With a rich past that dates back to ancient times, Ma-had has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, played a vital role in the Indian independence movement, and now stands as a thriving modern town.
[citation needed][3] Ambedkar made another statement by burning the Hindu book Manusmriti at the very same spot on 25 December 1927.
Since the banks of Savitri river changed during the course of time, only creek water fishing is carried out and Mahad is no longer a port.
[4] In 2016, a major flood hit Mahad because of the collapse of the British era bridge on Mumbai-Goa highway and caused great losses.
[5] Several disasters like floods and landslides have continuously devastated markets and old houses, specifically classic Konkani-styled architecture, causing great loss of life.
[6][7] Mahad is situated at southernmost tip of Raigad district in Konkan region at an altitude of 59 ft (18 m) and is surrounded by Sahyadri Mountains.
Mahad was taken by British in 1818 and was a place of administrative work when Raigad fort was made the capital of Shivaji.
The most important festival among whole Konkani community spreading from Thane, Raigad to Goa and Karawar coast is "Shimga".
Almost every Konkani working day and night, sleeplessly in metropolis like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi or in foreign countries rush to their homeland during Shimga.
The people are so devoted that they bring Palkhis from many miles far villages by walking, sometimes bare-footed, they consider this holy and sacred and feel lucky to be part of it.
Eid Mahad was the central market for people of Poladpur, the Raigad villages and the hill station Mahabaleshwar.
The city is surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain ranges and the Savitri, Kal and Gandhari rivers originating through Mahabaleswar, hills in Mulshi and Raigad fort respectively.
Mahad falls under the Raigad Lok Sabha Constituency, along with Pen, Alibaug, Shrivardhan, Dapoli and Guhagar.
[9] Nearest airports: Konkan railway line starts from Roha-Kolad and exits Raigad district via Veer.
[citation needed] It connects Panvel (Southern Navi-Mumbai) to Kanyakumari, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Buses plying from Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri have halt at Mahad MSRTC Bus depot.