This is a Photo Blog on Konkan of Maharashtra State. Blog contains beautiful photos of splendid Konkan.
(Author's Note : Please CLICK above PLAY button to listen to just NOTES of RAGA MALKAUNS played by me on my BASE FLUTE (Long Flute with Scale of White-4) for the first time in Sulekha. Now while listening to these Malkauns notes you can easily identify the Bandishi of Famous Hindi Film Bhajan "Man Tadapat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj". I also have used Electronic Tanpura in the background to be in SYNC with Flute. I am sure it will be a soothing background while you look at the Beautiful Photos of Konkan, Maharashtra's splendid sightseeing tourist spot. I have attached herewith the sound of BASE FLUTE because it goes very well with nature and now you will be looking at the photos of nature so I thoght it would be appropriate to attach this soothing sound of Flute. Please give me your feedback through your comment. Let me know which photos you liked the most)
Photo No. 1,2 ,3 were taken from
www.esakal.com and all other photos were e-mailed to me by friend in Mumbai. She does not know the source from where she got below photos (Number 4 onwards). So I want to give credit to that source for below photos. Whenever I will come to know the source of these photos, I will edit this blog to indicate that source for giving credit. I liked these photos so much that I felt like sharing them with Sulekha readers.
Konkan is the coastal part of Maharashtra State and its scenic beauty rivals with that of Goa which is adjacent to Konkan. Because of neglect by Maharashtra State Government for decades, this great beautiful tourist spot was totally ignored by tourists due to lack of facilities, modern amenities and good hotels. This was the reason why Konkan remained the poorest part of Maharashtra State. Now all that has changed. In last 10 years, after realizing the importance of tourism in Konkan, Maharashtra Government finally realized their neglect and started developing Konkan from tourism point of view. And this right step by Government finally had great results to improve the economy of Konkan area as tourists have now started flocking to Konkan area to spend their valuable vacation time.
There is lots of natural beauty in Konkan. Konkan has about 700 kilometers of beach and with heavy rainfall of about 300 inches during monsoon of 3 months, it has most beautiful greenery all over the area. Now Konkan is a tourist attraction because of beautiful clean beaches, Coconut and Beetelnut trees, rivers, mountain ranges of Sahyadri, ancient forts (especially Sindhudurg Fort) and good roads. It has very spectacular waterfalls. Almost 40% of Konkan is forest. There are lots of beautiful lakes.
Konkan is full of natural beauty.
Tarkarli and Ganpatipule are two of great tourist attractions. At Ganapatipule, there is a very ancient Ganesha Temple which is a very famous Temple and considered very holy. Malwan and Devbag are another 2 areas which tourist must visit. There are luxurious resorts where one can stay comfortably with all modern facilities available.
Village tourism is slowly increasing in Konkan. The real culture of Konkan can be enjoyed only in its villages. In the villages you can see the art of pot makers, carpenters, gold smiths, tailors, cobblers, barbers. And by observing these arts, you will get real feel of Konkan. Also in the villages, you can enjoy delicious Konkani food especially various fish preparations which are unique to Konkan. In Konkan, coconut is used in almost every dish, since coconut is abundant in Konkan. There is a thriving flower industry because variety of flowers are grown all across Konkan. Barter system still exists in Konkan even in 21st century. Villagers of Konkan look very happy and contented despite their limited means.
Richness of Indian architecture can be seen in the villages while visiting ancient Temples. Even construction of houses is very unique in Konkan which is designed considering the heavy rainfall. Fishing is a big industry on which Konkan thrives as it has a long coastal area.
Many tourists come to Konkan to fulfill their desire for their adventure tourism. Like doing mountain trekking, motor biking in the forests, river crossing, snorkeling etc. Many come here for visiting religious places, some visit to see the heritage of Konkan area. Some visit for riding in backwaters.
Konkan railway is one of the wonders of modern civil engineering and one has to travel by Konkan Railway to experience its beauty while travelling through innumerable tunnels and scenice mountains. Monsoon (June thru August) is the best time to travel by Konkan Railway although it is bit dangerous beacuse of possible landslides happening during heavy rains.
Konkan is very famous for growing best mangoes in India. Especially, Alphanso (or Happus) Mango is grown very extensively throughout Konkan which brings lots of foreign exchange as large amounts of Mangoes are exported. In India, Mango is considered to be king of all fruits and Alphanso or Happus Mango from Konkan is the king of all different types of mangoes. And there is no doubt about it. I personally love Happus or Alphanso Mangoes. What a delicious taste!
Now who says that one has to visit Europe or USA to see natural beauty. We have Konkan right here in India to enjoy the nature. No need to go out of India to enjoy nature.
