Panvel city has seen the reign of Mughal Empire, been a part of the great Maratha Kingdom and has also seen the period of influence of Portuguese and British. It is known to be 300 years old and put a significant step in the history of economic development of this region. This city has observed the enormous inflow of merchants for import and export via technologically advanced trading routes of land and sea. These days this city has become an essential point of handling merchandising, as the region kept developing since the various ruling eras because of its multiple trading itineraries.
Early History of Panvel
The city is said to be known as Pavanpalli in the beginning, from where the recent name originated. The area has been ruled by the Silhara and Satvahan dynasties. The Silhara dynasty, bearing the title of Tagara-Puradhishvara, ruled this region along with the nearby areas of Mumbai. The origin of this dynasty is said to be derived from Rashtrakuta dynasty as their lieges. The Rashtrakuta dynasty ruled the Deccan flat terrain between the 8th and 10th centuries. This region has seen the dynasty of Satvahanas, who are ascribed to establish peace in the country. The Satvahana Dynasty is also known to resist and fight back the attacks by foreigners after Mauryan Empire.
Different Tribes of Panvel
Panvel is the home of various communities and tribes listed in the State Government data as OBC and primitive tribes. Such as, Katkari tribe, Koli community and Agri community.
The Agri community takes the name from Agar or Salt-pan, as traditionally they were making salt. Now they are settled in Fishing and Agriculture as well. This race is said to be an Indo-Aryan group. The people of this community worships all the Hindu deities and celebrates the Hindu festivals.
The Katakari tribe is originally forest people from the Western Ghats. The name of this tribe has been derived from the making and selling of Katha or Catechu from the Khair or Accacia tree. One of the common surname used by this tribe is Waughmare, which means the tiger slayer and is originated from their special bond with wild life. People of this tribe comes under Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
The Kolis are one of the native ethnic groups and they intermixed with Rajputs due to the hypergamous marriage system. Many of the Kolis were converted to Catholism by the Portuguese.
Maratha Empire ruled in this region for a long duration. Chatrapati Shivaji created a designation called Peshwa, who were the chief-executives of king and had to administer the official work and control the army. During the Peshwai period, many Wadas or palace-like homes came up and many cannons were placed.
This region has also been famous because of the first revolutionary, Vasudev Balwant Phadke who was born in the village Shirdhon. He worked for British Military of Mumbai region and later organized the youth of various districts to revolt against the British. His uprising formed a mayhem across the country and in England and later he got life imprisonment after getting captured in 1879.
