Editing Alibag

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Alibag
| official_name      = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = Coastal City<br/>[[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]]
| image_skyline      = Alibag Sea beach 3, Maharashtra.JPG
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Alibag sea beach
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Alibag
| pushpin_map        = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|18.64|N|72.88|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = India
| subdivision_type1  = [[States and Territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Taluka]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Raigad district|Raigad]]
| established_title  = 
| subdivision_name3  = [[Alibag taluka|Alibag]]
| established_date   = 
| named_for          = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_title       = President Alibag Municipal Council
| leader_name        = Prashant Naik
| leader_title2      = Vice President Alibag Municipal Council
| leader_name2       = Mansi Mhatre
| leader_title3      = Chief Officer Alibag Municipal Council
| leader_name3       = Dr Sachin bachchhaw
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = 
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 0
| population_total   = 20743
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank    = 
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Native
| demographics1_title2 = Official
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number]]
| postal_code        = 402 201
| area_code          = 02141
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| registration_plate = 
| footnotes          = 
| demographics1_info1 = [[Maharashtri Konkani|Konkani]]
| demographics1_info2 = [[Marathi Language|Marathi]]
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Tropical savanna climate]]
| population_demonyms = Alibagkar, Alibaugkar
}}
'''Alibag''', also known as '''Alibaug''' (Pronunciation: [[Help:IPA/Marathi|[əlibaːɡ]]]), is a coastal city and a [[municipal council]] in [[Raigad district]] of [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]. It is the headquarters of the Raigad district and is south of the city of [[Mumbai]]. Alibag is part of the [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]] and is situated at a distance of about 96&nbsp;km from Mumbai and 143&nbsp;km from [[Pune]]. 

Alibag is a holy place for [[Renuka|Padmakshi Renuka]], who is also known as the goddess of [[Konkan]].

==History==

Alibag was founded in the 17th century by the [[Admiral]] of the [[Maratha Navy]] [[Kanhoji Angre]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Alibag |url=https://alibagonline.com/history-of-alibag/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=alibagonline |language=en-US}}</ref>

Alibag and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterlands of [[Bene Israel]] Jews. According to [[History of the Jews in India|Indian Jewish]] historian [[Esther David]], Jews arrived in the region over 2000 years ago, escaping [[Anti-Judaism#Pre-Christian Roman Empire|persecution from the Roman Empire]], when their ship wrecked here. As they got into the business of [[oil-pressing]] and [[Plantation|plantations]], continued practising [[Sabbath]] and took holidays on Saturday, they came to be known as 'Shanvar-telis'('Saturday – Oilpeople')<ref name="TOI">{{cite news |last= Devidayal|first= Namita|date=15 May 2016|title=Alibaug's secret: A legendary drink with a Jewish connect|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/alibaugs-secret-a-legendary-drink-with-a-jewish-connect/articleshow/52274241.cms|newspaper=Times of India| access-date= 29 October 2022}}</ref> There is a [[synagogue]] named 'Magen Aboth Synagogue' in the "Israel Alley" (Marathi ' इस्राएल आळी ' meaning Israel lane) area of the town.<ref name="bene" /><ref name="Outlook">{{cite news |last= Pinglay-Plumber|first= Prachi|date=27 October 2022|title=Abraham's Footsteps|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/abrahams-footsteps/291928|newspaper=Outlook India| access-date= 27 October 2022}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
A Bene Israelite named Eli (Elisha/Elizah) used to live there at that time and owned many plantations of mangoes and coconuts in his gardens. The natives started calling the place "Eli cha Bagh"(which means "Eli's garden") and in the subsequent generations the pronunciation changed to simply "Alibag", and the name stuck.<ref name="bene">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cAMZCAAAQBAJ|title=ICT For Rural Development|first=Dr.Mohankumar C.|last=Kaimal|date=2014|publisher=Laxmi Book Publications|access-date=25 April 2019|isbn=978-1-312-71081-8|page=17}}</ref>

==Geography==
Alibag is located about 120km south of [[Mumbai]], at {{Coord|18|38|29|N|72|52|20|E|}}. The average elevation is 0 metres (0 feet). The District Government offices are located along the seacoast road.

