Your Beachy Holiday Around Mumbai
Spending a day in Mumbai is definitely not enough, but you can still experience a few of the famous spots that are loved by everyone. Some of them include spots like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Formerly known as Victoria Terminus it is a popular historic railway station that is located on the Dadabhai Naoroji Road. It is a UNESCO world heritage site that was built in 1888. The railway station was built because Bombay was in the process of becoming a major port city during that era. The terminal was designed by the British architect F. W. Stevens. Hence, it showcases itself as an outstanding blend of Victorian Gothic Revival and Indian traditional architecture. The main structure of the terminus has been made with sandstone and limestone. The entrance comprises two columns, one is topped with a lion that represents Great Britain and the other with a tiger which represents India.
The historic Leopold Cafe in Colaba has been one of the most iconic restaurants in the city both for travellers as well as Mumbaikars. The cafe was founded in the year 1871 by the Zoroastrian Iranians that came to India in the late 19th and early 20th century. The cafe came under the horrific attacks of 2011. People from the city and places elsewhere come to share the spirit of Mumbai. Some of the signs of the attack have not been repaired and are used as a memorial.
The Elephanta cave sare one of the most prominent architectural spots of Mumbai. They spread to around 60,000 square feet of area. It has been named a UNESCO world heritage site that comprises a collection of cave temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Inside the caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that depict Hindu mythologies through a large monolithic 20 feet (6.1 m) Trimurti Sadashiva, Nataraja and Yogishvara. Being the most celebrated, the stone sculptures have been built out of solid basalt rock that enhances the wisdom and culture in the rawest forms. You can travel up to here by boarding a ferry that is run near the waters of the Gateway of India.
KASHID BEACH
A popular getaway for Mumbaikars and tourists of Mumbai is the calm beach of Kashid. Located at a distance of 125 km, it is popular for dragging beach lovers to witness its pristine coastlines. The Kashid beach is famous for being one of the cleanest beaches of north Konkan. It stretches across 3 km and is surrounded by various shrubs and a vast spread of the Casuarina trees. The beach is perfect for some relaxing time or if you want to indulge yourself into some adventurous activities then that option is also available. Adventure sports such as parasailing, scuba diving, water scooter ride, snorkelling and banana boat rides can be tried either with your gang of friends or as a solo adventurer. It also gives you the perfect opportunity to take out your tent, build a bonfire and gaze at the twinkling stars in the night. The beach is also famous for offering horseback rides. Avoid visiting here on weekends as it can get too crowded. The summer month is quite hot to visit, hence it will be apt to visit the Kashid beach anytime between October and February. The weather is perfect to relax and take a calm dip into the waters.
The Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary spreads to an area of 6979-hectare land. Founded in the year 1986, the spot where the sanctuary lies acted as the princely hunting reserve of Murud Janjira. The Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is considered as one of the easiest spots to relax away from the hustle of Mumbai. The rich diversity of animals inside consists of the Leopard, Hyena, Jungle cat, Palm civet, Sambhar, Barking deer, Bonnet Macaque, Wild boar and Malabar giant squirrel. Birds like the Pied Hornbill, Three-toed Kingfisher, Malkoha, Pitta and 144 more birds also inhabit the place. Nature lovers will witness the 710 types of plants and 90 kinds of butterflies.
Just 45 mins away from Kashid lies the Murud-Janjira fort that is located on an island of Murud. The fort is built on top of an elevated oval-shaped rock that is surrounded by the waters of the Arabian sea. The entrance greets visitors with sculptures that depict a tiger-like beast that is seen grabbing elephants by the strength of its claws. It is regarded as one of the most popular marine forts of India. Currently, the condition of the fort is not like it used to be earlier. The fort was accessible with all the necessary facilities like the palaces, quarters for officers, mosque, two small natural freshwater lakes and more. Though the nineteen bastions present inside the fort are still intact, depicting its illustrious past.
ANJARLE
A five-hour ride from Mumbai will land you at the AnjarLe Beach. A perfect spot to spend a couple of days at without shelling out too much money. The sand of the beach is a golden brown colour that looks more bright when the sun’s rays fall on it. Just next to the coastline lie a thick cover of palm trees that add more perfection and serenity in its beauty. The Anjarle beach stretches up to 2 km, giving you ample land to jog on or to fix just a spot where you would want to laze around and soak in the sun.
The Kadyavarcha Ganpati is one of the popular destinations in Anjarle. According to various sources, the temple was built in the 12th century and was made entirely out of wood. Years back this temple was built on the seashore next to two other temples, the Ajayrayleshwar temple and the Siddhivinayak temple. Both the temples have succumbed to remains that can only be seen when the water of the shore decreases. Due to the tides impact the Kadyavarcha Ganpati temple was then again built, but not next to the shore. It was built between 1768 to 1780 on top of the nearest hill, hence, it is named Kadyavarcha Ganpati. The temple has been constructed on three tiers with over two hundred stairs taking its height to 65 feet, spreading over 200 foot. The temple has been divided into the main hall, an assembly hall and a yard have two doors. The doors are sixty foot and forty foot tall. The yard of the temple has a statue of Lord Ganpati in its centre and Lord Shiva’s statue right next to it. The Lord Ganesha statue also has two small statues of his wives Riddhi and siddhi on his left and right.
