Shrivardhan

Shrivardhan (also spelled Shriwardhan) is a subdistrict/upazila/tehsil, city, and local governing body in the Raigad district of the Indian state of Maharashtra.

It is renowned as the birthplace of Balaji Vishwanath, the first Peshwa (1713–1720) and father of Bajirao I, who held the position of Deshmukh in the town.

The taluka of Shriwardhan is an ancient place of historical importance and is mentioned as being visited by Arjuna Pandav in his pilgrimage.

In 1538, Dom Joao de Castro[2] described it as having little water under the pier at low tide, but that the interior of the city was large and roomy.

In 1713, Shriwardhan was one of the sixteen fortified places in the Konkan ceded by Balaji Vishwanath Peshwa to Kanhoji Angre of Kolaba.

Diveagar is a quieter place than both cities, which has garnered it recent notice which has initiated its transformation into a popular tourist destination.

The nearest train station is in Mangaon, located 45 km away from Shrivardhan with strong connections throughout the Konkan coast to Pune and Mumbai.

The Bhat Deshmukhs of Shrivardhan - later popularly known as Peshwas - witnessed the rise and the fall of Marathas after the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj period.

Statue of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath in Shrivardhan