Konkan, being the coastal belt of Maharashtra, brings to mind the serene beaches, water lapping on the shores, and footprints in the sand. Not to forget the region being a heaven for sea food lovers. So on this trip of ours we visited the more or less central region of Konkan- Dapoli, Ladghar and Murud-Harnai (not to be confused with the more popular Murud Janjira, which is more north).
The travel!
Situated at a distance of 180km from Pune (5 hours) and at a distance of 230km from Mumbai (5 and half hours), Dapoli is easily accessible by road. Buses ply along the Mumbai Goa highway regularly. Nearest railway station is Khed, and airport is Pune.
We did a roadtrip, which is convenient enough for a weekend trip, and also it gives more freedom and ease to explore the region.
The road from Pune to Dapoli is scenic as it crosses through Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani and has plenty of the Western ghats to traverse, make unscheduled stops, take photos and awe at.
The stay!
We stayed two nights at Dapoli and choose different kinds of stay for the same.
Perched on a small hilltop, this property is located right outside Dapoli. It is located inside a small jungle and it should definitely be on your list if you crave for some serenity. They also have some history about the place dating back to the british era.
Must Read: dapoli beach
The property is huge with plenty of room options and cottages to choose from, with foliage abound. We had booked the 'Aster room' for our stay and God did we love it. They are spacious, good interior deco and a huge balcony overlooking the valley behind. It is the perfect kind of place if you want to just laze around and have some coffee or wine, with a book to read, while enjoying the calmness that surrounds you.
They have a restaurant which serves plenty of local and international cuisine and includes a bar too. They have some fun activities like cooking with the chef too. On the property is the Zion spa, which is good if you want to relieve all your stresses away.
Fern Samali is a complete package if you want to enjoy some quiet ti
me and simply relax! Definitely recommended.
Situated right on murud beach, this was our stay for the second day. This resort is huge with their own restaurant and recreational areas. More convenient is the fact that it is situated right on the beach inside a small jungle. So be prepared to hear those crashing waves in the distance as the leaves rustle around you.
They have rooms and cottage stays available. The room decor is rustic, reminding us of the bygone era houses of the konkan belt. Despite this fact they are clean and fully equipped for your comfort (television, Aircon, the usual). The rooms overlook the beach and the restaurant.
They have some recreational adventure activities like shooting, archery, climbing, rope crossing, zipline, rock climbing etc open till evening. The restaurant is good enough, though they do charge a bit high for the sea food options.
This is a nice place to relax by the beach, for those crave vitamin 'sea'.
What to do?
Dapoli is all about beaches. Visit the beaches around this region, like Murud-Harnai, Ladghar, Karde beach and some more. Harnai is the local sea port of this region and it has the local fish market, where you can score some fresh fish at cheap prices.
If you are done with beaches you can visit the temples in this region like Keshavraj temple, located on a hill, and Kadyavarcha Ganpati.
Apart from that it's all about being lazy and just sitting on the seashore and enjoying the tropical weather.
What to eat?
When in konkan eat like the konkanis do! So seafood and rice are going to be your new best friends. Enjoy the local fish ranging from pomfret to surmai in tawa fry or rava fry, work on some prawns fried or koliwada style, and if you still want chicken there are plenty of those options too like kombdi wade. The local malwani curry (fish, prawns or chicken) is a must try. Not to forget a glass of solkadi (made with milk and kokum) to down your meal.
The prices vary from place to place, so always ask the server before you order anything. Enjoying a hearty meal at local restaurants at cheaper prices feels much better than dining at fine dine restaurants.
What to pack?
Since you are visiting a sea side location, get out those swimsuits, shades, hats and the like. Don't forget to carry a good sun screen and some good hair conditioner.
Expenses?
The Fern samali- 4000 INR
The Lotus eco beach resort- 3000 INR
Dining at eat local- 1600 INR
Dining at lotus resort restaurant- 1250 INR
Spa- 4200 INR for couple
The Fern Samali offers a complementary voucher of 500 INR on their spa packages per person. Different types of massages cost around 2k to 3.5k per person.
Adventure activities at lotus resort, the pricing varies from 200 to 500 INR for the activities you choose from. The resort offers complementary shooting and archery.
To conclude, Dapoli works well for a weekend gateway for those who love the sea and also wish for some tranquility. These beaches of konkan, around Dapoli, are not very commercialised yet (unlike some other beaches).
So head on to these places and rejuvenate yourself.
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