Kihim

Last updated

Kihim
Village
India Maharashtra location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kihim
Coordinates: 18°43′43″N72°52′03″E / 18.7286°N 72.8676°E / 18.7286; 72.8676
CountryIndia
State Maharashtra
District Raigad
Taluka Alibag
Population
 (2011)
  Total2,582
Languages
  Official Marathi
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN CODE
402 201
Telephone code02141

Kihim is a small village located to the north of Alibag. Commonly known to people in Mumbai as a weekend getaway, it is accessible via Road and Water. It forms part of the string of beach hamlets along the coast of Alibag taluka collectively called as Hamptons of Mumbai [1] mainly due to the elite property owners, including businessmen, sports persons and Bollywood personalities, in the area.

Contents

History

Kihim evolved as a village in the 17th century during the era of Sarkhel Kanhoji Aangre, the Koli [2] naval chief of King Shivaji's Kingdom. It formed part of the then known as "Ashtagare" (or Eight Villages).

Climate and Geography

Kihim has a typical sub-tropical climate found across the western coast of India with heavy rainfall during Monsoon. Winters are moderate and Summers are hot and humid. The village is surrounded by Arabian sea on the west, a creek on the north, Navgaon village on the south and Chondhi settlement towards the east.

Demographics

Population of Kihim stood at 2,582 [3] according to the 2011 Census, with Male population at 1,285 (49.76%) and Female at 1,297 (50.23%). Literacy is 78% (Male: 81.17%, Female: 74.48%).

Almost everyone in this village follow Hinduism and speak Marathi as their mother tongue. The language has a limited influence of Agri and Koli dialects and hence may not be fully understandable at few times to visitors who are either used to clearer Marathi or are non-Marathi speakers.

Economy

Kihim mostly thrives on Tourism [4] [5] throughout the year with November to May being peak months. Farming is another major occupation found here. Rice is the main produce of the area like majority of the Konkan region. Coconut and Betel nut is also produced on a large scale.

Chondhi is the nearest marketplace which is dotted with a few restaurants, departmental stores and banks.

Tourism

Major attraction in Kihim is its sandy beach. Though Kihim was once known as a "Bird Watchers' Paradise", very few exotic species can be still found in the areas having dense cover of trees. Variety of butterflies are also found here. Most common bird sightings include, Red-vented Bulbul, Oriental Magpie Robin, Orange-headed Thrush, Baya Weaver, Green bee-eaters, Common Myna and Asian Koel. Less common sightings include Greater Coucal, Black-rumped Flameback Woodpecker, Plum and Grey Headed Parakeets and Black-hooded Oriole. If you are near a water source, you might see a White-throated Kingfisher or an Egret.

On a clear day Colaba area of Mumbai is visible from Kihim Beach on the north western side. Mumbai skyline from Kihim Beach.JPG
On a clear day Colaba area of Mumbai is visible from Kihim Beach on the north western side.
Tourists enjoying in the waves on a sunny day on Kihim Beach People enjoying on Kihim Beach.JPG
Tourists enjoying in the waves on a sunny day on Kihim Beach

Tourist facilities here mainly consist of "Bed and Breakfast Schemes" run by the locals under the regulations of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, which acts as a governing body for Tourism throughout the State of Maharashtra. One can easily find average quality lodging and boarding facilities throughout the village, except for the month of December when advance bookings may be required. For restaurants and marketplaces, one has to go to a nearby locality known as Chondhi.

Food is substantially dominated by rice and fish preparations.

Other nearby attractions for visitors include the Kihim Pond, Kankeshwar Temple near Mapgaon and Karmarkar Museum in Sasawane. Kihim is also a home to various temples which are dotted throughout the village. These include a rare Kalbhairav temple, recently rebuilt Gaodevi (Chamunda) temple and the Bhileshwar temple overlooking the Kihim pond.

The beach is spread across the western fringe of the village. There are benches lined up for peace loving visitors. The more adventurous can enjoy water sports on the main beach.

The famous "Birdman of India" Dr. Salim Ali spent a short period of his life in Kihim; a museum is being set up in the village after him. [6]

Alibag town is located approximately 11 km south of Kihim.

Administration

Kihim acts as a Group Gram Panchayat for few small villages like Kamath, Chondhi and Bamansure. The village is locally divided into various neighborhoods; namely, Khore, Angshe Ali, Brahmin Ali, Bazar Peth, Bhandar Ali, Mhatre Ali, Bhombad, Sri Nagar and Sai Nagar (also known as Navedar Kihim). The village forms part of the extended MMRDA region and falls under Green Zone-II. [7]

Education

"Sadashiv Mahadev Wadke Vidyalaya" is a major educational institution in the area which provides facilities right from Kindergarten to Graduation. Not only from Kihim, but children from surrounding villages and towns also attend here. Kihim also has a Zilla Parishad run Primary school.

Transport

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References

  1. "Why Rashesh Shah loves Alibaug, the Mumbai version of Hamptons". The Economic Times. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  2. LT GEN K. J., SINGH. "As NDA cadet, I was witness to Vice Admiral Awati's kindness". ThePrint.In. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  3. "Census". Census of India. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. "Maharashtra Tourism". Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  5. "Kihim". Holiday IQ.
  6. Parida, Umesh (15 November 2021). "Alibaug to house museum to honour 'Birdman of India'". No. Navi Mumbai. Times of India. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  7. "Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority - Regional Plan". mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  8. "Boat timings". Raigad.nic.in. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  9. "'Ropax' can go from Mumbai to Mandwa in one hour". The Hindu. PTI. 16 March 2020. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 May 2021.