==Demographics==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]], Alibag had a population of 19,491. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Alibag has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females' literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. 75% of the population speaks the Marathi language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref>

As of the 2011 census, Alibag had a population of 20,743, of which 10,646 are males while 10,097 are females, and 17,431 were educated, with a literacy rate of 84%.<ref name="Census 2011">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/data-visualizations/PopulationSearch_PCA_Indicators|title=Population finder 2011|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India}}</ref>{{bar box
|title=Religion in Alibag (2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/802801-alibag-maharashtra.html|title=Alibag Population 2011|website=Census 2011}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|82.55}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam]]|green|11.06}}
{{bar percent|[[Buddhism]]|blue|3.19}}
{{bar percent|[[Jainism]]|brown|2.42}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|dodgerblue|0.44}}
{{bar percent|Others|black|0.34}}
}}
==Climate==
{{Weather box
| location = Alibag (1991–2020, extremes 1933–2012)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 36.0
| Feb record high C = 38.5
| Mar record high C = 40.1
| Apr record high C = 40.0
| May record high C = 39.6
| Jun record high C = 37.2
| Jul record high C = 36.5
| Aug record high C = 33.6
| Sep record high C = 34.9
| Oct record high C = 38.1
| Nov record high C = 37.9
| Dec record high C = 36.1
| year record high C = 40.1
| Jan high C = 29.1
| Feb high C = 29.5
| Mar high C = 31.0
| Apr high C = 32.3
| May high C = 33.6
| Jun high C = 32.1
| Jul high C = 30.3
| Aug high C = 30.0
| Sep high C = 30.6
| Oct high C = 32.9
| Nov high C = 33.4
| Dec high C = 31.2
| year high C = 31.3
| Jan low C = 17.6
| Feb low C = 18.6
| Mar low C = 21.2
| Apr low C = 24.1
| May low C = 26.7
| Jun low C = 26.1
| Jul low C = 25.5
| Aug low C = 25.2
| Sep low C = 24.6
| Oct low C = 23.9
| Nov low C = 21.6
| Dec low C = 18.9
| year low C = 22.9
| Jan record low C = 9.4
| Feb record low C = 11.2
| Mar record low C = 14.1
| Apr record low C = 17.6
| May record low C = 21.7
| Jun record low C = 20.5
| Jul record low C = 19.5
| Aug record low C = 20.4
| Sep record low C = 21.0
| Oct record low C = 16.2
| Nov record low C = 14.5
| Dec record low C = 12.7
| year record low C = 9.4
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 0.6
| Feb rain mm = 0.1
| Mar rain mm = 0.1
| Apr rain mm = 0.2
| May rain mm = 11.9
| Jun rain mm = 573.3
| Jul rain mm = 801.0
| Aug rain mm = 530.1
| Sep rain mm = 388.3
| Oct rain mm = 86.5
| Nov rain mm = 9.6
| Dec rain mm = 7.2
| year rain mm = 2408.8
| Jan rain days = 0.0
| Feb rain days = 0.0
| Mar rain days = 0.1
| Apr rain days = 0.0
| May rain days = 0.9
| Jun rain days = 15.2
| Jul rain days = 22.3
| Aug rain days = 20.3
| Sep rain days = 13.7
| Oct rain days = 4.0
| Nov rain days = 0.4
| Dec rain days = 0.3
| year rain days = 77.3
| time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 62
| Feb humidity = 63
| Mar humidity = 65
| Apr humidity = 70
| May humidity = 72
| Jun humidity = 80
| Jul humidity = 84
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 79
| Oct humidity = 70
| Nov humidity = 65
| Dec humidity = 63
| year humidity = 71
| source = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205040301/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/1981-2010%20CLIM%20NORMALS%20%28STATWISE%29.pdf
| title = Station: Alibagh Climatological Table 1981–2010
| work = Climatological Normals 1981–2010
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = January 2015
| pages = 25–26
| access-date = 30 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M136
| access-date = 30 March 2020}}</ref>
| collapsed = Y
}}[[File:Alibag 1896.jpg|thumb|Alibag 1896]]
==Cyclones==
In November 2009, [[Cyclone Phyan]] made landfall in the city. Damage to property was reported in the districts of [[Ratnagiri District|Ratnagiri]], [[Raigad District|Raigad]], [[Sindhudurg District|Sindhudurg]], [[Thane District|Thane]] and Palghar. Eleven years later, in early June 2020, severe [[Cyclone Nisarga|cyclonic storm Nisarga]] made landfall in Alibag at peak intensity. The cyclone blew off tin and [[asbestos]] sheets from roofs and uprooted trees in Alibag. Several trees fell on houses.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Cyclone Nisarga skips Mumbai, makes landfall at Alibag|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cyclone-nisarga-skips-mumbai-makes-landfall-at-alibag/articleshow/76181070.cms?from=mdr|access-date=2020-11-06}}</ref>

