The coast of Konkan is one place very close to my heart, right from the time I visited my first beach in the region, Ganapatipule.
That was way back in 2009, and since then we have covered a lot more beaches in the area. This Diwali, we covered the last leg of our Konkan sojourn, the southernmost tip-Sindhudurg. Vengurla, to be precise.
The vast unending stretch of clean white sands, lined with tall and green coconut trees, and crystal clear blue waters, that’s how inviting the beaches of Sindhudurg look. Wonder why we shell out a bomb on beach holidays abroad; from snorkelling to scuba diving, we could enjoy all of that in our very own Maharashtra.
TARKARLI BEACH
Vengurla Beach
We started early in the morning at 5, from Pune, along NH-48. At Nippani, we turned to follow the Amboli Ghat road (the route to Goa, that’s not in very good condition) via google map to Vengurla. For breakfast we halted at some place close to Kolhapur. The entire drive took almost 8 hours.
If you wish to enjoy water sports, then you would have to drive down to the commercial portions of Tarkarli or Malvan beach. There’s Sindhudurg Fort too, right in the middle of the sea. A 10-minute ferry from Tarkarli or Malvan takes you there. It’s an old fort with lots of historical significance, you could do that before noon because it gets hot and sunny later. There is a proper ticket counter, Rs100 per person.
There will be quite a few people approaching you for water sports, we didn’t go for any, being unsure about the safety. But many do, they offer 6 rides for Rs1200.
Sindhudurg Fort
Bhogwe, Tarkarli, Malwan, and Vengurla are long and serene beaches pretty close to each other. There are crowded patches, busy with vendors and water sports, but there are also some specks which are totally isolated. So if you prefer calm to activity, look for resorts that have a private beach.
We, fortunately, found that kind of a place, a slice of heaven.
Belantara Beachfront, Belantara BEACH FRONT | Malvan | Facebook a quaint resort, bang on a secluded portion of Vengurla beach with just two cottages, and the entire beach is private to us.
What stands out is that this resort is so eco-friendly, with red stones and coconut wood. It feels like home, with their caretakers, home-cooked food, and all the personal attention you get. Flanked by coconut trees and greens all around, we stayed for 4 days, 2 of which we just relaxed in the balcony and hammocks, going nowhere, doing nothing. The sound of lapping waves and the soft sea breeze heal your restless heart and soul, it’s a perfect vacation we all need now and then.
Would love to return to Konkan, Vengurla and Belantara very soon. A must visit and must stay for those who desire a peaceful, relaxing holiday.
Our room, Belantara Beachfront
Sunset from our Balcony
Belantara beachfront
A Distant View of our cottage
If you are a beach person, I would honestly recommend Konkan with little doubt. We have completed almost all beaches, but would still love to return.
