5 Top Musts in Alibaug, India - A Great Beach Getaway from Mumbai

[Hruday Chand]

Alibaug is a beautiful coastal town in the Konkan district of India's Maharashtra state that's one of best places to visit near Pune. as well as a top weekend getaway for residents of Mumbai (Bombay), an hour-and-a-half drive away. It features many beaches, both popular and pristine, which are not only stunning but also have a dense coconut grooves backdrop. It's also brimming with history, with many historic forts and intricate temples in the region.

Alibaug Beach

The town's main beach (top) is also one of Maharashtra state's most popular, with the sight of Kolaba Fort providing the perfect view during the sunsets for which it is especially famous (sunrises, too). Besides strolling, swimming, and sunbathing, people also enjoy riding in horse driven buggies.

Kaloba Fort /Alibaug Fort

This 17th-century fort built by the then local king, has several wells along with temples dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Mahishasura, Goddess Padmavati and Haji Kamaluddin Shah Dargah. The fort can be easily accessed by waking through the waters in low tides and a short boat ride during high tides.

Mandwa Beach

This serene nearby strand also offers mesmerizing sunset views, as well as water sports such as kayaking, jet skis, banana tube rides, and water scooters; it's usually quite popular and crowded.

Nagaon Beach

Dotted with the subtle greenery of palms, betel, and suru trees, Nagaon Beach is a lovely, flat, three-kilometer with a tranquil waters and a fine, soft mixture of white and black sand. It Quiet and secluded compared to Alibaug and others in the area, it's also a hub for water sports like parasailing, motorboating, jetskiing, banana boats, and more. There are also a number of beach resorts and private bungalows wherein one can catch the magnificent sunsets.

Varsoli Beach

At nearby Varsoli village, this is one of the gorgeous places to visit in Alibaug. With white sand, clean water, and dotted with coconut and casuarina trees, this too has many water sports activities and the spectacular view of sunset, yet is less crowded than others in the area.

[Binoy Gupta]

Another very interesting place close by is the Murud Janjira Fort and the lovely prisitine beaches there.
I have written about this place in my blog
http://indianbureaucratsdiary.blogspot.com/2007/11/murud-janjira-in...