Chiplun

History

Chiplun was initially ruled by the Satavahanas, Shakas, Kshatrapas, Kalachuris, Chalukya, and Rashtrakutas. Later it was ruled by the Kadambas and Traikutas followed by the Delhi Sultanate, Marathas and Peshwas majorly. Ancient texts mention Chiplun as a port. During the rule of the Chalukya in 8th century, the place was called Chiprarulana. An inscription called Chiplun stone which has a date of 1186 CE had the names of a Shilahara king and his ministers. In the seventeenth century it was a great village, very populous and plentifully stored with all provisions. The nearby Gowalkot was the trade center being the major harbour over Vashishthi River. The Paag area in town was named so because it was mainly used for war horse stables. The central area in Chiplun, called Markandi, is believed to have taken name from the Yadnya performed there by Maharshi Markandeya. In recent history, when Chatrapati Shivaji took over Konkan and established his reign, he won the Gowalkot fort in 1660 and renamed it as Govindagad. During the times of the Maratha Empire Chiplun was halting place when travelling towards upper ghat regions of Satara. Chhatrapati Shivaji came to Gowalkoat fort in Chiplun to take an update of his Arm forces before going for his coronation at Raigad. Chiplun was taken over later by means of fort battles including Sambhaji Maharaj, Tulaji Angre, Chimaji Appa, and Siddi Sat, before being taken up by a body of Ramoshis in 1818, but abandoned on the approach of British forces. During this time Peshwa Bajirao II, who for some years (1812-1815) came down the Kumbharli pass to visit his palace at Guhagar near Dabhol, built a rest house for himself which is now used as a Government office. The British colonial rule (1818-1947) saw large seasonal or permanent…

Geography

The city lies near the source of the Vashishti river. To the east of the city lie the Western Ghats and to the west lies Guhagar taluka, which was carved out of Chiplun taluka. The region has a tropical climate. The 'rainy season' — the monsoon lasts normally from June until October. The Koyna Hydroelectric Power Project Stages III and IV are situated near Chiplun.

Most-observed species

• White-throated Kingfisher

  Halcyon smyrnensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  617
• Red-vented Bulbul

  Pycnonotus cafer (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  604
• Spotted Dove

  Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1786) · Aves
  589
• Oriental Magpie-Robin

  Copsychus saularis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  529
• Black-hooded Oriole

  Oriolus xanthornus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  499
• Common Tailorbird

  Orthotomus sutorius (Pennant, 1769) · Aves
  451
• Common Iora

  Aegithina tiphia (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  414
• Purple-rumped Sunbird

  Leptocoma zeylonica (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  396

Most recent

• M 4.3 — 2019-06-20
  26 km S of Koynanagar, India
• M 4.3 — 2017-06-03
  6 km ENE of R?j?pur, India
• M 4.4 — 2012-04-14
  11 km ESE of M?khjan, India
• M 4.2 — 2010-01-12
  22 km S of Koynanagar, India
• M 4.3 — 2009-12-12
  17 km SSW of M?khjan, India
• M 4.4 — 2009-12-12
  26 km SE of M?khjan, India