Jawhar is a city and a municipal council in Palghar district of Maharashtra state in Konkan division. Jawhar was a capital city of the erstwhile Koli [1] [2] princely state of Jawhar. Situated in the ranges of the Western Ghats , Jawhar is known for its picturesque setting and a vibrant cultural heritage. It is one of the few remaining tribal regions of Maharashtra and is famous for its vibrant Warli painting that are a characteristic landmark of this place.
Established in , Jawhar is one of the oldest municipal councils in the state of Maharashtra. The state went through many transitions and lasted for over six hundred years until its accession into the Union of India in During the British Raj , as a princely state , it was a part of Bombay Presidency and had a 9-gun salute status. Although a capital city, Jawhar's development was largely neglected by successive rulers, due to a low revenue generation and haphazard organisation.
Jawhar taluka is tropical area and it mostly surrounded by deciduous green plants. The Jai Vilas Palace is the most popular historic tourist attraction in Jawhar. This neoclassical style palace was built by Raja Yashwant Rao Mukane. This palace is also known as Raj Bari and used to be a residential palace of the Mukne royal family. Built on a hill top, this palace is a master piece of architecture with blend of Western and Indian styles of architecture in majestic pink stones.
The interiors of this palace display the rich culture and lifestyle of tribal kings of Mukne family. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a dense forest like foliage, having trees of Cashew everywhere. It is said that when the work of the palace was completed, the quarry from, which the stones were extracted was broken down and covered; the exact location of the quarry is lost in time. The Geological Department, of Government of India has now taken up a task to locate the lost quarry.
Due to its unique architecture style and location, the palace has featured in several films in Marathi and Hindi. The temple is surrounded by valleys on three sides. The valley is nearly feet deep. During renovation a view point was created near the temple, which is known as Hanuman Point. During the day time, one can see the historical fort of Shahapur Maholi from this point, while during night time, it is possible to see lights of train in Kasara ghat form this point.
