# Revdanda > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Revdanda > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Revdanda.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revdanda > Source revision: 1353991592 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Village in Maharashtra This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Revdanda" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Village in Maharashtra, Alibag India Revdanda Village Revdanda Location in Maharashtra, India Show map of Maharashtra Revdanda Revdanda (India) Show map of India Coordinates: 18°33′N 72°56′E / 18.550°N 72.933°E / 18.550; 72.933 Country Alibag India State Maharashtra District Raigad Established 1521 Founded by Dom Lourenço de Almeida Government • Body Gram panchayat Demonym Revdankar(kotkar) Languages • Native Konkani and Kristi • Official Marathi Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST) Postal code 402203 Nearest city Alibag, Murud, Roha **Revdanda** is a village near [Alibaug](/source/Alibaug), [Raigad](/source/Raigad_district) District, [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra). It is the site of the medieval 'Chaul harbor'. ## Directions India. It is connected through a coastal highway (Sagari Mahamarg) 17 km (11 mi) away from Alibag, 125 km (78 mi) away from [Mumbai](/source/Mumbai), 37 km away from Roha and 33 km away from Murud. Until a few years ago the coastal road that goes south from Alibag used to terminate at Revdanda where it encountered the Kundalika creek. A bridge now spans the creek and the whole stretch southward of Revdanda up to Murud-Janjira has now become accessible. Part of the town is situated within the premises of [Revdanda Fort](/source/Revdanda_Fort), an old Portuguese fort. ## History The history of Revdanda and the surrounding villages are quite similar to [Chaul](/source/Chaul), due to their close proximity to the town. ### Muslim Rule In 1490 the area fell under the Ahmadnagar Sultanate. ### Portuguese Era In 1505, Portuguese commander Dom Lourenço de Almeida defeated the Muslims and conquered the area around Chaul. In 1508, [Venetian](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Venetian) mercenaries along with the [Mamluk](/source/Mamluk_Sultanate) navy had allied with [Sultanate of Gujarat](/source/Gujarat_Sultanate) and defeated the Portuguese in the [Battle of Chaul](/source/Battle_of_Chaul). The first Portuguese settlement at Chaul took place in 1521 with the construction of the [first fort](/source/Korlai_fort) on the south bank of the Kundalika River. In October 1531, the Portuguese erected a [new square stone fortress](/source/Revdanda_fort), named Santa Maria do Castello, which contained a church and dwellings for 120 men. A village developed around the fortress, which is now called Revdanda. A 1558 treaty precluded fortifying the town.[1] ### Maratha Era The Marathas led constant raids against their neighbors, for more land and wealth. Chaul and Revdanda fell to the Marathas during the [Battle of Bassein](/source/Battle_of_Bassein). After the successful campaign by the Marathas, the tower bells from the local churches had been taken as victory symbols and came to be installed in temples.[2] They also gave out parcels of land to their subjects as well as plundered the churches and houses of the native people. ### British Era Revdanda became a British territory after they successfully defeated the Marathas in 1818, and took control of the [confederacy](/source/Maratha_Empire). ## Notability ### Portuguese Fortresses The [Fort of Santa Maria do Castello](/source/Revdanda_fort) is one of two 16th-century fortresses built by the Portuguese, in the area around [Tschoul](/source/Chaul) - The other being [Korlai Fort](/source/Korlai_Fort). ### Portuguese Church It is where [St. Francis Xavier](/source/St._Francis_Xavier) delivered one of his early sermons in India. The Church of St. Barbara still exists, but in a run down condition. The church is within the walled fort, on the south side and not far from the main road. ### Russian presence Revdanda came into limelight when Russian historians found out that the first Russian traveller to India landed in Revdanda. A monument was raised in his memory on 23 November 2000. A foundation stone for the monument in memory of Afanasy Nikitin, the first Russian traveller to India was laid at Revdanda. A high level delegation from Russia, accompanied by Mr. V.T. Trubnikov, the first deputy of the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. A.M. Kadakin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to India, all senior diplomats from the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai, attended the function. [\[1\]](https://web.archive.org/web/20070712154226/http://www.russian-centre-mumbai.org/history.htm). ### Indian Jewry Revdanda is one of the most important places of Konkan, Maharashtra for the Indian Jewish community. Almost 700 years ago after the destruction of the Holy Temple of Israel in Biblical era, a group of Jews who already knew about India and had been in contact with India. This group of people arrived in [Nagão](/source/Nagaon_Beach) which is 8 km north of Revdanda. They adopted Indian culture, names, lifestyle and founded an Indian Jewish community. ### Flora The area is known for the coconut and beetlenut plantations in the region.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The plantations of coconut trees is called "naralachi baag" or "wadi" in Marathi language. The place is also known for a species of aromatic flower called "Bakuli". It's a small flower with a wonderful fragrance. Apart from the plantations of coconut and beetlenut the livelihood of people in this region comes from the production of rice. The best time to visit Revdanda is December and during the Monsoon season.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ### Temple Datta Mandir located in the [Chaul](/source/Chaul) part of Revdanda. It is a temple dedicated to Datta, who is mainly worshipped by [Marathi immigrants](/source/Marathi_people) to the [Konkan](/source/Konkan). The temple is situated at the top of the peak with almost 1500 steep stairs to be climbed to reach the peak. The entire region around the Revdanda can be viewed from the temple. The temple is said to have been built during [Shivaji](/source/Shivaji)'s reign to keep an eye out for hostile forces. The red-domed temple of Datta Mandir situated at the hill top is said to have been constructed by a Swami Bramhendra. The temple has a three-headed statue of ShriDatta and this idol represents the trinity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Agarkot Fort"](https://m.indiamart.com/proddetail/agarkot-fort-4004958033.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Journey of church bells to temples"](https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/content/584659/journey-church-bells-temples.html). 3 December 2016. v t e Raigad district Talukas Alibag Karjat Khalapur Mahad Mangaon Mhasala Murud Panvel Pen Poladpur Roha Shrivardhan Sudhagad-Pali Tala Uran Electoral constituencies Lok Sabha Raigad Maval Vidhan Sabha Panvel Karjat Uran Pen Alibag Shrivardhan Mahad Cities and towns Agar Panchaitan Alibag (district headquarters) Ambivali Tarf Wankhal Bhivpuri Birwadi Chaul Dadar Dhatau Goregaon Harihareshwar Kalundre Kamothe Karanja Karjat Kegaon Khalapur Kharghar Kherdi Khopoli Mahad Mangaon Matheran Mhasla Mohpada Mora Murud Nagothana Neral Pali Panvel Pen Poladpur Roha Roha Ashtami Shelu Shrivardhan Tala Taloje Panchnand Uran Utekhol Villages Agardanda Bamandongri Beed Khurd Bharadkhol Bhatan Bodni Chikhale Chondhi Dasgaon Devale Dhakti Jui Diwiparangi Indapur Jadhvawadi Kashele Kashid Khandas Khar Mazgaon Kihim Kolad Laxmikhar Lonere Mandwa Palaspe Pali Poladpur-Naneghol Poshir Rajpuri Rasayani Revdanda Rohinjan Salpe-Kharmare Saral Sarasgad Sarde Shirdhon Siddheshwar Vadhav Vasheni Vashi Vichumbe Wahal --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Revdanda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revdanda) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revdanda?action=history)). 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