A Refreshing, Short Trip to Murud (Janjira) - The much awaited break from Routine !
KONKAN TRAVEL DIARY
This Christmas vacation, we headed for a short getaway from routine to Murud-Janjira, a coastal town near Alibaug, Maharashtra.
We chose the day after Christmas, packed our bags and began our journey at around 7 am without any bookings.
Murud at a distance of approx. 150 kms is around 5-6 hrs drive away.
Distance from Mumbai to Murud approx 158 kms
Distance from Pune to Murud approx 182 kms
A start in the early hours of the day ensures you reach early and the evening can be utilized, proves helpful in search of an accommodation if someone leaves unplanned and unbooked the way we did, you enjoy traffic free travel during pleasant hours of the morning and can have lunch on reaching the destination as Murud is just 5-6 hrs drive away and one can relish sea food on reaching the coastal town.
On the way to Murud, one can pay a visit to Revdanda beach, the way we did as it’s on the way from Alibaug to Murud, and still reach on time for lunch at Murud though you would start growing restless while proceeding to Murud, the way we felt as you start growing hungry, and the drive feels endless from here as you await the reach which is almost an hour and a half drive here on.
Revdanda is a secluded beach with dark brown sand & clear water. It can be chosen for a stay if peace, calm & solitude is what one is looking for. The place offers limited options for a stay.
One may proceed for Murud after spending a short while at Revdanda as we did.
On reaching Murud, we first had our lunch, sea food, what we were craving for & the speciality the region offers & looked for an option to stay.
Murud beach is a crowded Chowpatty like location lined up with plenty of eateries offering traditional Konkan/Mughlai/Chinese foods, Chats etc like the Chowpatty in Mumbai. Lot of stay options too available around. However, Christmas being a time when schools have vacations and many people on Christmas/New Year/Long weekend/Weekend vacations, many places booked and crowded too.
We preferred staying a little away from this hustle & bustle though not very far. We found the perfect accommodation we were looking for a walkable distance away – around 400 – 500 meters from the hustle & bustle & the kind we were looking for.
A beach touch place with access to the beach any time of the day, a place where one can sit out and enjoy the beach view & breeze, spend time outside playing in the sand or idling off, relaxing under the shades of coconut trees, where the little travel freak can enjoy playing in the sand when the sun is overhead, we can breathe in fresh air, relax & unwind the stress of routine city life & access the beach from the resort in the mornings till noon and in the evening till late night whenever you want or just sit in the resort and view the sea, hear the roaring sound of the sea right outside during high tides.
The place offered solitude, peace, calm & comfort we were looking for and settled here for the next two days. We spent 2 days and three nights here.
Ample parking space and an option to dine out in the open
too was available.
We settled in the room, refreshed and hit the beach by around 5pm & enjoyed the evening at the beautiful beach overlooking the Padma Durg fort & providing a view of the Nawab’s palace at a distance.
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| Padma Durg Fort in sight from Murud Beach |
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| Serene Murud Beach |
The beach is clean with clear waters, not very crowded and the most important part is that it is very safe.
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| Clear waters at Murud |
The land is flat, no rocks, safe for children to venture in the water and enjoy.
Water sports like Jet Ski, Banana ride, Bumpy Ride etc too
are available at Murud Beach
The chowpatty at Murud where there was a special New Year festival organized, too could be accessed via two ways through the beach from our place of stay or via road.
We enjoyed refreshing tea at the chowpatty which was accessed by a walk through the beach and return via the same route.
We headed to the Murud Chowpatty for dinner at around 9 pm and relished Mughlai Food this time (Mughlai Food, Kebabs, Tandoori etc available at this coastal town of Konkan as there is considerable Konkani Muslim settlement in the region since olden days.)
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| Chicken Tikka Masala & Malabar Parathas |
Next morning started with a barefoot 30 mins walk on the pristine beach, followed by scrumptious breakfast served at the place of stay
Korlai Light house is located on a hill which can be accessed by a vehicle. However, on the day of our visit vehicles weren't allowed on top due to civil and maintenance work being carried out and we had to walk uphill to visit the light house.
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| On the Way to Korlai Light House |
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| Korlai Fort in sight while on the way to the light house |
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| View from Korlai Light House |
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| View from Korlai Light House |
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| View from Korlai Light House |
We did not visit the fort and returned from the light house as the sun was overhead and we could feel the heat.
Places around that can be visited and put on the itinerary
1.
Korlai Light House
2.
Korlai Fort - Trek uphill from the light house
3.
Revdanda Beach & Fort – The fort is at ground
level and besides the beach
4.
Kashid Beach – A well-known beach on the
stretch. An evening can be spent at Kashid Beach which is just 20kms from Murud.
Water sports activities like parasailing, banana boat rides etc can be enjoyed
by adventure lovers at Kashid.
5.
Janjira Fort - Murud – A historical marine fort,
surrounded by water all around and can be reached through a boat only. A visit
to Murud is incomplete without a visit to this gigantic which is a must visit
and has to be on one’s itinerary.
6.
Datta Mandir – providing an ariel view of the
village and the greenery around, perfect Sunset point
Post our visit to Korlai light house, we returned to Murud, had our lunch (Sea food thalis Surmai, Pomfret & Bangda at Hotel Vinayak) and spent the evening on the beach.
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| Murud Fish Market |
It is advisable to walk to the fish market instead of going by a 4 wheeler as the road is narrow and gets congested when an ST bus makes its way here which is frequent. You can also take an auto-rickshaw to the market if you do not wish to walk
We sourced our meal for the evening & relished it to the core. Mouth-watering, Finger licking, scrumptious meal was served and relished by the bay.
The next day was kept idle by us to unwind and idle off by the bay as the young one satiates his sea/beach desires… That’s what he loves doing - stay drenched in the sea, play in the sand, build castles, lie on the hammocks etc. This is the quality time he desires for & terms holiday/vacation. We chose to satisfy his desire.
On the way back home, one can shop for many Konkan specialities at various places lining up the route like varieties of
1.
Papads - Poha, Nachni, Rice, Jowar, Potato etc.
2.
Pickles
3.
Masalas
4.
Kokam - a regional speciality - a souring agent
derived from locally grown fruit
5.
Locally grown pulses like moong, chana, val etc.
6.
Fruits - Mangoes, Jackfruit, Papayas, Elaichi
Bananas available as per season
7.
Locally grown fresh veggies
8.
Fresh catch fish
9.
Dried fishes, shrimps etc
By doing so you’ll also be supporting the local economy too………..
A Win Win situation for both 😊 ! During one’s visit to this stretch a must try is the local appetizing savoury drink – Solkadi. Solkadi serves as an appetizer pre-meal or as a digestive agent post meal. It can also be enjoyed with the meal as you would love its savoury tangy taste in place of harmful aerated cold drinks.
Recommended places to eat
1.
Hotel Vinayak for sea food with a view of the
sea beach.
2.
Hotel Spices for Tandoor & Mughlai food
3.
Hotel Samadhan a little away from the crowded
Murud Beach but worth a visit to relish simple & tasty homely Veg and
Non-Veg food (not very commercialized)
Murud – A coastal town offering all that one would desire on a beach vacation-------- one catering to the needs of diverse travelers and fulfilling their requirements alike.
Apt for fun & adventure lovers as well as for those seeking calm, peace & solace, For nature lovers and explorers………….a “Route Away From Routine”
Very Informative information
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