mentioned this region in his book as *Konkana Desha*; [Varahamihira](/source/Varahamihira)'s [Brihat-Samhita](/source/Brihat-Samhita) described Konkan as a region of India; and 15th-century author Ratnakosh mentioned the word Konkandesha.[1] ## Geography The Konkan extends throughout the western coasts of [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra), and [Goa](/source/Goa).[1] It is bounded by the [Western Ghats](/source/Western_Ghats) mountain range (also known as Sahyadri) in the east, the [Arabian Sea](/source/Arabian_Sea) in the west, the [Daman Ganga River](/source/Daman_Ganga_River) in the north, and the [Aghanashini River](/source/Aghanashini_River) in the south. The Gangavalli flows in the district of [Uttara Kannada](/source/Uttara_Kannada) in present-day [Karnataka](/source/Karnataka). Its northern bank constitutes the southernmost portion of Konkan. The towns of [Karwar](/source/Karwar), [Ankola](/source/Ankola), [Kumta](/source/Kumta), [Honnavar](/source/Honnavar), and [Bhatkal](/source/Bhatkal) fall within the Konkan coast. The largest city on the Konkan coast is [Mumbai](/source/Mumbai), the state capital of [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra). Districts on the Konkan coast are, from north to south:[6] - [Daman](/source/Daman_district,_India) - [Palghar](/source/Palghar_district) - [Thane](/source/Thane_district) - [Mumbai Suburban](/source/Mumbai_Suburban_district) - [Mumbai City](/source/Mumbai_City_district) - [Raigad](/source/Raigad_district) - [Ratnagiri](/source/Ratnagiri_district) - [Sindhudurg](/source/Sindhudurg_district) - [Uttara Kannada](/source/Uttara_Kannada) (Karwar to Bhatkal) ## Ethnology Main article: [Konkani people](/source/Konkani_people) The main ethnolinguistic group of the Konkan region is the [Konkani people](/source/Konkani_people). Specific caste and communities found in the region are the [Agri](/source/Agri_(caste)), [Koli](/source/Koli_people), [Bhandari](/source/Bhandari_(caste)), [Kunbi](/source/Kunbi), [Maratha](/source/Maratha_(caste)), [Gabit](/source/Gabit), [Mangela](/source/Mangela_Kolis), Karadi, Phudagi, Vaiti, [Kharvi](/source/Kharvi), [Teli](/source/Teli), [Kumhar](/source/Kumhar), [Nhavi](/source/Nai_(caste)), [Dhobi](/source/Dhobi), [Kasar](/source/Twashta_Kasar), [Sutradhar](/source/Sutradhar_(caste)), [Lohar](/source/Lohar_(caste)), [Chambhar](/source/Chamar), [Mahar](/source/Mahar), [Dhangar](/source/Dhangar), [Gaud Saraswat Brahmin](/source/Gaud_Saraswat_Brahmin) (also includes Rajapur Saraswats and Chitrapur Saraswats), [Kudaldeshkar](/source/Kudaldeshkar_Gaud_Brahmin), [Pathare Prabhu](/source/Pathare_Prabhu), [Gomantak Maratha](/source/Gomantak_Maratha_Samaj), [Chitpavan Brahmins](/source/Chitpavan_Brahmins), [Karhade Brahmins](/source/Karhade_Brahmin), [Daivadnya](/source/Daivadnya), [Kayastha Prabhu](/source/Chandraseniya_Kayastha_Prabhu), [Panchkalshi](/source/Panchkalshi), [Vani](/source/Vani), [Komarpant](/source/Komarpant), [Vadval](/source/Chaukalshi) [Gavli](/source/Gavli), Ghorpi, Nath Jogi, [Gurav](/source/Gurav), Pagi, Kalan, Ghadi, Padti, [Vanjari](/source/Vanjari_caste), [Namdev Shimpi](/source/Shimpi) and others. [Billava](/source/Billava), [Bunt](/source/Bunt_(community)), [Nador (caste)](/source/Nador_(caste)), [Mogaveera](/source/Mogaveera) and [Lingayats](/source/Lingayats) communities found in the parts of Karnataka which are near to Konkan. Tribal communities include the [Katkari](/source/Katkari), Thakar, Konkana, [Warli](/source/Warli_people) and Mahadev Koli, mainly found in the northern and central parts of Konkan. The [Dubla](/source/Halpati) and [Dhodia](/source/Dhodia_people) tribes live in southern [Gujarat](/source/Gujarat), [Dadra and Nagar Haveli](/source/Dadra_and_Nagar_Haveli_and_Daman_and_Diu) and [Palghar