We all have had our shares of games that we have played with the sea. Games of solitude, games of innocence, games of happiness and many more. So, each time I play one of my games, I feel like playing it again. And that is why I was visiting the sea for the fifth time this year. It was the Maharashtrian coast line; Kashid and Murud.
I was put up in Pune for few days and hence thought of planning a weekend drive to Kashid and then Murud. We started Saturday early morning. Travelling for approx. four hours through Pimpri, Lonavla, Revadanda through Mumbai Pune Expressway, we reached Kashid.
Kashid is a white sand beach town on the shores of the Arabian Sea, in the North Konkan region of Maharashtra. The shoreline bordered with casuarina groves, the sticky and soft white sand, and the varied options of water sports available on the beach; makes Kashid a perfect weekend gateway for the Punekars.
Done playing with the sand or experiencing the adrenaline rush after the water sports, head to any of the shacks. Devoid of liquor though, but you are sure to taste some delicious sea food. Prawns, Surmai and Bangra are the commonly available fishes. Not to worry my fellow vegetarians, they serve some well-cooked vegetarian food as well. Our all time favorite, Maggi, is one such option.
There are lots of hotels near the main beach area. So, in case you want to stay there for a night, you won’t be devoid of options. The shacks close by seven in the evening and the roads get a bit deserted, so its better to head back to the hotel by then. The area being surrounded by hills gets quite chilly in the evening. So, even if you get back to the hotel, you are sure to have a good time sitting on the terrace or the lawn, soaking in the chilly breeze blowing from the sea.
Sunday morning, we drove to Murud. It is around 21 km from Kashid. So, if you wish to get back to Kashid after visiting Murud, you could do so. Or else, you could visit Murud and then return to Pune.
We didn’t really head to the Murud beach for there was something more than just the beach waiting for us. We ditched the beach and headed to Murud Janjira. And there you go! We were about to have a date with history, right there in the middle of the sea.
The boat tickets cost Rs.30 per person. So just get a ticket, put on your sun glasses and the hat, get hold of a water bottle, and there you are; ready to step into the boat.
The boat man and his people are multi-talented. For apart from ferrying the boat, they also act as tour guides. ???? ???? ????
After dropping you at the fort, the boat returns after 45 minutes. So, you could hire a tour guide to go around the fort and quickly see the seven to eight main points of the fort. You need not pay as individuals, for they usually take the entire set of people from a boat, together. With such wise arrangements, the charges are quite less, I must say.
Not that you must take the tour guide, as you can always go around the fort at your own pace; stopping by and capturing each moment. Just that I was too mesmerized with our tour guide, Mubarak bhai. A funny man he was. Pitching in some good shayaris from time-to-time, taking us around the fort, he made our walk through the pages of history even more memorable.
Having drenched my soul in the warmth of the sea, adding onto it this extra dollop of history, my weekend ride to Kashid and Murud was ending on a high note. And so, as we drove through the coastal town, making our way through the hills and then the Mumbai-Pune highway, I made my promise. Yet again!
The same old promise I keep making with the sea; that I will soon come back to her.
