Ancient Pandava kund at Vasai

Vasai - the faraway suburb of Mumbai is normally associated with it's Portuguese connection since they ruled this place, Portuguese remnants being the famous Vasai fort and the numerous churches built by them. But few know the fact the Nalasopara - Vasai - Virar belt is also considered to be a holy tirtha and finds mention in numerous ancient Hindu text and Purana's.

Shurparakha is erstwhile name of present day Nalasopara which was an ancient port city as well as gets mention in Vana Prana text of Mahabharta. Tungareshwar forest of Vasai East has association with Lord Parshuram and Nirmal gaon is said to be created by Lord Parshuram. There is a samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya of Puri at Nirmal gaon in Vasai who is also said to have meditated in jungles of Tungareshwar in Vasai.

Ancient vihir of Vasai: Chulne gaon which is located at around 3 kms from Vasai station on the west is home to an ancient kund or vihir which is associated with Pandava's. It is said that on their way to Prabhas, Pandavas has stopped here. (mentions in Vana Prana in chapter 118). Hence the name Panch Pandava chi Vihir.

The kund or a tank is somewhat square shaped located in middle of agricultural field. The outskirts of Chulne gaon has lot of agricultural fields which is ploughed by tribal's or Adivasi's as they are called. One of the local informed me that the water in this kund doesn't dry up in summers also. Though many locals are not aware of this place and would normally point to a pond created by local municipal body which is at the end of the village. The 2nd pond also has a well which is called vihir which was built two decades back as per the inscription mentioned on the well. 



There is nothing spectacular about the Pandav Vihir but since it has association with Pandava's it surely is a place of interest for heritage enthusiast.


Location and how to reach : Take a bus or shared rick going to Manikpur from Vasai station. Get down at Chulna gaon naka. You can walk down or take another shared auto to a small garden called "Mani Tapar". Take the road opposite the garden which takes you to Adivasi Pada which is a small hamlet of tribal huts and vast expanse of agricultural field. The kund is located close by in the fields.

The pond and another Vihir at the end of the village.






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