Language of Konkan is Konkani which is very similar to Marathi except that it is spoken in different and typical Konkani accents. Person who can understand Marathi can understand Konkani and vice versa. Konkani of Konkan is almost 80% similar to Marathi. I am myself a Konkani but my Konkani is different than Konkani of Konkan area since my Konkani comes form Udupi (Karnataka State) where I was born but I was raised in Mumbai from age 4 onwards. My Konkani is 40 % similar to Marathi. Of course, now for last 37 years, I have been living in USA.
I will let you enjoy the photos of Konkan now. Thanks for visit to my blog on Beautiful Konkan.
Dear Dr. Bhagwath,
Thanks a Ton for your wonderful comment. Also thanks for pointing out photo numbers which you liked. I am anxiously looking forward to your Photo Blog of scenic Karnataka. Please let me know after you blog it.
Regards,
Dr. Kamath
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Dear Sir,
The photos are awesome. I especially liked photo no.s 4, 7, 17 and 21. I too have taken a lot of snaps during our vacation and incidentally I too belong to the coast of Konkan, albeit in Karnataka. I shall be posting a photo blog on my trip very soon.
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Dear my utterances,
Thanks a Lot for your comment! It was nice of you to point out photo numbers that you liked the most. I am glad that you enjoyed this Konkan Photo Blog.
CHEERS!
Dr. Kamath
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Dear Sivaram Jee,
Thanks a lot for your valuable comment. I am glad that you liked the photos and background Flute notes based on Raga Malkauns, Thanks for pointing out photo numbers which you liked the most. Please keep commenting my blogs. Your comment means a lot to me.
In New York since last year (with USA FDA Approval), Happus (or Alphonso) mangoes are now allowed to be imported from India and are sold at $36 per dozen which is very expensive but if you enjoy the taste of Alphonso Mangoes then you should go ahead and buy them. As you know Mexican Mangoes are sold a anout $6 per dozen which is one sixth price of Alphonso mangoes.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kamath
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Nice pictures. I especially liked pix no 5, 7, 11, 12, 17 18 and 21. And the information is useful to anyone who would like to visit Konkan region. Thanks and Regards.
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Kamath-ji
First of all I need to catch up with your other Blogs too . I am slow in writing as well as commenting as I wait for my earlier morning time to see your Blogs .
What a beautiful notes you are playing on flute as I am reading through your blog.It matches with the apt background of the Konkan a perfect rural beauty not yet fully commercialized .Man Tadapat from Baijy Bawra is the classic of Naushad and Rafi combination and this song is immortal .Coincidentally this is the most popular raag in south too (called in different name Indolam am I right Kamath Sir) .I used to wonder why the same raag is called by 2 different names between Carnatic and Hindustani. There are plenty of classic film and devotional songs in this raag .The ultimate reference song for this raag is ofcourse Man Tadapat.....what you have selected.
We have heard of Konkon Railway but never been there .It was a pleasure to watch these wonderful photos.All are good but my favourites are Photo4 (for the seashore) Photo 7 and 17 (for nature) and lastly Photo 14 for mangoes. Where do you get good mangoes in US ? We have never found the right one so far close to Indian taste. Please suggest.
In short excellent Trevellogue .One more place in the wish list to visit in India.
Thanks
Sivaram
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Dear Mr. Nathan Saab,
Better late than never. Once again enjoyed reading your delicious comment. I am glad you liked all photos, especially Photo 18 which is my most favorite photo too. Once again choices of both of us are unique. Next time, I will definitely provide you with "Happus" mangoes in that Konkan Dish but there will be no Masala Dosa or Idli in that dish. Let me know if this is okay with you.
Regards,
Dr. Kamath
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Dear Dr. Kamath,
I am really sorry for the late response. For a change, I got pre-occupied with routine activities at home and work!
Kya kahoon is blog-ke baare-mein! Beautiful! My eyes got refreshed looking at the photoes! Your flute was so soothing and matching with the coolness of the picturesque natural beauty! Is Raag Malkauns the 'early morning raaga' or is it Bhoopal that is normally played by musicians in the morning? 'Neelambari' is the night raaga, right? (little bits I had learnt from my classical-music-loving parents!)
All the snaps were splendid. But if you want me to pick the best, it will be no.18 because it had everything of Nature in it. Also I relished the last foto, which was delicious! Aur thode 'happus' ke pieces aap daal dete meri thali-mein!
Cheers,
S.V.Nathan.
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Dear Sablu,
Once again thanks a Billion for those wonderful words you wrote in your comment. I am very very happy to note that you liked the photos as well my Malkauns rendition on my Flute. You always promptly respond to my Blog. I highly appreciate that. Also you shower lots of praise. You are really a kind person.
Actually, these photos were sent by one of my friends and I did not visit Konkan and this is why you did not see any photos of me or my wife.
Thanks once again.
Warm Regards and Cheers!
Dr. Kamath
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Kalyanee,
Thanks a Lot for your wonderful comment. I am very happy to note that you liked the Pics of Konkan.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Kamath
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