Geographical Structure
The geography of Kasheli
Kasheli is a scenic Konkan village in Rajapur taluka of Ratnagiri district, with a population of approximately 3,000. It is set along the Arabian Sea coast.
Location & surroundings
- Approximately 18 miles south of Ratnagiri city.
- The taluka headquarters Rajapur lies 18 miles east, connected by a tarred road.
- Bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea, with about three miles of coastline.
Terrain
The village is naturally divided into two parts — the Varcha Wada (upper, on hilly ground) and the Khalcha Wada (lower, on flatter land). The highest hill, called Durgwada, rises between them. Although the village has a three-mile coastline, the shore consists of steep cliffs (kade) and there is no natural harbour. These cliffs are famous for their groves of kewada (fragrant pandanus).
Water
A branch of the Poornagad creek — the Muchkundi — enters the village. Until four centuries ago saltwater from the sea travelled about two miles inland along this creek.
- Desai Khar Bund — built roughly 400 years ago by the Ramajipant Thakur Desai landowner family to provide famine employment, this dam stops saltwater intrusion at high tide and freed roughly 300–400 acres for paddy cultivation. It was repaired by the government in 1952 and remains largely intact.
- Sawre Vahal Dam — a roughly ₹ 1 crore scheme sanctioned to irrigate about 1,000 acres across Kasheli, Naveder and Velye villages.
- Two streams — Aagamacha Vahal and Wayangod Vahal — supply drinking water for 8–9 months of the year.
- A 1 km long storage reservoir (saathara) serves both Kasheli and the adjoining Gawkhadi village.
Land use
The reclaimed flats above the bund grow paddy; the rises above that hold coconut and areca (supari) plantations; on the hill slopes are the celebrated Hapus mango and cashew orchards; the rocky uplands are mixed paddy fields and grazing pasture. Abundant year-round water keeps the village green.
Infrastructure
The village has a post office, electricity in every wada, telephone service (since the mid-1980s), and a branch of the Ratnagiri District Central Co-operative Bank.