district](/source/Palghar_district) of [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra). Palghar district has the largest percentage of tribal population in Konkan. A small nomadic tribe called the Vanarmare is found in southern parts of Konkan, which was originally associated with the hunting of monkeys. The [Gauda](/source/Gauda_and_Kunbi) and Velip tribes are found in Goa. The Jewish community called [Bene Israel](/source/Bene_Israel) is mainly found in [Raigad district](/source/Raigad_district). The Christians included [Bombay East Indians](/source/Bombay_East_Indians) in North Konkan and [Mumbai](/source/Mumbai), [Goan Catholics](/source/Goan_Catholics) in [Goa](/source/Goa), [Karwari Catholics](/source/Karwari_Catholics) in [Uttara Kannada](/source/Uttara_Kannada) as well as [Mangalorean Catholics](/source/Mangalorean_Catholics) in [Udupi](/source/Udupi) and [Dakshina Kannada](/source/Dakshina_Kannada). Major Muslim communities like [Konkani Muslims](/source/Konkani_Muslims) and [Nawayaths](/source/Nawayath) are scattered throughout the whole region. They are reportedly descendants of people who came from [Hadhramaut](/source/Hadhramaut) (in [Yemen](/source/Yemen) or [South Arabia](/source/South_Arabia)),[7] and other parts of [Arabia](/source/Arabian_Peninsula) and the [Middle East](/source/Middle_East). The [Siddi](/source/Siddi) have their roots in [Africa](/source/Africa).[2] ## See also - [People of the Konkan Division](/source/People_of_the_Konkan_Division) - [Konkan Railway](/source/Konkan_Railway) - [Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project](/source/Jaitapur_Nuclear_Power_Project) - [Malabar Coast](/source/Malabar_Coast) - [Coromandel Coast](/source/Coromandel_Coast) - [Tulunad coast](/source/Tulunad) ## References 1. Saradesāya, Manohararāya (2000). ["The Land, the People and the Language"](https://books.google.com/books?id=1YILeUD_oZUC&pg=PA1). *A History of Konkani Literature: From 1500 to 1992*. India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1–14. ISBN 978-8-1720-1664-7. 1. Wink, André (1991). [*Al-hind: The Making of the Indo-islamic World*](https://books.google.com/books?id=bCVyhH5VDjAC). [Brill](/source/Brill_Publishers). p. 68. ISBN 978-90-04-09249-5. 1. De Souza, Teotonio R. (ed.) (1990). [*Goa Through the Ages: An economic history - Volume 2*](https://books.google.com/books?id=dwYDPnEjTb4C&dq=daman+ganga+gangavalli&pg=PA7). India: Concept Publishing Company. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9788170222590. 1. Shastri Gaytonde, Gajanan (ed.). *Shree Scanda Puran (Sayadri Khandha)* (in mr). Mumbai: Shree Katyani Publication. 1. Satoskar, B. D. *Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti* (in mr). Part 1. Shubhada Publication. p. 206. 1. ["Konkan Division District List (कोंकण विभाग जिल्हा यादी)"](http://www.swapp.co.in/site/indianstatedistrictlist.php?stateid=j1YKCtUvHkShwKBqk6iHow==&divisionid=bRbHGKvCu7LMDJJGUsYuQA==). *swapp.co.in*. Retrieved 26 January 2022. 1. Khalidi, Omar (1996), ["The Arabs of Hadramawt in Hyderabad"](https://books.google.com/books?id=O_WNqSH4ByQC&pg=PA52), *Mediaeval Deccan History*, Kulkarni; Naeem; De Souza (eds.), [Bombay](/source/Mumbai): Popular Prakashan, ISBN 978-8-1715-4579-7 ## External links - [Konkan Tourism](http://www.konkan.me) – a complete guide on tourism - [Konkan Hotels](https://www.hotelinkonkan.com) - [Tourist Place to visit Konkan Darshan](https://trendifyworld.com/kokan-darshan-the-best-tourist-places-in-maharashtra/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210829150556/https://trendifyworld.com/kokan-darshan-the-best-tourist-places-in-maharashtra/) 29 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Konkan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konkan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.