What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the
name ‘Maharashtra’? Yes, its ‘Bollywood’! But, do you know Maharashtra
is also popular for a variety of irresistible beaches that extends from
Dahanu in the north to Goa in the south.
Maharashtra has 720 km
long affair with the Arabian Sea and it owns some fantastic beaches
that offer everything from adventurous sea surfing to sand bath to
snorkeling to bird-watching to authentic coastal food. The beaches here
are situated far away from the maddening crowd of the cities of
Maharashtra and offer a plethora of exciting water sports activities,
sun bathing, beach walking, etc. One of the major features of the
beaches in Maharashtra are the historical forts located near the beaches
that mark the history of Maratha people. Guys, make it a point to visit
the forts built near the beaches as a part of family beach holidays.
Mumbai,
one of the most popular cities of India and of course the heart of
Maharashtra, too encloses many lovely beaches like Juhu Beach, Chowpatty
Beach, Madh Island Beach, and Alibag Beach. Though, some of these
beaches are relatively crowded, there is something about Mumbai beaches
that tourists gets attracted towards them automatically.
Being one of the best options for sightseeing tours in Mumbai and most sought after
weekend holiday destinations,
the beautiful and exotic beaches of Maharashtra can make your trip
pleasant and enthralling. Here are some of the most popular beaches of
Maharashtra that you must visit during your visit to this amazing
mainland.
1. Ganapatipule Beach
Ganapatipule is not like other popular beaches of Maharashtra, which
are crowded and polluted! Instead, it is aesthetic and scenic and
regarded as one of the best beaches in Maharashtra and is surrounded by
natural splendors like sparkling blue waters, swaying palms, pristine
air, white sands, mangroves and coconut palms. Located along the Konkan
coast, the Ganapatipule Beach is an idyllic getaway for many tourists
who want to experience peace and tranquility through the far stretch of
blue Arabian Sea and the white sands.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: The
temple of Swayambhu (self-originated) Ganesh is one of the popular
attractions in and around Ganapatipule Beach, which is visited by a lot
of tourists every day to pay respect to this great deity. Apart from
this, there are various restaurants offering local preparations like
Ambapoli (thin pancakes of crushed and dried mango), Phanspoli (thin
pancakes of dried and crushed Jackfruit), fish curries, and the Kokam
Kadi. The travelers can also visit Malgund village, birthplace of the
famous Marathi poet ‘Keshavsut’, to witness the beauty of Shastri River,
which has its own peaceful and coconut-fringed beach.
2. Dahanu-Bordi Beach
Dahanu-Bordi Beach tretches along the coastal line of Thane, which is a
145 km drive from Mumbai, famous for Chikoo orchards, available in huge
numbers. To reach this beautiful beach destination, one needs to travel
across Sahyadri Mountain range and touch the shores of the Arabian Sea
lined with orchards and flower gardens. The Bordi Beach is half an hour
drive from Dhanu, which too is marked with the presence of Casurina
trees, coconut groves, and Chikoo Orchards.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: For
someone interested in water adventure, Dahanu-Bordi Beach is a perfect
destination that offers sports activities like gliding, trekking, kite
flying, etc. Tourists can experience trekking on nearby hills like
Mahalaxmi, Asherigad, Bahrot, and Kahoj and enjoy the view of
Dahanu-Bordi from some height. Other than this, you can also visit the
historical Bahrot Cave, which is mainly a pilgrim center of the
Zoroastrians and Udwada that contains a thousand year old, still
burning, sacred fire.
3. Juhu Beach
Located in the ‘Dream city of India’ Mumbai…..Juhu is one of the most
popular and posh beaches of Maharashtra, famous for the eatables like
bhelpuri (Indian snacks) and chat available at the food stalls
surrounding the beach. A lot of Bollywood celebrities live nearby this
beautiful beach and are often seen walking down the seashore. Juhu is
one of the most crowded beaches in Maharashtra and offers everything
from horse ride and donkey ride to some typical Mumbai snacks and allow
tourists to play cricket matches and watch film shoot, which often takes
place here. It is located in the north of Versova, which is Mumbai’s
largest Koli (fishing community).
