Located in
Alibag taluk of
Raigad District, Chaul is an historical place. It is 40 km south of
Mumbai. Chaul was earlier known as Champavati, the capital of a kingdom ruled by King Champ. It was once an important port and was the scene of battles waged between the Portuguese, Marathas and
Mughals. Chaul has importance in Maratha maritime history as Shivaji’s navy was based here.
Today, the place is a pretty little hamlet with ancestral homes, Portuguese fortifications, a couple of ruined churches and Buddhist caves. The temples of Lord Datta, Devi Shitaladevi and Hingulja Devi here are renowned for their architectural beauty.
