Kukarmunda
Kukarmunda ()  is one of the seven Talukas that form the Tapi district of Gujarat. It is located by the Tapi river basin, south of the Satpura hill range. 

The distance between Kukarmunda and Vyara is about 110 km, and from Surat is about 178 km. Kukarmunda shares a border with Akkalkuwa,Taloda and the Shahada tehsil of the Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. The total area of Kukarmunda is 0.82 km².

History 

In the early 1970s, Kukarmunda was located on the banks of the river Tapi, but due to frequent flooding the Government of Gujarat relocated the village 4 kilometres away from the river banks. 

Kukarmunda is considered a holy place. It is the birthplace of Santoji Maharaj, a freedom fighter who was imprisoned for his activism. 

Originally, Kukarmunda was a village part of Nizar Tehsil,the Indian government separated Tapi district from the district of Surat in 2007. Kukarmunda became a Tehsil in 2014 when it was separated from Nizar Tehsil.

In 2014, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Smt.Anandiben Patel, visited Kukarmunda to announce that it would be a new Tehsil of Tapi district, separate from Nizar Tehsil.

Transport 

Bus: GSRTC and MSRTC buses run through Kukarmunda, and take passengers to other destinations.

Railway: Nandurbar railway station is located about 28 km from Kukarmunda, and is the nearest railway station.

Air: Surat Airport is the nearest airport to Kukarmunda (178 km). Other nearby airports include Vadodara Airport, Ahmedabad international airport (290 km), and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Mumbai (400 km).

Distance from Major Cities:
Gandhinagar-312 km (Capital City of Gujarat)
Dhule-121 km
Ankleshwar-134 km
Bharuch-145 km
Surat-178 km
Vadodra-182 km
Jalgaon-182 km
Nashik-252 km
Indore-283 km
Ahmedabad-290 km
Mumbai-400 km
Pune-458 km
Rajkot-494 km

Nearest Towns and Cities

Taloda-11 km
Akkalkuwa-13 km
Nizar-17 km
Nandurbar-28 km
Selamba-34 Km
Sagbara-38 Km
Shahada-49 km
Dadiyapada-64 km
Dondaicha-64 km
Khetiya-71 km
Songadh-90 km
Shirpur-100 km

Tourist destinations near Kukarmunda 

Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Senctuary-79 km
Toranmal Hill Station-83 km
Purna Wildlife Senctuary-89 km
Nilkanthdham Poicha-125 km
Statue of Unity-134 km
Saputara-162 km

Culture 

Celebration of Ramnavmi:

The Ramnavmi celebration is a yearly celebration in which a Hanumanta idol, once presented by Tulsidasji to Janjasvant swami, is displayed in Ram Mandir of Jasvant Chowk. Every year in the evening people came to worship the idol, and at night, celebrants stand watch (હુંબી ચોકી) or sit guarding the idol (બેઠેલી ચોકી). At 4:00am, one person arrives dressed as Lord Hanumanta to distribute Prasada to the attendees, signalling the end of the ceremony.

Saint Dagaji Maharaj Dindi pilgrimage:

Every year, pilgrims travels from Chopala (Maharashtra) to Asha(Gujarat). They stay at Kukarmunda during this journey.

Dashavtar:

Dashavtar is an annual festival celebrated in Kukarmunda. It takes place in the Swami Samartha Temple area, where participants wear wooden masks of Lord Hanuman, Garuda, Varah Avtar, Nursing Avtar, Ambe Mata and Mahisasur. Celebrations occur there for 8-10 days. On last day of the festival, a staging of the fight between Mahisasur and Ambee Matas occurs. It is believed that first wooden masks were found on the banks of river Tapi.

Tripurari Poornima Celebration

A celebration taking place during Diwali, where people meet up at evening in the Holy Shiva Temple to worship Lord Shiva.

Kukarmunda Fair

An annual fair held every April, going for 5 to 7 days.

Public infrastructure 

 Hospital:
 Kukarmunda Civil Hospital with Ambulance Service

 Market:
 APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) Market

Government offices:
Dakshin Gujarat Vij Compony Ltd. (DGVCL) office.
Group Gram Panchayat Fulwadi (Kukarmunda)
Kukarmunda Taluka Panchayat
Police Station Kukarmunda
Taluka Seva Sadan
Vishram Gruh (Rest House) Kukarmunda

Education 

ITI Kukarmunda
Kukarmunda Primary School
SK Kapadia School
Shri Saraswati Vidhalaya (Secondary school)
Tapi Nursery School

Banks 

In Kukarmunda

Bank of Baroda
Fincare small Finance Bank
Surat district cooperative Bank

Other Banks near Kukarmunda

HDFC Bank, Akkalkuwa Branch (13 km)
SBI Bank, Nizar Branch (17 km)
CBI Bank, Taloda Branch (11 km)
ICICI Bank, Nandurbar Branch (28 km)
Axix Bank, Nandurbar Branch (28 km)
Pujab National Bank, Nandurbar Branch (28 km)

Villages of Kukarmunda Taluka 

Akkalutar
Amode Tarfe Satone
Amode Tarfe Talode
Aste Tarfe Budhaval
Ashrava
Ashapur
Bahurupa
Balambe
Balde
Bej
Bhamsal
Borikuwa
Chirmati
Chokhiamli
Dabriamba
Fulwadi
Gadid
Gangtha
Gorasa
Hathode
Hol
Itwai
Jhapampi-alis Jhampa Amli
Jhumkathi
Kelani
Kevdamoi
Kondraj
Kukarmunda
Korala
Mataval
Medhpur
Modale
Moramba
Nimbhore
Parod
Pati
Patipada
Piplash
Pishavar
Rajpur
Ranaichi
Sadagvan
Satola
Taranda
Tulse
Ubhad
Umja
Untavad
Varpada
Ziribeda

Religious Places 

In Kukarmunda:

ISKCON(International Society for Krishna Consciousness)
Khandoji Maharaj Temple
Kukarmunda Mosque
Pati Mata Temple
Saibaba Temple
Shri Swami Samartha Kendra,Dindori Pranit
Shri Rama Mandir
Valhari Mata Temple

Nearest Pilgrimage Places:
Prakasha-28 km
Astamba-38 km
Dhareshwar Temple-42 km
Dev Mogra-50 km
Kuber Bhenderi Temple,Karnali-135 km
Pavagadh-211 km
Ranchhodray Temple,Dakor-251 km

References

Suburban area of Surat
Neighbourhoods in Surat