Kadwai is a small and peaceful village, home to a few hundred families, located in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Any of the several trains, which ply daily from Mumbai to Goa or Karnataka, serves the area. Alternately, one can choose to take the Lal Pari or Lal Dabba or S.T Bus. One can get off at either Chiplun or Sangameshwar stations and then embark on a short road trip, either by bus or auto-rickshaw, to reach the village. This place is best visited during the monsoon season during which time it receives very heavy rainfall, which brings a lot of goodness to the area.
The entire village blossoms into with abundant greenery in the soundtrack of chirping birds and the pleasant scent of petrichor. The alternating bouts of sunshine and downpour, which accompanies the wanderer in me as I walk on narrow lanes amidst rice fields, reminds me of an English country side village.
My Ancestral Property is situated in a quiet corner of the village and called as “Hussaini Cottage”, which I have now rechristened as “The Lords” – surrounded by mango, jackfruit and ‘chickoo’ trees, most of it being planted by my grandfather, the late Mr Hussain Amin Sawant (God Bless his soul) I can only imagine what a great visionary he must have been, followed by my father Shri Shabbir Hussain Sawant. During my stay, I was treated to a generous helping of flavourful food, put together by the family of The Lords’ caretaker. Blending the perfect combination of spices, they cooked a wide array of delectable preparations including the much talked about mutton biryani.
The village is also home to community-minded folks who are continuously striving to strike the right balance of modern infrastructure and conservation of natural resources by investing in education and awareness of useful techniques such as natural waste management. Kadwai has three major schools, with KES – urdu school having a tradition of students becoming famous Doctors, Engineers and of course not to forget the able sea farers. Traditionally, kadwai is known for pulling of a lot of Master Mariners, Officers as well as Technical Crew. I am sure, the deep seas must be breathing kadwai at some point of sail. Therefore, I had to pay a visit to the school during a walk around and was delighted to see a focus on natural conservation in addition to conventional education.
A short walk from the village market takes me to a small dam, which is an ideal place to relax in a quiet surrounding or to enjoy a dip in the waters of the local river. This can also serve as the perfect picnic spot to enjoy if one is in the company of a bigger group. For any fishing enthusiasts, it is a good idea to carry the necessary supplies so as to enjoy a lazy day by the dam waiting to catch some river fishes.
Nights are very silent albeit with the ambient sounds of frogs humming alongside other invisible insects. Accompanied by darkness, thanks to the lack of any city lights, it is the perfect setting for sipping a hot beverage on the verandah and indulging in conversations or just relishing the stillness of the night.
For serenity, gourmet food, and long walks along lush green fields & streams, visit Kadwai during the monsoons and stay at “The Lords”