Dabhol

Dabhol (Marathi pronunciation: [d̪aːbʱoɭ]), also known as Dabul, is a small seaport town in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in India.

The Russian traveller Afanasy Nikitin/Athanasius Nikitin, who visited India (1468-1474) found Dabhol as a large town and extensive seaport.

[3] In the 15th and 16th centuries, Dabul was an opulent Muslim trade centre, first under the Bahmani, later under the Badar sultans of Bijapur.

As the port with most convenient access to the Bahmani sultanate's capital at Bidar, Dabul's fortunes ascended quickly with that dynasty.

As new capitals for these statelets were erected, Dabul's geographic position was no longer as fortuitous as it had been before, and alternative, more convenient ports were cultivated.

A view of a very old mosque (Shahi Masjid) near the Dabhol Port built in Adilshah's regime.
A view of a very old 16th century mosque near the Graveyard at Dabhol.