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Dahanu - Bordi :
Dahanu, a quiet seaside town with a sprawling, uncluttered beach, is situated in Thane District. Dahanu is lined with fruit orchards and is famous for its chickoo fruit. Accessible from Dahanu is Udwada -- an important place of worship for the Zoroastrians -- with a large, beautiful temple that houses their sacred fire. An amazing fact but true, this fire has been kept alive for almost a thousand years. 
Getting there : Dahanu Road is the nearest railhead, which is just 2 and 1/2 hours from Mumbai. By road, Mumbai is 145 kms away.
Hotels : The MTDC resort is available.

Ganapatipule :
The sun-kissed beach and lush greenery of Ganapatipule inevitably draws tourists back, year after year. The added attraction is a 400-year old temple which houses the "Swayambhu Ganapati ".
Getting there : Ratnagiri on the Konkan Railway is the nearest railhead as also the nearest bus station.Mumbai is 375 kms away by road while Pune is 331 kms away.
Hotels : MTDC has a resort that offers accommodation varying from dormitories to comfortable A.C. suites. Tents and water sports facilities are also available.Other hotels include Abhishek Beach Resort Bhandarpule Road,Ganpatipule,District Ratnagiri Tel No:(02357)35327,35214.Hotel Landmark Ganapatipule,District Ratnagiri Tel No :(02357)35284 ,Krishnali Beach Resort Bhadarpule ,Ganapatipule ,District Ratnagiri Tel No :(02357)35351/52/53.

Kihim & Mandwa :
These two beaches are located 12 miles north of Alibag on the north coast and are easily accessible from Mumbai. Mandwa is a beautiful, untrodden beach. On a clear day one can enjoy a long, breathtaking view across the bay,even up to the Gateway of India. Mandwa village too, has a charm of its own -- with its beautiful groves of coconut palms. You can plan an unusual tent holiday nearby at Kihim. Unspoilt and isolated, this beautiful place has a soothing effect on all city dwellers. For the nature lover, Kihim has a lot to offer: woods brimming with wild flowers and rare butterflies and birds. Worth visiting is the Kolaba Fort, just a furlong away from the shore. 15 kms from Alibag is Chaul, an historic place with Portuguese ruins, Buddhist Caves, the Hamam Khana, a church, a temple and even a synagogue.
Getting there : It is accessible by boats and road. There is regular ferry service between the Gateway of India and Mandwa Jetty. For Kihim, one can take an auto-rickshaw or bus further onwards. By road, Kihim is 136 kms from Mumbai.
Hotels : Kihim Beach Resort Kihim village,Alibaug,Dist :Raigad Pin : 402201 Tel No :(021433)8172.Sai-Inn Holiday Resort Chondi,Post Kihim,Alibaug,District Raigad Pin :402201 Tel No :(021433)8102,8246.

Marwe,Manori & Gorai :
North of Mumbai and away from its bustling crowds and pollution, are these 3 gems that have become popular havens for Mumbai's beleaguered fun lovers. Marve, the closest and the quietest is a lovely little fishing village. There are some beautiful bungalows and up-scale homes belonging to the city's wealthy used mainly as weekend getaways. Low hills along the beach offer you extraordinary views of sunrise and sunset Gorai and Manori, a little further away, are more crowded with revellers and are famous for all night beach parties.
Getting there: Marve is about 40 kms by car from Mumbai. You can alight at Malad railway station (a suburban station on the Western Railway line) and proceed by road. A 15 minute ferry ride from Marve or Borivali will take you to Manori or Gorai.
Hotels: Some private hotels and shacks are available on the beachfronts .In addition to these Mumbai also has The Juhu Beach,The Girgauv Chowpati,The Chowpati at Dadar all these three beaches have to pay a heavy price for being so close almost in the heart of the city as over a period of time these beaches have been badly exploited & now are dirty & filthy.

