Sawantwadi State

Savantvadi State, also spelt Sawantwadi ruled by the Sawant Bhonsale dynasty was one of the non-salute Maratha princely states during the British Raj. It was the only state belonging to the Kolaba Agency under the Bombay Presidency, which became later part of the Deccan States Agency. Its capital was at Sawantwadi, in the present-day Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra.

Sawantvadi State measured 438 square kilometers in area. According to the 1931 census, the population was 250,589. The official language of the inhabitants of the state was Marathi while the local language is Malvani

History
The coast line of Sawantwadi was strategically important especially for the Europeans. The political boundaries of Sawantwadi fluctuated between the northern latitudes of 17°N and 15 °S and 73° E and the sea-coast from Masure till the mouth of the river Kolwal. The northern boundary of Sawantwadi is formed by the river Gadnadi which rises near the Ghotge ghat and meets the sea near Sarjekot.

The Sawant's, in early seventeenth century, were the feudal holders of the hereditary right Deshmukh under the rule of Adil Shahi, whom they regarded as their master. The Marathas under the legendary Shivaji and Portuguese at Goa were the other two important powers which came into contact with Sawantwadi.

Mang Sawant was founder of Sawant Bhonsle dynasty.He was followed by Khem Sawant I in 1627. He was rewarded Jagir from the Bijapur's Adilshah and later made himself independent, followed by Lakham Sawant the first. It was only during the period of Lakham Sawant I that the Sawant family, with Hodawade as the headquarters, came into political prominence.

After his demise, Khem Sawant II succeeded him.

Khem Sawant II established his capital at Sundarwadi (now Sawantwadi), a hamlet of the village Charathe which later came to be known as Sawantwadi as the rulers were known as Sawants. He helped Mughals against Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and in return got more territory from them. Khem Savant was succeeded by his son Som Savant and ruled for only 18 months and later his brother, Lakham Savant succeeded him.

Lakham Sawant din't abide by the terms of the treaty (1659),betrayed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by joining Bijapur Sultanate. In 1660, Shivaji sent one of his earliest followers, Baji Phasalkar. He fought a drawn battle with Lakham's commander Kay Savant.In 1662, Shivaji Maharaj defeated Lakham. In the later history, Lakham Sawant was slain in battle with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Pancham Khemraj alias Bapusaheb Maharaj was crowned on 29 October 1924. In his small tenure from 1924 to 1937.

He was succeeded by his incapable son Shivramraje Bhonsale, but he being a minor at the time, Bapusaheb’s wife Parvatidevi looked after the State as a Regent. The administration of the Sawantwadi State during her regency was marked by several reforms and progress in education.Shivramraje Bhonsale converted the 18th century royal palace of Sawantwadi Royal family, into a art boutique hotel,working as a chef and receptionist there.