Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mandvi is The Center of Dhow Building
Mandvi, population: 45,000, was an important and historic trade center, located at the
junction of two famous trade routes; the maritime spice-trade, and desert, camel caravans.
Since most of the top ports in India were controlled by Europeans (especially the Por-
tuguese), Mandvi became a rich and prosperous town, profiting from exports, imports and
pilgrimages to Mecca. In the eighteenth century, Mandvi merchants owned a fleet of 400
vessels trading with East Africa, Malabar coast and the Persian Gulf, making Kutch a mari-
time power.
Our itinerary said nothing about Mandvi, or its Dhow building industry. A pleasant sur-
prise when Desheret pulled up to the dock where shipbuilding has taken place for 400 years.
A “
Dhow”
is a traditional Arab sailing vessel with one or more lateen sails used to carry
heavy items along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, India and East Africa.
Large dhows carry crews of approximately 30 people. Dhows can carry up to 1,000 tons
of goods. Most are now laden with brown sugar and tobacco, that is transported to Arabia,
Oman and Yemen where the dhow is
sold
. Dhow building is a big industry in Mandvi be-
cause
labor
costs less in India.
The tide was out. Dhows stood on angles, and in various states of completion, all along the
shore while workers clambered up and down, waving at us.
Mandvi signified the end of Tribal Bhuj. Tomorrow, new guide, Niru, would join us to ex-
plore the remainder of Gujarat.