Murud - Janjira :
Formerly the capital town of the Siddis of Janjira, Murud is today popular for its alluring beach, whispering casurina, coconut and betel palms and an ancient fort. On a hillock to the north is the shrine of Lord Dattatreya, the three heads representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. Battered on all four sides by sea waves, its strong walls yet standing intact and 40 feet high even at full tide is the majestic island fortress of the Siddis -- Murud-Janjira. Never conquered by an enemy for over 350 years since its construction by the Ahmednagar rulers under the supervision of their regent Malik Ambar in the 15th century, Murud-Janjira is probably the only impregnable fort on the 720 km Maharashtra coastline. Neither the Portuguese nor the British could subjugate the fort. And the Marathas, despite their repeated attempts failed to subjugate the Siddi power. The palace of the Nawab and the Janjira Caves are also a must for the tourist. And just a few kilometres away are two undiscovered beaches: Nandgaon and Kashid. Nandgaon is famous for its Ganapati temple and the annual fair held in honour of ths elephant-headed god every February.
Getting there : Roha on the Konkan Railway is the nearest railhead. Mumbai is 165 kms by road. Another fun-filled route is by ferry from Mumbai to Rewas jetty, 90 minutes away and then by bus via Alibag and Chaul.
Hotels: The MTDC Resort on the beach offers comfortable accommodation and wonderful cuisine.Golden Swan Beach Resort Darbar road,Murud Janjira,District :Raigad Pin - 402201 Tel No : (021447)4078

Shrivardhan - Harihareshwar :
Gentle winds, soft sands and inviting waters make Shriwardhan Bay irresistible to beach lovers & if one relishes sea-food, there is no dearth of delicacies to sample here.The town of Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and picturesque beach and is also famous for the temple of Harihareshwar.
Getting there : The nearest railhead is Mangaon on the Konkan Railway. Mumbai by road is nearly 200 kms away.
Hotels: The MTDC resort is available.

Tarkali :
Situated at the confluence of the Karli River and the Arabian Sea at Devbag, Tarkarli is ideal for tourists, wishing to get away from the humdrum city life. There are tall Shuru trees in the background, which present a panoramic view. The wide river, the beautiful sail boats and the tiny wonderful islands hamlets situated on the river bank, add to the picturesque beauty of Tarkarli.
Getting there: Tarkarli village is located 6 km to the south of Malvan. Tarkarli is easily accessible from Malvan by bus and rickshaw. The closest railhead is Kudal on the Konkan Railway. By road, Malvan is 514 kms away from Mumbai.
Hotels: Currently there is an MTDC Tent Resort.

Velneshwar :
North of the Shastri River lies the idyllic village of Velneshwar. The quiet, coconut-fringed beach offers the visitor the ideal opportunity for swimming or just relaxing . There is an old Shiva temple in the environs which is often frequented by pilgrims. Velneshwar is the focus of attention once a year in March, when the Maha Shivratri Fair is held in honour of the god Shankar or Shiva.
Getting there : The nearest railhead is Chiplun on the Konkan Railway. By road, Mumbai via Chiplun and Guhagar is 370 kms away.
Hotels : The resort which MTDC plans to build here will be ideally located on a hillock with the sea on both sides.

Vengurla-Malvan :
With its long stretch of white sands, and hills covered with cashew, coconut, jackfruit and mango groves lies the pristine and beautiful town of Vengurla. It has two well-known temples: the Shri Devi Sateri temple and the Rameshwar Mandir. On what was once an inner island, and is now part of the mainland, lies the old town of Malvan, almost hidden by palms. The rocky terrain of Malvan holds 2 forts: Sindhudurg and Padmagad. It is said that there was an underground route joining them. Formerly a trading zone, Malvan is toady known for its salt pans, Chinese clay pottery and the special Malvani cuisine which is quite distinct from Konkan food.
Getting there : The closest railhead is Kudal on the Konkan Railway. By road, Malvan is 514 kms away from Mumbai, 200 kms from Ratnagiri. Vengurla is 522 kms from Mumbai.

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CitiesBeachesHill StationsPilgrimages
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