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| Hidden Beaches of Sindhudurg |
Beach is "an expanse of sand or pebbles along a shore" or "the part of the shore of an ocean, sea, large river, lake, etc., washed by the tide or waves" or "the area adjacent to a seashore", goes the dictionary meaning of a beach. In my travels, I have come across a wide array of natural wonders that have awed me. But nothing stands at par with the beauty of an unexplored or meagerly explored terrain.
The seclusion of the spot brings about exhilaration, a sense of being the pioneers; the explorers in the uncharted territory unknown to mankind.
Such is the joy of exploring the serene and tranquil beaches in the remote topography of Konkan. As I am clearly biased towards Konkan, today I shall be enumerating a couple of hidden and isolated beaches in Konkan.
1. Velas Beach
A remote village called Velas would have remained unknown had it not achieved international attention for the turtles that come here to lay their eggs. The sight of turtle hatchlings just out of their nests and making their laborious way to the Arabian Sea can be an exhilarating sight indeed and rather than watch it in a wildlife film, you can now go to Velas and witness this phenomenon for real.
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| Velas Beach |
Located in the Mandangad Taluka of Ratnagiri district, Velas is protected by mountains on its three sides and a beautiful shoreline on the fourth quadrant.
The time when you must visit Velas is when several Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings emerge from the golden sand, wasting no time as they follow the scent of moisture in the air and commence their seemingly never-ending voyage to the Arabian Sea. This is after the mother turtles have come ashore under the cover of darkness about 45-55 days ahead to lay their clutches of eggs.
The Olive Ridley has one of the most extraordinary nesting habits in the world. Large groups of turtles gather offshore and then all at once they come ashore to lay their eggs. At Velas, the turtles can come ashore without fear of human intervention thanks to the efforts of a project started by Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) in 2001.
2. Anjarle Beach
Anjarle beach is one of the finest beaches in the Konkan region. An unspoiled virgin beach covered with white sand and surrounded by palms is just the ideal destination for a long and refreshing weekend. The beach is also popular for the ‘Kadyawarcha Ganpati’ temple located on a cliff and there is also a small port located near the mouth the Jog river which is a popular place visited by the tourists. Located in Dapoli Taluka in Ratnagiri district Anjarle beach is well connected with rest of the state through Dapoli which is the closest town at a distance of around 18 kilometres.
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| Anjarle Beach |
If you love the seclusion and want to enjoy the peace of nature from a close range, Anjarle beach in Maharashtra is your ideal choice.
3. Velneshwar Beach
Velneshwar Beach, a secluded and pristine beach destination with soft white sand beach laced with coconut plants and a small cove. Yet to occupy a place in the tourism map of the state of Maharashtra and is still unknown to most, it offers you a secluded beach that can nearly calm down your nerves and make you feel relaxed and refreshed.
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| Velneshwar Beach |
It is one of the least crowded beaches in the country. As one of the most photogenic beaches among the long stretch of Konkan beaches Velneshwar Beach is certain to capture your imagination with its unpolluted natural beauty and flanked by other popular beach destinations like the Ganpatipule or Guhagar is expected to quickly grow into popularity.
Apart from the small beach with few tourists, the Velneshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the Dashabhuja Ganesh Mandir at Hedvi are other primary attractions of Velneshwar Tourism. Carved in white stone this Dashabhuja Ganesh is not only ancient but rare and every year a grand ceremony takes place along with a procession to celebrate the birth of deity in the months of Magha.
At Brahmanghal in Hedvi, you can witness a rare natural phenomenon a gorge has been created in the black rock by the sea and when sea water gushes into it a water column of 20 to 30 feet high is formed. A drive through the rustic landscape to reach me can also be equally charming and if you are looking to get away from everything it offers you the best getaway destination.
4. Kondura Beach
Kondura each is one of the smallest beaches encased in rocky shore triangle. It is worth visiting to hear sea roar. Kondura Beach is one of the rare silvery sand beaches on the Konkan coast. It is near a small village called the place has gained enigmatic characteristics. There is a small cave on a small hill named Kond.
When you reach Kondura, the light breeze will make you feel good as it brushes against your cheeks. Swim in the crystal clear water, pick the seashells, or try your skills and built a sand castle with the fine sand. You can start picking seashells after a swim. It is an ideal place for birdwatching.
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| Kondura Beach |
Kondura beach is very smooth, with calm, low waves that gently lap on the shore, providing a soothing background sound that will turn you on for sure. The fresh salty smell of the sea, dancing waves and the breeze slowly passes whispering through your ears bringing that peace inside you.
The green parrots flying above your head, the woodpeckers working on the old coconut trees, the small lizards running a race with the breeze rushing through the nearby bush – all these make you be with nature. If you are lucky you can see The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) also known as the Red-backed Sea-eagle.
5. Korlai Beach
Korlai is the name of a small island that was once called ‘Morro de Chaul.' Morro in Portuguese means a small, rounded hill. The Korlai has a beach, a fort and a village named Korlai on the foothills. The fishing community speaks a local dialect ‘Kristi’ that finds its roots in a mix of Portuguese and Creole language.
