This article is aimed to provide information for people in Mumbai (Bombay) or Pune who want to get away from their cities on a 2/3 days holiday trip without spending too much or going a long way.
Alibaug is a small coastal town located at a 110 km drive from Mumbai. You can reach it easily by road. Or another exciting option would be to go via a ferry/catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa jetty (it's 20 kms from Alibaug). There's not too much to do in Alibaug except relax and roam on the different beaches, so two days there would be enough. Visit the Kolaba fort which is situated in the sea at a distance of 1-2 kilometers. You can walk to the fort during the low tide. During high tide, you can cross the distance via boats. It's a nice place to visit if you have 2-3 hours to while away time and just have some fun. The main Alibaug beach is rocky and not advisable to venture in the sea for bath/swim here. If you are looking for some beach fun, make sure that you visit Kashid beach – it is 20 kms away from Alibaug. But it's an awesome beach, very clean with white sand. An ideal place to read a book lying in a hammock. Or laze around in the clean sea water here. It's the best beach between the long stretch from Mumbai to Murud in the Konkan region.
Another famous beach of Alibaug is Kihim beach. Here, you can try para-sailing behind a four wheeler. Kihim beach is famous for its dense cover of Coconut trees. Many rich and famous people own farmhouses in Kihim. You can also visit the Kanakeshwar temple which is half an hour away from Alibaug. All in all, it will be a fun two day weekend and relieve all the stress you hold.
We give you ideas about 2-3 day weekend vacations from Mumbai. If you go further south from Alibaug, you reach Murud. The drive from Alibaug to Murud is extremely beautiful. You have to drive along the coast encountering small beaches on the way. The sea water touches the edge of the road at many places and it's an awesome scene. Make sure that you stop at Kashid beach, which is mid-way between Alibaug and Murud. Murud is around 150 kms from Mumbai. Kashid is the best beach in the entire driving stretch, so make sure to spend some time there.
Murud is a small, sleepy, coastal town. If you had fun in the sea at Kashid beach, you won't feel tempted to bathe again on Murud beach. Instead enjoy horse-back riding or get driven around in a horse carriage. The main place to visit near Murud is Janjira fort. This fort is over five hundred years old. And it has the unique history of never being captured by anyone. It is also called as the impregnable or invincible fort. It is situated in the middle of the sea and is accessible only via boat/ferry. The fort is a very imposing structure and you will be in awe of its greatness. Make sure that you get a guide before going aboard – the boat owners will ensure that you get your guide. Janjira has an impressive history as you will learn from the guide. What's surprising is that till twenty years back, this fort was actually inhabited by the descendants of the Siddis – the last owners of the fort. It has fresh water wells in the middle of sea water – which is unbelievable. The island is also connected to the main coast via three underground secret tunnels which are kept closed for public. These were escape routes. Spend some time exploring Janjira and asking questions to your guide. Click lots of photos here.
Murud Janjira can be accessed easily when you visit Alibaug. Just add a day to your Alibaug itieranary. Reach there by 10 AM or so and leave by 4 PM. You will have fun – guaranteed.
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