Thread by @ROHITKUMBHOJKAR

#Thread
Subject:Kannav Mansion ,Karanja.
The state of Maharashtra can be termed as land of living legends & Architectural Monuments.One can easily identify & define Personalities with their Work & achievements.Even cities,towns,villagescan be identified on same lines

One such place that can be identified is KARANJA in the District of Washington.The identity becomes much easier with
1)Guru mandir the place of Shri Narsimha Saraswati
2)Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj raiding it multiple times
3)Jinning Mills( Most being defunct now )

I will try & reveal another identity of Karanja.Its place in the region of Varhad & termed ' Varhad tashi sonyachi kurhad '.Karnja is now home town of Kannav Family whose ancestors migrated from Phaltan in Stars district and we're earlier called PHALTANKAR

This is where one of d Best Architectural Piece/Wonder came up around 120 years ago 2b identified as ' Kannav Mansion 'whose style depicts Portuguese Architecture.Late Krishnaji was attracted towards d style of Portuguese Architecture when he used 2b on business visits to Mumbai

The construction of this 'Vastu' began in the year 1899 and it was completed in the year 1903.The Total Cost incurred on the construction then was Rs.3.5Lakhs when the Gold was Rs.17/Tola.It was a ' Huge Spending ' made on the vastu if the Comparison is made between the two.

Since the land was in Black Soil the foundation was laid using Lead ( Shisa )on every 8th feet to improve the strength of the foundation.This in itself shows how well planned the Bugalow was built which carries the same strength to date.

The Skilled labours were called in from Rajasthan were such a experienced lot that they built the pillars in a Single Piece of Burma Teakwood with splendid work of Craftsmanship( Nakshidar ).The bricks used in the building are made up of ' Lime ' for Long Life of the Vastu.

Entrance is like a ' Sabhamandapam' with 2 nicely,skillfully crafted Pillars which handles tons of loads over them.
Vithoba Painters then famous in Mumbai the lead characters in the Painting of this Building.Thus Mumbai has major share in the development of this Mansion.

The Vastu has a 30*30feet square between the two sides of the bungalow & a huge hall of 50*40feet on the 1st floor of the building.These can be used as Multi-purpose places at times.The Italian Marbles and Jhumars are additions to the beauty of this Mansion.

This Vastu is Blessed & Witnessed various Baithaks of the greats like Lokmanya Tilak,Veer Savarkar discussing & exchanging their thoughts.The halls still echo the sounds of greats like Balgandharv,Shirgopkar,Hirabai Badodekar,Pandit Narayan Vyas & others.

Even the legend Latadidi has as a child and as artist had a run in the Bungalow when the company of Master Dinanath had carried out a ' Maifil ' in the halls of Kannav Mansion when on the Tour of Karanja

The Kirtankars were not to be left behind who carried their Kirtan performance here.Karhadkarbuva,Kolhatkar,Pathak,
Hirvalkar ,Bhalerao buva did their Kirtans turning the Vastu into a pious one.

There is a incidence narrated by Shri Keshavrao Bhole in one of the Diwali Magazines where he says he had to cancel his Maifil in the Bungalow due to bad Throat and the reason being Tasty Puranpolis and Katachi Amti wherein he gulped almost 10bowls.

An Interesting incidence with this Architecture is it has crossed the shores of Indian Waters and hit the ears of SriLankan leadership such that they were eager & curious to know of this Mansion.The then Governor of Mumbai got the services of the same skilled labours of Rajasthan

and got a Replica of Kannav Mansion built in Lanka which was used as ' Viceroy House ' & later turned out to be the official Residence of Sirimavo Bandarnayake after Sri Lanka's Independence

The next generation of Kannavs residing in the Mansion have many more interesting Facts & Figures to narrate to the next generation.The seniormost being Madhukar Bhagwant Kannav & Mrs.Vaijayanti Kannav who happen to be my Sister's In-Laws.

Earlier to the building coming up Kannavs built a " Shri Ram Temple "near to the Mansion which witnesses a Grand Ram Navami Utsav every year except 2020 for obvious reasons the World knows.
Shortly I may come up with a writeup on the same in near future...