Korlai Beach is a quiet beach located in Alibaug which is about 120 kilometres from Mumbai and takes around 2-3 hours depending on traffic. This beach is known for its white and black sands along the serene coastline of Arabian Sea and is located adjacent to a village. It is a very serene beach full accompanied by the calmness of nature.
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| Korlai Beach |
Korlai beach is very clean and the view there is very scenic and spectacular. A quiet beach with an alternate stretch of white and black sand. It is completely beautiful and seemed to stretch beyond imagination. The beach invites for the dip in the ocean and the calmness of this shore relaxes one’s mind and soul. The lighthouse is located at the end of a narrow stretch that leads to it. The route is quite photogenic and adventurous. Korlai people here speak Creole and Portuguese.
On the other side of the bridge, lies the Korlai Fort within the sea and attached by the mainland by a narrow land strip through the Korlai fort through Korlai village.
6. Kelshi Beach
Along with the Mahalakshmi temple, Kelshi has a long, scenic, unexplored beach. It is calm and peaceful here – with only the sea waves for company. It is about 3 kilometres in length and ideal for people looking for a break from the maddening city crowds. Along the coast are thick woods and groves of Kevda and Cyprus, coconut and betel nut. A walk on this beautiful beach listening to the ocean waves is really refreshing! It has an endless treasure of conches, shells and cowries. The large black rocks near the place where the Utambar hill meets the sea are a great place to sit and enjoy the ocean.
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| Kelshi Beach |
Sand Dune one of the main attractions of Kelshi, is a naturally formed sand dune due to the Tsunami. Located on the southern side of the Bharja river, this sand deposit has been accurately dated to September 1524. Experts and archaeologists are carrying out research for samples of ancient culture underneath this dune. Currently, the work of constructing the bridge (a part of the Coastal Highway)across the river Bharja is in full swing.
7. Tondavali Beach
The village Tondavali in Malvan Tehsil is situated between Kalaval creek at east and Arabian sea at the west. Tondavali is 22 kilometres from Malvan and 45 kilometres from Kankavli. Lower Tondavli is Talashil wadi. Tondavali has a clean virgin beach and from Talashil you can walk along the sea to Achara which is 9 Kms. away. This is a unique experience. Being near the Kalaval creek Tondavli has many water-sports options such as Sailing in the creek, riding water-scooter, Banana-ride etc. Here, you can do 'Dolphin-sighting' without going in far into the sea.
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| Tondavali Beach |
You can visit twin islands Khot-Juva (area 4 acres) and Paan-khot Juva (area 10 acres) by manual boat in Kalaval creek. There is also a Sangam point (Confluence point) where Kalaval creek joins the Arabian Sea. Tondavali sea-shore has lush green Cyprus orchard and taking a siesta here is a soothing experience. You can have a direct view of 'Kavada rock' in the deep sea from here.
Keen and enthusiastic anglers can have the ultimate joy of fishing from Kalaval Bridge and patiently wait for the catch.
8. Hedvi Beach
Hedvi Beach is a black sand bay between the two white sand beaches of Ganpatipule.Hedvi and Guhagar-Velneshwar is a lesser known destination cloistered among far more visited destinations. Towards the south of Hedvi is Ganpatipule and towards the north is Velneshwar and Guhagar making Hedvi an ideal destination for a long weekend trip. But for the ‘Ganesh festival’ time, Hedvi is amongst the most sequestered beaches in the entire Konkan region.
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| Hedvi Beach |
Hedvi beach is not the safest beaches for a swim and a dip ideally should be avoided. Hedvi Beach is practically away from everything, even mobile phone coverage yet is very close to the popular destinations like Ganpatipule, Velneshwar and Guhagar.
9. Karde Beach
A clean, virgin beach with no crowds just a few hours' drive from major cities! Karde beach, situated on the west Maharashtra Konkan coastline. A scenic half an hour's drive (about 13 kilometres) from Dapoli will bring you here. You can stay in one of the beach resorts near the hillside and relish on the exquisite seafood cooked in local styles. The fried fish and fish curry are really yummy. They serve good Konkani vegetarian food too.
Dolphin Watching Boat at Karde beach, one of the primary attractions here is dolphin watching. A number of local tour operators arrange dolphin watching trips in boats. The Sheoak plantations (Suruche Ban) which border this beach are an ideal retreat for relaxing or having short naps. It is safe for swimming or you can just wade in the waters with white waves lapping at your feet. Have the time of your lives playing Frisbee, beach volleyball, collecting sea shells, etc.
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| Karde Beach |
The view of the sunset is spectacular and breathtaking. Nights can be a perfect time to let your hair down and sing and dance around campfires or simply take a long walk. One of the most beautiful Konkan beaches, Karde has all the makings of a great beach holiday destination for you and your family.
More to Explore is this land shrouded in a cloud of mysteries. Keep following me.