Revamped with beautiful
bungalows, luxurious hotels and apartments, Juhu looks like a diamond
necklace at night when the lights are turned on.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: Juhu
is lined with luxurious hotels and restaurants and if you want to
satisfy your taste buds with Italian food, then Little Italy, Mangi
Ferra, Don Giovanni, and Penne are some good Italian restaurants
available here. One can also visit pubs and discotheques that are
available in good number near Juhu Beach. Apart from this, Gandhi Gram
is one place on Juhu Beach, where children gather to enjoy their summer
vacations playing sports like basketball, cricket and football.
4. Shriwardhan Harihareshwar
Etched
along the Konkan border in Maharashtra, the Shriwardhan Harihareshwar
Beach is known for its serene and quaint atmosphere,
perfect for a peaceful beach holiday.
The serene town of Harihareshwar is marked with gentle winds, soft
sandy beaches, unspoiled stretches of seashore, and rich landmarks of
Maratha Kingdomthat still remain beautiful. This is the perfect place
for people who likes to indulge in relaxing activities like sun basking,
sun bathing, beach walking, yoga, and meditation.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: Shriwardhan
Harihareshwar Beach is sited with plenty of restaurants that offer
delicacies including freshly caught crabs, lobsters, and other seafood,
and fusion of Konkani & Maharashtrain cuisine. It also provides
boat-riding experience to the travelers to help them spot the
beautiful land where Peshwas, or prime ministers, of the Maratha Kingdom
used to live. Some must-visit places here are Peshwa Smarak and the
famous temple of Harihareshwar.
5. Mandwa and Kihim Beach
For someone looking for a tranquil place to spend some time away from
the hustle and bustle of the city, Mandwa and Kihim Beach is the perfect
spot. Located a mere 10 km away from Mumbai, these lovely beaches are
covered with dense coconut trees, wild flowers, butterflies and birds,
which makes it even more appealing for the nature lovers to spend some
good time here. The pollution free green environment of this beach
attracts tourists from every corner of the country and allows them to
enjoy a long breathtaking view of the sea and the Gateway of India.
Popular attractions in and around the beach:
Surrounded by beautiful groves of coconut palms, the tranquil Mandwa
village lies just next to the beaches, where the visitors spend time
witnessing the unique lifestyle of people in the village. A tent holiday
at Kihim is another attraction that makes Mandwa and Kihim beach one of
the popular beaches in Mumbai. You must also visit the Kolaba Fort,
Chaul, an historic place that has remains from Portuguese days, Buddhist
Caves, the Hamam Khana, a church, a temple and a synagogue that
surrounds the Mandwa and Kihim Beaches.
6. Madh Island Beach
Are you planning to visit Mumbai? If yes, then make Madh Island Beach
your must-visit destination. The beautiful Madh Island is a rural place,
but it is quite enjoyable to walk along the villages that belongs to
the fishermen. Unlike many beaches of Mumbai, this is one of the
cleanest as it is surrounded by mangroves, which adds to its scenic
beauty. People from different parts of the city visit this enchanting
place to take a break from the crowded city life. This lovely beach is
enclosed by a cluster of little villages and farmlands situated on the
North-Western coast of Mumbai, opening several options for hotels,
restaurants, and spas.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: ‘Erangal’
village on Madh Island Beach is a popular tourist attraction that gives
a view of the farming community to the visitors. The ‘Madh Fort’, also
known as ‘Versova Fort’, built by the Portuguese is another place near
the beach that attract tourists in big numbers. Lastly, the ‘St.
Bonaventure’, an ancient church built again by the Portuguese, is one
more attraction that surrounds Madh Island Beach in Mumbai.
7.Marve Manori and Gorai
Another best place to visit in Mumbai isthe Marve Manori and Gorai
beach that attract many tourists thanks to the marvelous views they
provide of sunrise and sunset. These three tiny beaches are blessed with
natural beauty and are more famous for their late night beach parties
than anything else. While Marve is also known as Borivali, which is a
little fishing village, Manori and Gorai are beautiful beaches that get
crowded with people, especially during the full moon nights.
Marve
is more of an industrial area of Mumbai….so there are no popular
attraction nearby these scenic beaches except a few restaurants and
shops.
