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Konkan the Beach Paradise of India

by: Ishika

The Konkan division of Maharashtra has superb scenic beauty. Here Land meets sea and their intersection i.e. the beaches are the most beautiful and scenic locations on this planet. If you really love Sun, san and sea, these beaches are worth a visit. In addition, you will want to come here repeatedly. Unlike Goan beaches, these beaches are calm and clean, this is probable because they are not frequented by tons of visitors. Therefore, you get some quality time to spend close to nature away from the hectic city like. Most of these beaches are close to Mumbai and Pune, which makes them easily accessible and perfect locations for weekend getaways. If you have an inclination for sand and sea, these destinations will prove to be an exciting option. Discover the real Maharashtra at the same time as you soak up the sun on quiet sands or explore captivating sights.

Tarkarli - 546 Km from Mumbai
Situated 6 kms south of Malvan and 546 kms away from Mumbai on the west coast of Maharashtra is Tarkarli. The major attractions include narrow stretch beaches and crystal clear water. You can see 20 feet under water, its very clear and a bit blue in color. The nearby attractions include forts namely Singhudurg and Padmagarh which are one of Maharashtra's popular forts. The food is excellent here. You can have authentic konkani fish gravy with various other sea food options.

Image credit: http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/21728/2614037040102778952S425x425Q85.jpg

Mandwa and Kihim
Mandwa is a beautiful, un-spoiled beach. The isolated beach is calm and clean. You can have a marvelous time here. Mandwa village too, has a charm of its own the tall coconut palms gratifies the beauty of this beach. For the natural world lover, Kihim has a lot to offer: wood packed by means of windswept flowers and uncommon butterflies and birds. Best attraction is the Kolaba Fort, simply a furlong away commencing the shore. 15 kmsafter Alibag is Chaul, a historic place by way of Portuguese ruins, Buddhist Caves, the Hamam Khana, a church, a temple and yet a synagogue.

Image credit: http://azourni.com/yahoo_site_admin1/assets/images/mandwa_beach.285223323_large.jpg

Dahanu Bordi
Dahanu, a calm seaside town with some sprawling & uncluttered beaches, is situated in Thane district. It is a 17 kms long beach. Dahanu town is famous for its chickoos. As quoted in the previous article "Accessible from Dahanu is Udwada, the ‘Mecca of Zoroastrians’ and a port town of Sanjan, one of the early settlement regions of the Zoroastrians who fled to the Indian sub-continent in order to escape religious persecution in their Persian homeland. It was here that these Iranian refugees built their first fire temple in India. An amazing fact, but true : this fire has been kept alive for almost thousand years."

Image credit: http://www.travelmazza.com/images/tourist_spots/dahanu_bordi_beach.jpg

Ganpatiphule - 331 Km from Pune
Ganapatipule is a small village, serene, sedate and unspoiled. The beach here is still as natural and pristine as ever. And traveling by roads is an experience by itself. You can see the vast stretch of a typical konkani beach with scenic greenery. The mesmerizing view of narrow mud-roads, roofed houses with clean courtyards will add a touch of simplicity. The local vegetation includes fruit bearing trees like mango, betel nut, banana, jack fruit, coconut, etc. The entire western coast is covered with these trees. The locals are as warm and cheerful as their surroundings. Ever ready to chat with the visitors and make them feel at home.

Image credit: http://www.rediff.com/travel/1998/nov/19konk5.jpg

Dapoli - 235 Km from Mumbai
We can call it a 'sangam' meaning a blend or a mix. It is a town which is a hill station and is very popular beach sestination too. Dapoli is a small town situated at a height of 800 feet above sea level in Ratnagiri District, on the west coast of Maharashtra, India. Ratnagiri is also very popular for Alfanso (Hapus aam) Mangoeswhich are grown here and exported world wide. this hill station is also known as "Mahabaleshwar of Konkan” and is a perfect location for weekend getaways from Pune and Mumbai.

Image credit: http://www.konkansafari.com/index/Dapoli2.jpg

Diveagar - 150 Kms from Pune
Diveghar, another gem in the the Konakn region, is a beach seaside town 150 kms away from Pune. Diveagar is popular for long and narrow stretch beaches. The main attraction of this place is a temple situated on the sea shore. The temple houses a pure gold Ganesh idol weighing 12 kg. The idol is rumored to have strangely exhumed in a chest full of cache of diamond almost 1000 yrs ago.

Image credit: http://sites.google.com/site/weekendtravelplans/DiveagarBeach.jpg

Harihareswar - 145 Km from Pune
Soft sands, soothing breeze and inviting waters are the key things that attracts a beach lover. And The beaches of harihareshwar has it all. The Peshwa Smarak is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan.The town of Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and picturesque beach and is also famous for the temple of Harihareshwar.

Image credit: http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~library/LISAVI/Harihareshwar2.jpg

Murud - 200 Km from Pune
Murud Janjira, a beach town whose main occupation is fishing. The main attraction of this place is the Janjira fort amidst of sea. you need to hire a boat to reach the fort. Perfect weekend getaway and the best place for people who have interest in history. The sea food and the local food served here is the most delicious and authentic konakni cuisine you can ever have. If you love sea food, the local fish market is worth a visit.

Image credit: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_klxuiu-cgjw/SRMEjTT1_vI/AAAAAAAABI0/K07CxOoY_0s/s400/8%2BOrissa%2BJajpur%2BBhadrakh%2BBalasore%2BSimilipal%2BMurud+Beach%2BMaharastra.JPG

Alibag - 130 Kms from Pune
Alibag / Alibaugh today is a very popular and populated tourist place in Maharashtra. The close proximity from Pune and Mumbai make it a busy tourist destination. However the beach is not clean you will find plastic bottles, wrappers and other waste material lying on the sea shore. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of the Bene Israeli Jews, who migrated to west Maharashtra in the 19th century from nearby Indian cities and parts of modern Pakistan. Kulaba Fort situated on the seashore is a must visit place when in Alibag. The other attractions are Magnetic Observatory, Kanhoji Angre Samadhi, Vikram Vinakyak temple, various small churches and synagogues, and the tower of St. Barbara. Some of the more popular beaches include Akshi, Revdanda, Kihim and Nandgaon.

Image credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c64eC97KLdA/SSA5bh7KR0I/AAAAAAAAA90/uIZ6I0VVFTw/s400/Hanuman+Temple,+Ship+Dock+and+Firing+Range+in+Alibag+Fort.+2.jpg

Kashid - 165 Km from Pune
Kashid is a beach town on the shores of Arabian Sea, in the North Konkan (coastal region) region of Maharashtra, India. It is one of my favorite weekend destination and could also be a good option for 1 day trips. Taxies can be hired easily. It is located 30km from Alibag and 135km from Mumbai on the Alibag-Murud road. Kashid is popular mainly because of its white sand, blue seas, green mountains, paddy fields, and rivulets. The sea turns a bit wild during the high tide. At noon the current is quite high and goind deep into the sea could be dangerous. Kashid has a 3 km stretch of beach situated between two rocks around the seashore. This is by far the best beach in this part of the Konkan region and it is packed on weekends as people from Mumbai and Pune take a break.

Image credit: http://surshreegarden.com/Images/Kashid.jpg