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It is located nearly 18-20 kilometres away from Ratnagiri city. It is located on the banks of Kaajalee creek. The picture that you see on left hand side is one of the entry points into my village. We call it the 'Bundar' which, in Marathi language, means a port or a harbour. During yesteryears, it used to be an important commercial centre. Many traders used to sail towards our village through the waters of Kaajalee creek, on a weekly market day. They used to anchor their launches and boats at the same place that you are seeing in this picture. |
During those days, road transport facilities were not available in our village. First we had to go to a neighbouring village named Hatis, by taking a passenger bus from Ratnagiri. After that, we used to cross the Kaajalee creek in a small canoe and enter our village. You can see that canoe in the above picture. Although, now we have roadway facility, we can still come from Hatis, in a canoe, by crossing the creek.
Nowadays, we have raw roadways (made of sand and stones only) for entry into our village. We can enter Tonade village by bus or a car or two wheelers (roadway), from two different entry points via two routes.
Both the buses leave from Ratnagiri city bus stand. Upto half the distance, both drive along a state highway that goes to Deodhe. Near Someshwar, the newer route takes a turn, crosses the same Kaajalee creek on a bridge and then a drive of about 10 km to reach Tonade. The other, earlier route, continues towards Deodhe and near Tembe Pool halt, it turns to Tonade village. |
| Twenty years ago, there was no electric supply, no telephone lines, no television channels. Even there was no post office also. All mail was routed through a neighbouring village named Someshwar.
| Now we have all these amenities in almost all homes in our village. Apart from these amenities, we have a high school upto 7th standard, a separate post office in our village. Many waadees i.e. small colonies are provided with water supply through water tank, pumping system and pipe lines. As per laws, a graam-panchaayat and other administrative offices are also available. |
| There are two temples in our village, one of Shree Shankar and the other of Navalaa Devi - Paavanaa Devi. Navalaa Devi - Paavanaa Devi are the graam devataa of our village. Their temple is located on the hills whereas the temple of Shree Shankar is located on the level of the bank of Kajalee creek. In monsoon, when there are heavy rains and when our village gets floodded, the water level touches the roof of Shree Shankar temple. During this time, approximately a week long period, nearly all activities of transport come to stand still. Sometimes water level rises to such a height that a person can swim in the flood-water and pick up coconut fruits directly from the coconut trees. We call this situation of flood as 'fuga'.
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| Persons from many families in our village are now settled in Mumbai and other cities also. Those who are now residing in Mumbai have established an organization, Tonade Graam Vikas Mandal. It is located in Mumbai. The members of the Mandal are working for development of the village in a variety of ways.
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