8. Tarkarli Beach
Situated 6 kms south of Malvan and 546 kms away from Mumbai on the
coast of Maharashtra is the pristine Tarkarli Beach that is surrounded
by tall Suru trees and Karli River. The water of Tarkarli Beach is very
clear and looks even more panoramic with beautiful sailboats in the
backdrop. One can do an array of things here like, water sports, scuba
diving, snorkelling, beach walking, sun basking, sun bathing, etc. and
explore the nearby landmarks and beaches.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: There
are a lot of things that you can see near Tarkarli Beach. To start
with…..you can visit Sindhudurg Fort and Padmagarh Fort, two of
Maharashtra’s most important sea forts, built in the 17
th
century. Devbag Sangam, Vengurla rocks, backwaters of Karli river,
Nivati beach (ideal spot for spotting dolphins), Dhamapur Lake, Bhagwati
temple, Rameshwar, Jay Ganesh Temple, and Bhogve Beach are some of the
must see tourist places around Tarkarli Beach.
9. Velneshwar Beach
The green coconut palm grooves and rock free seawater makes the
Velneshwar Beach a must see tourist places around Mumbai, ideal for
swimming and sunbathing. Located in the north of Shastri River, this
beautiful beach lies away from the hustle and bustle of the city, giving
a peaceful and pristine atmosphere to nature lovers. This destination
is also famous for Maha Shivratri Fair (Festival of Lord Shiva), which
takes place here every year in March.
Popular attractions in and around the beach:
Apart from activities like sun bathing, sun basking, snorkelling, boat
ride, surfing, etc. Velneshwar Beach is also known for an old Shiva
Temple, frequently visited by tourists and pilgrims.
10. Vengurla Malvan
Surrounded by coconut palms, Mango, Jackfruit, and Cashew trees and
covered with soft white sands, the Vengurla Malvan is the best place for
weekend holidays in Maharashtra. It is mentioned as a trade settlement
in the history books as the place was burned twice due to attacks that
took place between 1664 and 1812. And, which is why it is called Burnt
Islands. Vengurla Beach that lies in the old town of Malvan is almost
hidden by palms and it is known for its salt pans, Chinese clay pottery
and the special Malvani cuisine, which is quite different from the
Konkan food.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: Shri
Devi Sateri Temple and Rameshwar Mandir are popular places visited by
plenty of tourists every day. Also, there are two forts in the township
of Malvan, namely Sindhudurg and Padmagad, which are believed to have
hold two underground tunnel links for trading.
11. Marine Drive
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Mumbai, Marine Drive,
also known as Queen’s Necklace, is the lifeline of Mumbai, where locals
hang out to cool down the work-pressure of their otherwise busy life.
Marine Drive is located on the edge of Chowpatty Beach, which is popular
for several Hindu religious ceremonies like annual thread-tying
ceremony, nariel-purnima and Ganesh Chaturthi immersions. Chowpatty
Beach is equally known for stalls that sell Bhelpuri, Kulfi and Paan,
and Nana-Nani Park for elderly people. This place is ideal for people
who like to indulge in soft activities like walking, sun bathing,
relaxing, and for enjoying local cuisines.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: This
C-shaped road links Nariman Point to Babulnath. It has attractions like
the 5 Star Hotel Oberoi, Hotel Taj, Gateway of India along with many
multi-cuisine restaurants and shopping centers that lines this beautiful
beach spot.
12. Bassein Beach
Located at a distance of 77 km from Mumbai, Bassein Beach is a peaceful
location that resembles India’s most exotic beach state, Goa. This
less-crowded beach destination is one of the best weekend getaways around Mumbai
that offer everything from turquoise blue waters to soft white sandy
beaches to dense forests of brushwood and palm grooves to delicious
Portuguese cuisines. It is also a historic place that embraces ruins of
forts, built during the time of the Portuguese.
Popular attractions in and around the beach: There
is a lot to see at Bassein Beach! One can spot Buddhist relics at
Nalasopara, which is 10 km from Bassein, Vajreshwari Temple, Akloli hot
springs, Sadguru Nityanand Maharaj Samadhi Mandir at Ganeshpuri,
Bhimeshwar Temple and a few churches from the time of Portuguese in
Bassein.
From the most serene and peaceful beaches to the exciting and adventurous one, Maharashtra has something for every beach lover.
Want
to witness the splendor of these exotic beaches? Plan an exciting beach
holidays in Maharashtra and explore its beauty all by yourself….