==Places of interest==

===Historical===
[[File:Kanhoji Angre Samadhi - कान्होजी आंग्रे समाधी 1.JPG|thumb|Kanhoji Angre Samadhi]]
* [[Kolaba Fort]], an old fortified maritime base which was the naval headquarters of the Maratha ruler [[Shivaji]], and was used to launch raids on British ships.<ref name="Gazeteer">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ab0MAAAAIAAJ|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency| date=2 May 2024 |publisher=Government Central Press}}</ref>
* 'Kanhoji Angre Samadhi', the memorial to Maratha Admiral [[Kanhoji Angre]]<ref name="MT">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=3 July 2021|title=Chhatribagh of Angria in Alibaug|url=https://maharashtratimes-com.translate.goog/travel-news/article-about-sarkhel-kanhoji-angre-samadhi-alibag-by-pravin-kadam/articleshow/84089561.cms?_x_tr_sl=mr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc|newspaper=Maharashtra Times| access-date= 27 October 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Magen Aboth Synagogue in Alibaug.jpg|thumb|Magen Aboth Synagogue Alibaug]]

* Hirakot fort, built by Kanhoji Angre in 1720<ref name="MahTourism">{{Cite web |author= |title=Hirakot Fort |url=https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/-/hirakot-fort |publisher=Maharashtra Tourism}}</ref>

===Religious===
* Kalambika Mandir, temple built by Kanhoji Angre<ref name="MMR-HCS"/>
* Balaji Mandir, temple to Lord Shri Balaji or Shri [[Venkateswara|Venkateshwar]] (an avatar of lord [[Vishnu|Shri Vishnu]]), built in 1788.<ref name="MMR-HCS">{{Cite web|author=|url=https://mmrhcs.org.in/images/documents/projects/raigad-urban/01-heritage-list.pdf|title=Alibag: List of Heritage Properties|publisher=Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Heritage Conservation Society}}</ref>
* 'Magen Aboth synagogue' in the 'Israel Alley' area of the town<ref name="Outlook"/>

===Scientific===
Alibag houses a [[observatory|magnetic observatory]] that was set up in 1904.<ref name=observatory>{{Cite journal|title=Colaba-Alibag magnetic observatory and Nanabhoy Moos: the influence of one over the other|first1=P. B.|last1=Gawali|first2=M. G.|last2=Doiphode|first3=R. N.|last3=Nimje|date=1 September 2015|journal=History of Geo- and Space Sciences|volume=6|issue=2 |pages=107–131|doi=10.5194/hgss-6-107-2015|doi-access=free |bibcode=2015HGSS....6..107G }}</ref> It serves as one of the significant observatories forming part of a global network now run by [[Indian Institute of Geomagnetism]]. The observatory has two buildings; the first building has [[magnetometer]]s that record changes occurring in the [[geomagnetic field]]s. The second building consists of precision recording instruments, which give data about [[geomagnetic storm]]s caused by solar storms which are shared with other countries.<ref name=observatory/>

