Mirjoli

Mirjoli is a small village on the banks of Vashishthi River in the mandal of Chiplun, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.

The village starts as soon as Uktad (last delimited ward in Chiplun town) ends. The first landmark of Mirjoli seen is Kabrastan on left side of the road which houses a dargah of revered saint Mira Hussain. An annual Urs is held here every year. As we move forward, we come across first human habitation with houses mainly perched on left side of the road on the mountain. There are some houses which have now been built along the road side too, but, mainly most of the houses are located on the slope of the mountain. This area is known as Sakharwadi. Although dominated by locals (Dalwais) previously, this area has now grown to be a true "cosmopolitan" area of Mirjoli and houses people from all religions and castes now. Sakharwadi has a beautifully built Mosque as its major landmark. It also has a Kabrastan belonging to Buddhists.

As we move forward and enter the main village area of Mirjoli, we see a small but nevertheless frequented Sai Mandir. Image of newly built and ever growing huge building of National English Medium School looms large in the background. Its one of the major contribution of Dalwais among many, that this community has given to Chiplun Taluka.

A small shady country road (ridden with potholes and ignored for repairs for a long time now) emerges at this junction. This small road meanders to the left side away from the main Guhagar road towards ethnically divided localities (Wadis in Marathi/Kokani) of Mirjoli village, finally culminating at the historic and much revelry followed Mahalaxmi Temple. As we move a little forward on this small internal road, we come to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar chowk. This chowk is a significant landmark in the village due to its location. On its right is the newly built National English Medium School (Formerly, Dalwai Highschool), and on the left is Marathi Primary School. Both these schools, have in the past, seen glory in their heyday, as almost all of the villagers received their education here. This trend has now dwindled as the erstwhile Dalwai Highschool shifted from here to the new campus in Paanval area, many new English medium schools emerging in Chiplun, due to which parents opted for them to induct their children, shabby management of Marathi primary school and last but not the least, coming up of National English Medium School in the same place where Dalwai Highschool, once stood.

As we move forward on this road, we pass through Boudhhawadis. Boudhhawadis because, there are two of them. One is called Boudhhawadi-1 and the other Boudhhawadi-2. As mentioned earlier, these are ethnically divided localities. Boudhhwadi consists of only Buddhist people. Boudhhawadi-1 boasts of a Boudhha Temple on left of the road on mountain slope, overlooking much of the Mirjoli village. Further on this road is Pawarwadi (also called Marathwadi). As the name suggests, only people belonging to Maratha caste live here. Pawarwadi is the last of human habituated areas of the village on this road. This road further meanders over the mountain to “Maal Raan” area of village, where the historic Mahalaxmi Temple is located. A village fair is organized here every year besides the temple, which is frequented by people of different villages. A major attraction of this fair is the coveted “Bull Cart Race”. This event is widely followed around Chiplun and attracts a major crowd every year.

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Wikipedia