Sawantwadi was established by Sawant Bhonsale dynasty
almost 300 years ago. And even today we see the
reminiscent spots the Lester gate (1895), the Great
Royal Palace (1790s), Mathi , Atmeshwar Tali (1891),
Vithal Mandir, Raghunath market and 200 years old
Kolgaon darwaja.
Sawanwadi is also known for its natural beauty. The Moti
Talav, Narendra hill in its background, Kesari River,
which provides water supply to the town of Sawantwadi,
Nageshwar falls, Ragheshwar point, the scenic village of
Amboli etc., add to the splendor of this region. Amboli
has 10 – 12 species of fauna including tiger, giant
squirrel, leopard, bison, wild boar, hedgehogs, moonjack
and langoors. With 59 varieties of medicinal plants and
more than 11 varieties of trees with medicinal value in
and around Amboli including Adulsa, Arjun, Bharangi,
Bhumyamalaki, Punarnava, Shallaki, Jyotishmathi and
Gokshur, Sawantadi can boast of having the second
largest biodiversity in India.
The
handicrafts articles made in Sawantwadi are also a huge
attraction: Wooden handicraft, pottery, gold and silver
embroidery, jewellery, lacquer ware and ganjifa. Some of
these cards, presented by the Indian monarchs to the
British kings, can be viewed in the Victoria & Albert
museum, London as well as the Playing Cards Museum in
Stuttgart, Germany.
The
tourists can admire the paintings that depict the
lifestyle as well as spiritual beliefs of the people in
the region, dating back to almost the 7th century. The
tourists can also see the manufacturing and the making
of certain articles at Shilpa Gram.
The
Municipal council in collaboration with the government
of Maharashtra and the Forest Department has established
an Environmental Awareness Center on Narendra Hill,
which provides a panoramic view. The center oraganises
events like trekking, bird watching, nature trails etc
for the nature lovers. Information is provided on the
flora and fauna in Sawantwadi. It also consists of a
herbarium for medicinal plants, a Lepidoptera or
butterfly zoo as well as a mini planetarium for
stargazing. Mud houses, cave houses, tree houses, etc
have been built so that people can a stay in the nature.
The Center will also serve as a
demonstration center for eco friendly construction
technologies as well as for renewable energy, watershed
management, water and waste recycling.
An
Ayurvedic Health Resort is to be built using eco
friendly techniques of construction such as laterite
stones and mud walls. Ayurveda has been used since long
in Sawantwadi to cure mental and physical problems
people through procedures like panchakarma etc.
The
Municipal Council has carried out a massive cleanliness
program in the town using eco friendly methods like
treating wastewater with water hyacinth, treating
biodegradable waste with vermiculture, segregating
plastic, glass and paper at source, generating biogas
from public toilets and reuse of wastewater for
maintenance of sports complex turf. Health amenities
like swimming pool, gymnasium and health clubs, indoor
and outdoor auditoriums are also under construction. The
Municipal Council of Sawantwadi has also undertaken a
massive tree plantation program along roadsides and
gardens. Local varieties of trees that are on the verge
of extinction are being specially planted and
propagated. These include Moha, Pangara, Palas and
Bahawa.