==Transport==

===Road===
Alibag is situated near National Highway – 166A.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://raigad.gov.in/en/other-maps/|title=Other Maps of Raigad District &#124; District Raigad, Government of Maharashtra &#124; India}}</ref> It is approximately 108&nbsp;km from Mumbai. Alibag also has [[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation|MSRTC]] bus connectivity mostly from Mumbai and [[Konkan division]].

===Boat services===
The nearest [[jetty]] is [[Mandwa, Maharashtra|Mandwa]], from where [[catamaran]]/[[ferry]] services are available to the [[Gateway of India]], [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-07 |title=Mumbai To Alibaug Ferry - Time, Prices & Tickets - WeekendFeels |url=https://www.weekendfeels.com/blog/mumbai-to-alibaug-ferry-time-prices-tickets |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Ferry to Mandwa.JPG|thumb|Ferry service between Mandwa and [[Gateway of India]], Mumbai.]]A [[Roll-on/roll-off|Ro-Ro service]] is available from [[Ferry Wharf]] to Mandwa from where Alibag can be reached by road.

==Notable people==
Notable people born in Alibag include:

* [[Kanhoji Angre]] – Indian admiral, [[Maratha Navy]]'s Chief (18th-century India)
* [[Datta Narayan Patil]] – Indian Politician & Social Worker
* [[Devdatta Nage]] – Indian actor
* [[Nana Patekar]] – Film actor and writer
* [[Sanjay Raut]] – Indian journalist & politician
* [[Ramesh Tendulkar]] – Noted Marathi poet and [[Sachin Tendulkar]]'s father
* [[Adesh Bandekar]] – Marathi actor, politician
* [[Arun Shridhar Vaidya]] – 13th [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)]]
* [[Mugdha Vaishampayan]] – Indian singer
* [[Nana Dharmadhikari|Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari]] – Indian spiritual Guru
* [[Mukri]] – Indian actor

== Education ==
Alibag has a Government Medical College for medical students in the district. The medical college started in the year 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government Medical College & Hospital, Alibag |url=http://www.gmchalibag.in/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=www.gmchalibag.in}}</ref>

==Geographical indication==
[[Alibag White onion]] was awarded the [[List of geographical indications in India|Geographical Indication]] (GI) status tag from the [[Geographical Indication Registry (India)|Geographical Indications Registry]], under the [[Government of India|Union Government of India]], on 16 November 2022.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Alibag White onion |url=https://search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/Application/Details/685 |website=Intellectual Property India |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref>

''Alibag Pandhara Kanda Shetkari Utpadak'' ''Gat'' from Alibag, proposed the GI registration of Alibag White onion. After filing the application in January 2020, the Onion was granted the GI tag in 2022 by the Geographical Indication Registry in [[Chennai]], making the name "Alibag White onion" exclusive to the Onion grown in the region. It thus became the second onion variety from Maharashtra after [[Lasalgaon onion]] and the 17th type of goods from Maharashtra to earn the GI tag.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kandavel |first1=Sangeetha |title=Nine products from across country get GI tag, Kerala tops table |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/nine-products-from-across-country-get-gi-tag-kerala-tops-table/article66264105.ece |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=The Hindu |date=14 December 2022 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Assam's Gamosa, Telangana's Tandur Redgram, Ladakh's apricot get GI tag |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/assam-s-gamosa-telangana-s-tandur-redgram-ladakh-s-apricot-get-gi-tag-122121400918_1.html |access-date=7 December 2024 |agency=Business-Standard}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wikivoyage-inline|Alibag}}
{{Raigad district}}
{{Mumbai metropolitan area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Konkan]]
[[Category:Bene Israel]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in India]]
[[Category:Beaches of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Raigad district]]