The Konkan region of India is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, bound by the river Daman Ganga at Damaon in the north, to Anjediva Island next to Karwar town in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan Plateau to the east. This is called a hinterland and has numerous river valleys, riverine islands and the hilly slopes known as the Western Ghats; that lead up into the tablelands of the Deccan. The Konkan region has been recognised by name, since at least the time of Strabo, in the third century CE.[1] It had a thriving mercantile port with Arab tradesmen from the 10th century onwards.
The best-known islands of Konkan are Ilhas de Goa, the site of the Goa state‘s capital at Panjim; also, the Seven Islands of Bombay, on which lies Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra & the headquarters of Konkan Division.
There are numerous beaches in the Konkan region. The idea behind taking this trip was to find if the western most strip of Indian coastline is different from the popular beaches of Mumbai and Goa cities. And also to understand how is ‘Konkan’ region which we read in our geography text books at all different ?
Is there something called ‘Konkani culture’ as we hear and saw in the movies 🙂 .
The whole idea was to get a real touch and feel of this elusive KONKAN REGION of India !
So on researching i came across many popular regions in Konkan (Western ghats ) .
Diveagar, Harihareshwar , Srivardhan Ganapatipule beach, Tarkarli Beach, Alibaug Beach, Kashid beach, Murud beach, Juhu beach, Versova beach, Manori beach, Harihareshwar beach, Madh island, Aksa beach, Diveagar beach, Malvan beach, Revdanda Beach and many more.
Loaded with all sorts of natural beauty, the beaches in Konkan are a perfect place to head out on a weekend getaway. All the beaches nestle in the midst of alluring greenery and azure blue waters of the Arabian sea offering an unspoiled environment to relax, rejuvenate, and have fun filled adventures.
Dotted with various beautiful spots, the Tarkarli Beach has got a gorgeous beach side which is adorned with pristine water, white sand, and age old sea fort Sindhudurg.
Konkan beaches like Alibaug is known for its laid back rejuvenations in the middle of coconut grooves, Ganpatipule Beach is known for its places of worships and surfing activities, Malvan Beach is very much popular for its rich seafood cuisines and snorkelling activities. Every single beach in the Konkan region has got its very own identity, so it is up to you to decide the one which matches closely to your taste for an ideal holiday destination.
430 Kms , Via Pune Highway , 10-12 hours
There are less options to reach Konkan beaches . Most popular choice is to reach Pune/Mumbai (via Flight /Train), and then take a Cab . Travelling from Mumbai to Srivardhan or any of the Konkan beaches is preferable over travelling from Pune . Though Pune-Srivardhan will be around 150 Kms and Mumbai slightly higher than this , the cab drivers suggested me that they prefer the Mumbai-Konkan route due to less traffic jams in Pune ! I did not believe them speculating that since Indian cabs work on distance tariffs …however when I crossed Pune ….I understood it all!
Pune is a Road nightmare ! it would take anytime of day 2 hours to cross 30 kms in Pune , and worst if you are travelling during office hours . So best idea is to reach mumbai and travel to Konkan .
I reached Srivardhan , from Aurangabad (continuing the Ajanta-Ellora Trip). Started at 6.30 am and reached by 4.30 pm evening just before it gets dark . The coastal villages of Konkan gets dark and desolate late evenings , so its better to not do road travels on the Western ghats late nights . My cab driver went on narrating stories on thefts on road cabs at odd hours !
I knew that the Western Ghats of India is larger than the Eastern Ghats , though the height of this range in lower than the Eastern Ghats . You will see the beautiful continous Sahyadri mountains all the way from Aurangabad till you enter Konkan region . There will be change of landscapes and ecosystems , varying between scrublands, to Basaltic rock plateaus , and Tropical forests as you enter the Konkan .
The Western Ghats (Sahyadri Mountain range) stretches 1600 kms covering almost 1,60,000 sq Km….as I read while on this road journey ! And I was covering just 450 odd kms ! In this itself It amazed the extent of changing landscapes and bio diversity . This coastline actually traverses the Indian states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka , Kerala and Tamil Nadu . The Sahyadri range forms an almost continous chain of mountains along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau , from the Tapti river to Swamithihoppe in Kanyakumari district at the southern most tip of the Indian Peninsula !
These Western Ghats meet the Eastern ghats at Nilgiris before continuing south .
The western Ghats are the mountanous faulted and eroded edge of the Deccan Plateau . Read in the books that it was formed during the break-up of the super continent – Gondwana. After the break up the Deccan plateau was formed by basalt rocks ( the same that we see in Ajanta and Ellora caves) of Maharashtra …it was these rocks which causes the western side to rise at an elevation along the coastline ; and also now could see these mountainous rocks and understand why all the rivers in western coast flows from west to east !
Geophysical evidence tells that the mountains arose along the west coast somewhere between the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous periods when India was separating from the African continent! And hence several faults triggered the formation of the western ghats , that then got interspersed with valleys and river georges !
The mountains can be roughly divided into three parts: the northern section with an elevation ranging from 900–1,500 m (3,000–4,900 ft), the middle section starting south of Goa with a lower elevation of less than 900 m (3,000 ft), and the southern section where the altitude rises again. The Western Ghats have several peaks that rise above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with Anaimudi (2,695 m (8,842 ft)) being the highest peak. The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).
‘Konkan’ is the mid stretch of the Western Ghats , covering Maharashtra and Goa . The height is not as much as the southern part . You will feel surreal when we come closer to the Indian ocean side ..with the mountain ridges slowly hinting the approaching coastline and the sea plays peek-a boo- with you ! Every time I got excited at the sight of the blue sea Arabian sea and pulled my cab driver to halt for pictures …he calmly smiled ..hold on let the sea come…..more closer for better pictures…………… !!! That’s how you would feel when you find the long coastline follow you through out the last 55 kms of your road journey….cut away from the world and take you to silence and peace and might of the nature !
After a hearty breakfast spread at Meritas Seawind beach resort , I booked a three wheeler ( easiest to transit in Konkan region) , if not a large group . A few notes on Meritas Sea Wind before I forget ! Strongly recomend this place , its just a few meters from the beach and located in a beautiful village setting with quiet lanes and you would get to even mingle with the natives and see their lifestyle ! See how their Sunday meetings looks like…how does the vegetables gets supplied at their doorstep …..how the raw fish caught from sea gets sundried and packed ….see school kids . The resort was nice, big with a great service quality ! A sincere thanks to the receptionist who helped me out with getting me a spare I Phone charger when mine got knocked off after the travel. And in such a remote place I was all lost ! Some God’s help that was . Bless the soul who had left his charger at this resort a month back !
Good Karma they say in India ! 😉
In Konkan region, stay laid back, don’t look at time…donot rush ….
That’s how life is here .
Calm, peaceful, silent and all green and blue !!
So the second day after you have a great Konkani and Maharashtrian breakfast of ‘Misal-Paav’, ‘Kaanda Poha’, ‘ Vada Pav‘ …..leave to the nearby Diveagar beach. Take a auto if small group . Its around 28 kms from Srivardhan . You will go through Coconut , palm and betel nut trees and loads of mango orchards ! I was surprised to find mini-mango fruits emerging in the month of Dec !
Visit the Ganesha temple , and then the famous Roop Narayan Temple .
I felt the aura so spiritually calming….so sat there for a few minutes of meditation.
Less people, set near Diveagar beach, surrounded by thick forests ….this temple sure will draw you within you !
After that go visit Diveagar beach….lots of beach activities ……enjoy the modaks……..and coconut drinks and return back to Srivardhan .
For bike riders ….Konkan region is best explored on bikes /cycles !