Three kilometres ahead of the Anjarle beach lies the Suvarnadurg fort. The fort was built by the founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji Maharaj. In 1660, Shivaji Maharaaj and the Peshwas used it to defend themselves from attacks during the local and European wars. The fort was named Suvarnadurg due to its translation to a golden fort that signified pride and victory for the Marathas. The fort also had a shipbuilding facility too.edge of the land that protrudes into the Arabian Sea. This is a natural harbour known for large fishing and marketing. It is believed that the Kanakadurga fort and other landside forts such as Bankot fort, Fatehgarh fort and Gova fort were built primarily as lookout forts for the security of the Suvarnadurg fort.
MALGUND
A four-hour drive on the ‘Maharashtrian State Highway 4’ will land you on one of the most secluded beaches near Mumbai. Since the beach is not known by many it has not been grabbed by the harmful effects of industrialization. If you are looking for a non-polluted beach the Malgund beach is the perfect spot for you to travel up to. Due to the cleanliness and greenery that it surrounds itself with, you will be able to relish in the clean waters and the near to perfect white sand. Many people who know about the Malgund beach are surprised to see dolphins swimming in the waters. The local charm of the beach is perfect to spend a few days at and enjoy the famous Malvani cuisine. Water sport activities are also conducted at the Malgund beach. Many people who choose to travel up here are because it is the native village of the famous Marathi poet, Kavi Keshavsoot. Hence, you will be able to spot more literally inclined people who come here to see the house of Kavi Keshavsoot that has been converted into a student’s hotel. The village has also dedicated a memorial to him that was built by Marathi Sahitya Parishad.
The Jaigad Fort or the Fort of Victory is located near the Jaigad village and extends up to 13 acres of land. It was built on top of a cliff in the 16th century. The Jaigad fort overlooks the Jaigad creek where River Shastri merges with the Arabian Sea. The Jaigad Fort is considered as one of the chief ports of the Western Coast of India. It is said that the fort was built along with another fort named the Vijaygad Fort. The purpose behind building another fort was to protect the creek with the Vijaygad Fort for the Northern part and the Jaigad Fort for the Southern part of the creek. The intelligence and brilliant planning with limited resources that was conducted by the architectures of that era when the Jaigad Fort was built are applauded till today. Now, the fort comes under the Archaeological Survey of India.
Krishnaji Keshav Damle was a famous poet of the nineteenth century who was famous for his numerous poems. He died at a young age of thirty-nine, but, was still able to lead an impactful life inspiring the minds of others. He wrote 103 poems that have been part of the Marathi literature like ‘Tutaree’ and ‘NavaShipaee’. The residence of the poet was converted into a memorial on the 8th May 1994. It was inaugurated by the great poet Kusumagraj. Before inaugurating he declared that ‘this memorial is the capital of Marathi Poetry.’ The first section of the memorial showcases a library and the other’s a study room that showcases the large collection of famous Marathi poetry by legendary Marathi poets.
TARKARLI
Driving down the NH66 of Maharashtra will land you on the last beach spot, Tarkarli. It is the perfect spot to relax and destress for the weekend. The place has several natural wonders that have not been ruined by commercialisation. Hence, it is perfect to travel up to here and even indulge in a few fun beach activities. Not many people know, but, Tarkali is the only spot where you can snorkel in Maharashtra. The diverse, rare and exotic marine world with its fishes and coral reefs makes the underwater experience wonderfully magnificent to remember your entire lifetime.
Not a fan of scuba diving? There is another great water sports option for you to try. There are frequent parasailing activities held at Tarkarli that are considered phenomenal to try as it offers the best views of the stunning beaches. Parasailing requires you to be harnessed to a boat along with a parachute. As the boat starts moving, the parachute is pulled and you reach high in the sky. Tarkarli is considered as an amazing place to parasail due to the natural and pristine that it is surrounded with. A little unknown fact about this place is the dolphins that can be seen enjoying these waters. Dolphins are not accustomed to just one beach. Hence, it’s important you keep your eyes wide open as you might at any time see dolphins swimming in the crystal clear waters. The Achaar and Nivati beaches are considered as one of the most popular spots to see dolphins swimming. A boat ride in the sea is perfect for capturing them from a close angle, searching for food and swimming along the beach that makes for the perfect opportunity to grab on your phone’s camera. Other water sports activities that you can enjoy here include a banana bumper boat ride, jet skiing and scuba diving. You can even enjoy the beach waters by staying in one of the houseboats, giving you Kerala feels right here in Maharashtra. As the Karli river has the perfect silent backwaters, it forms the perfect conditions for a houseboat to stay afloat.
The Sindhugarh fort is located on top of an islet of the Arabian sea. It stretches up to an area of 48 acres that comprises massive walls and structure. Travelling up to the fort takes around thirty minutes, hence, travel up to here to witness the magnificent history that surrounds the fort.
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