Every bustling city needs an oasis of calm just around it to shield you from the crazy pace of everyday life. Alibaug provides just the perfect home away from home. Accessible by a simple ferry ride all through the year except the monsoons or it would take a three hour drive from Mumbai to get to Alibaug.
Alibaug is about 300 years old city. Alibaug was developed in the 17th century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, the Naval chief of King Shivaji’s kingdom. Many people used to call Alibaug as Shribag. Now they formed ‘Shribaug’ as a part of Alibaug. Some people used to mention Alibaug as ‘Kulaba’. Alibaug was not directly connected to Mumbai at that time. People used to travel by sea from Revas, Dharmtar or Mankule. The scenario changed in 1964. The bridge of Dharamtar Creek was built; Alibaug got attached to the other cities like Mumbai.
Alibaug is a small town with an unhurried pace of life, a beautiful beach and the green hills on the other side, free of pollution and noise to charm.
A small walk from Alibaug depot is the Alibaug beach, this charming beach is a sight for sore eyes, with its proud coconut trees swaying in the breeze and the great sea glistening in the light of the gorgeous blue skies above. Kaluba fort is 1 km off the shore of this marvelous beach. One can walk down only during low tide because during high tide you can only access this fort by boat. Do check on time of tides while taking adventurous walk in Arabian Sea.
On coastal road from Alibaug to Murud, one can find beautiful beaches like Kashid, Kihim, Nandgaon and Murud-Janjira. For bird lovers, Phansad Wildlife sanctuary is on way to Murud.
Akshi Beach is a mere 15 minutes from Alibaug on the Alibaug -Revdanda road. A quiet fishing village with quaint houses built right in the calming shade of the coconut grove, it is a great throw back to a quiet and peaceful time and you automatically breathe easier and just leave your worries behind.
Nagaon Beach is situated 7 km from Alibaug and its picturesque beach is just what you need to revive your battered senses. This fishing village is not very crowded with tourist, so you can expect some solitude and plenty of fascinating sights to take in. This place is known for coconuts and betel-nuts.
One of best known beach around Alibaug is Kihim Beach. The woods in Kihim beach are home to a plethora of unique butterflies, birds and flora. Being developed place, Kihim beach still retaining its rustic flavor. One can cool off in the sea and spend a night underneath the stars on the golden sand beach of Kihim. Kihim is a wonderful beach with the right mix of beauty and development, solitude and activity. Kihim is so easily accessible, and so beautiful that it is the ideal getaway for a little “me” or “us” time with a variety of experiences to offer.
Chaul Rewdanda is located 25 km from Alibaug and besides being a very attractive beach; it has several historic monuments such as Buddhist caves, Portuguese ruins, a Hamam Khana and a range of places of worship including a church, a temple and even a synagogue.
Kashid Beach is an absolutely mesmerizing beach almost 30 km away from Alibaug which will make you fall in love to come again and again. With emerald green forest covered hillocks on one side and the most beautifully quiet silver sand beach on the other.
From Kashid you can venture towards the sea fort of Murud Janjira where you will be treated to countless postcard perfect sunsets with the awe inspiring fort in the background and romantic little sailboats flitting across the horizon. Images that will last a lifetime are what you can be promised at Murud Janjira.
20 km north of Alibaug is Mandwa which is the jetty that the ferry to and from Mumbai will land. This stretch of the beach has a line of magnificent bungalows all owned by the glitterati of Mumbai. Mandwa is a lovely beach to live on if you can get a hold of one of these bungalows.
A few other noteworthy beaches on this incredibly lovely stretch of sand and sea include Awas (16 km ), Saswane (18 km), and Rewas (24 km ). So pack your bags for a lazy week end that will give you a fresh lease of life and memories that will last forever.
How to Reach
From Mumbai
- 110 Kms off NH 17 Goa road good motorable scenic road
- Route: Mumbai – Panvel – NH17 – Vadkhal Naka – NH4B – Alibaug
From Pune:
- 128 Kms by road
- Route: Pune – NH4 – Lonavala – Left at Khopoli – on Khopoli Pali road – NH17 – Vadakhal – NH4B – Alibaug
Season & Climate
- Winter : Nov. to Feb., Temp. between 15° to 22° C
- Summer : March to May & Oct., Temp. between 28° to 32° C
- Monsoon : June to Sept., Rainfall 2000mm
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