This document provides information about the town of Dahanu in Maharashtra, India. It begins with a brief history noting that Dahanu was once under Portuguese rule in the 16th century and was an important port town in the 18th century. It then provides details about the location of Dahanu and the activities of the local INT

1. Chapter Dahanu
Brief Dahanu Taluka Tourist Guide
A quiet seaside town with a sprawling, uncluttered beach and lined with fruit orchards, flower gardens and famous for its
Chikoo fruit, this India’s Chikoo county and once-barren land thrived under Irani settlers, an earthy people.
Location :# 19o58’ N. Latitude & 72o44’ E. Longitude in the Thane district of Maharashtra.
# It is located approx. 120 km North of Mumbai (Bombay).
# The taluka is divided into two regions: East, i.e. the junglepatti, which is the forest-clad hilly tribal interior
and the West, i.e. the bunderpatti, which forms the wide belt of lowlands & flats, extending from the sea-
coast to the Western Railway lines.
History : # Dahanu’s historical significance can be traced back to 16th century AD. The Portuguese had divided their
Thane territories into two divisions; Daman & Vasai, Dahanu being included in the Daman Division.
# Dahanu was shown as a port in the map in Milburn's Oriental Commerce (1800-1812).
# Dahanu finds place in the trade map of the east during the begining of the 18th century.
# Dahanu has also found itself being mentioned in the historical records during the 1634 AD era as celebrated
for its images of Nossa Senhorades Augustus.
# “Dahanuka” also occurs in one of the Nashik cave inscriptions as the name of a town and a river on which
Vishwadutta, the son-in-law of Nahapan (100 AD) made a ferry.
# Around 1817 AD, Dahanu was passed into the hands of the British under the ‘Treaty of Bassein’ with the
Peshwas of Pune.

2. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
Where are we located
N

3. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu

4. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
About Us
The Dahanu Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage is essentially
involved in protecting Dahanu's culture and heritage. Initiated by a group of ardent
environmentalists in the early 1990's, INTACH Chapter Dahanu now works closely with school
children, instilling in them a sense of pride for their history, culture and environment.
INTACH, Chapter Dahanu organizes treks, camps and environmental education workshops
regularly. Members of INTACH have played an important and supportive role in the struggle
against the coal-based thermal power station, and was equally successful in thrashing the
ONGC’s attempt to set-up a refinery here, which not only violated the Hon. Supreme Court
Orders and the Dahanu Notification by the MoEF but also threatened the livelihood of
thousands of farmers and the existence of the fruit orchards.

5. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
Fulfilling our objectives
The Dahanu Chapter of INTACH formed a new group – Discover Dahanu. The name itself is
self-explanatory. The idea behind this concept was to stimulate the youth into participating
and at the same time, have them discover the intangible and natural heritage of Dahanu. The
idea is to enroll maximum participants without involving the process of memberships &
registrations… they can come and help us on project-by-project basis rather than being looked
upon as a part of any organisation.
With its formation, started the Discover Dahanu Festival. The Discover Dahanu Festival 2012
was the second edition. The group has moved ahead and has decided to have a dedicated
website to bring about the awareness about the town’s heritage.
The group has started its sincere and earnest efforts to make Discover Dahanu 2013 a
grand, memorable event with the help of MTDC, and a proposal to that effect has been
submitted.
Needless to say, You All Are Welcome to Dahanu!

6. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
MANGROVE CONSERVATION
Over 60 enthusiastic students, ex-students, teachers and some
concerned citizens gathered on the beach, bright and early, on
April 30, 2012 to be part of 350.org’s Connect the Dots – Climate
Impacts Day.
The task on hand was a delicate one as the participants proceeded
to disentangle the mangrove plants from their bonds. And while
they were gathering the waste, the students also observed the
tidal pools and the different algae, shellfish, crabs and small fish
they harbored.
The lesson we drew from the action was that we need to be more
careful on how we dispose our waste which is choking our marine
ecosystems. And we took a pledge to stop littering.
Helping disentangle debris from life saving mangroves
Mangrove swamps are not just murky places,
they are useful ecosystems that help to survive and live a good life.
So together, lets us all say,
Mangrove Conservation Is Here To Stay!!

7. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
Attending Mumbai School Students on their Project tours in Dahanu
Explaining the Warli
way of life
An open-air exercise
Understanding the basics of
Warli Hut making
Interaction with the students
Students are made to speak in local language
with the Warlis & avoid hurting their sentiments
Orientation of the students
Explaining the importance of Watershed

8. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
Encouraging local art and crafts by organising workshops
A Social Development Initiative
Students’ visit to Bamboo
craft workshop
Helping to put up Warli
Painting stalls at local Melas
Students’
hands-on
experience at
Warli Painting
Students’ hands-on
experience at Pottery
Warli Painting workshop in college
Students’ visit to Warli village

9. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
NDTV’s GREENATHON – DAHANU’S MARATHON
The Marathon slogan said No Plastics so the best alternative is cloth bags. We stitched and
distributed cloth bags and made the participants do finger painting with fabric paint on their own
bags which they now owned and would use.
Enthusiastic students who came all the way to Talasari to share their messages painted on cloth
bags – an amazing learning experience…
Milind Soman with students from Dahanu

10. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
‘HISTORY OF MY TOWN’
All India Essay Competition
left - Ms. Shahin Maneshiya &
right – Principal Mrs. Tanaaz Raisi
right – Mrs. Dolly Boman Irani
INTACH had collaborated with Fox History Channel
INTACH Delhi, the parent organization had asked
to organize an all India essay competition on My
me to organise the award ceremony to create
City My History for school students of classes 6-9.
awareness about Dahanu's heritage so I thought it
This programme was for all the heritage club
apt to do so by celebrating with a sand sculpting
students and was conducted nation-wide. Ms.
competition on the beach rather than booking a
Shahin Maneshiya from H.M.P. High
hall. So the Open Air Awards were given away by a
School, Dahanu, was declared as the regional
pioneer in the hotel industry Mrs. Dolly Boman
winner and is seen receiving the sheild from the
Irani of Pearline Hotel, Dahanu.
Mrs. Tanaaz Raisi, Principal, H.M.P. High
School, Dahanu.

11. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
INTACH, Dahanu’s INITIATIVES
Rescued, injured Turtle kept at
Dahanu Forest Office
‘ONGC seeks 2K acres govt land at Dahanu’ Save the Turtle – A workshop on Marine turtle
Times of India conservation
ONGC had asked the government to provide 2000 INTACH, Dahanu and ‘Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra’ and
acres of land in Dahanu to set up a refinery as it jointly organised ‘Save the turtle’ workshop and
claimed to have found oil in the seas of Dahanu. sponsored about seven youths. An entire day was
This would have meant declaring about 12 km of devoted for the workshop which included
area around the plant as no fishing Orientation, About Turtles, Steps required to
zone, displacing over 50,000 fisher-folk who protect the species, and ended with a good walk
depend on the marine economy. INTACH, Dahanu along the beach where the volunteers were taught
played a key role in opposing ONGC’s move by how to identify the Turtle nests and keeping a log
writing letters to various authorities and book about their sightings and other details.
explaining them how their actions would result in
to the Contempt of Hon. Supreme Court Orders &

12. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
Come… Let’s Discover Dahanu
While At Dahanu…
One may consider Dahanu to be a sleepy town, but its people are very spirited! Adventures like
Gliding, Trekking, Venturing out into the open seas, Kite flying are more a passion than mere sports.
Strap on your hiking shoes and trek to the Wind through 16 temples that dot the two-km stretch of Dahanu Town.
top of nearby mountains like the Bahrot
hills, where Buddhist monks built caves and Request the Discover
later the Zoroastrians took refuge some 600 Dahanu organisers to
years ago. arrange for a live demo of
toddy tapping, and enjoy
your tipple with the Warlis.
Meet the Zoroastrian doctor, with his
flying machine - a hobby not many of his counterparts would envy of!
Arrange for a
professional
potter from the
potters' guild at
Drive past the Masoli hamlet, a Santoshi to share
hub for hand made cane Get lost in the
Wilderness! tricks of the trade.
furniture and baskets.

13. INTACH – Chapter Dahanu
DISCOVER DAHANU FESTIVAL 107
2010 . . . 2012 . . .
Come . . . Let’s
Discover Dahanu

14. Chapter Dahanu
Contact Us
Convenor : Co-Convenor:
Mrs. Phiroza J. Tafti Mr. Farzan B. Mazda
0-9822778207 0-9673596996
ptafti@gmail.com fbmazda@gmail.com
To know more about Dahanu, please visit www.dahanu.com