5 offbeat must-see beaches around Mumbai

Mumbai: If you have exhausted your options for sightseeing in this bustling metropolis, or, if you are in dire need of some solitude-seeking, soul-searching serenity, the bucolic coastline of Maharasthra – the third largest state in India – is a fantastic option. Maharashtra is sadly overshadowed by the beaches of its much smaller cousin Goa, with loads of tourists and weekend trippers heading off to this southern paradise, while skipping the equally beautiful and at times, even more peaceful seashore havens of Maharashtra.

However, with over 700 km of palm fringed coastline on the Arabian seas, Maha has a lot to offer. While beaches like Alibaug, Kashid, Harihareshwar and Ganapatipule list among the all-time popular ones, there are myriads of hidden gems that are a sheer delight to discover and drop by. Having criss crossed this state over the last many years, I personally prefer the beaches south of Mumbai to its northern counterparts, most of which are defined by incredibly long sandy stretches (that make for lovely morning or evening walks), whitish-brown sands, acres of coconut and palm plantations zealously hiding the beaches and finally, the quintessential hills that act like sentinels and prominently mark the boundaries of one beach from another.  Thus characterized, the following is my personal pick of the 5 must-see far-from-the-madding-crowd beaches in this beautiful state. While it is a wonderful experience any time of the year, autumn to spring (October – April) is undoubtedly the best time to revel in these blue waters.

1. Akshi:  Around 2.5 hours from Mumbai, Akshi lies just south of Mumbai’s favourite weekend destination Alibaug, but is far more serene, less crowded and separated by a creek / stream. It is a lovely walk from the estuary of this stream all the way down to the end of the beach. The grey white sand here is very firm, yet has a silky softness to it – a walk around sunset is highly recommended. Makes for the quickest day trip from Mumbai – there are wonderful cottages to stay as well right on the beach.

2. Nagaon: Just south of Akshi lies the haven of Nagaon. It is one helluva long stretch and is fringed with casuarina trees all along - the closest you can come to sandy-sunny inner peace without discarding the trivialities of civil life. You can spot the early morning fishermen hauling in their fresh catch while softly treading on your wandering thoughts. In the highly unlikely event that you are still not satiated in your thirst for the Arabian, head south to Revdanda beach, another photocopy of Nagaon. Homestays and hotels abound nearby, making for a peaceful weekend here

Nagaon - a spot for your own

3.   Korlai: A small but incredibly beautiful beach, Korlai has a lot to offer. It is a dwarf when compared to Akshi or Nagaon, but comes with a lighthouse and a derelict Portuguese fortress to explore. It was an erstwhile Portuguese outpost on the seas from long ago - all that remains today are broken walls holding centuries of memories, a whitewashed chapel standing out against the azure skies, a towering view of the nearby villages and of course whistling winds that breeze by as you sit underneath a shady bower, listen to a deeply melancholic cooing dove and almost think of becoming a poet, dazed in the romanticism of the place.  Once you are satiated in the fortress, you can even exercise your lungs by climbing up a nearby lighthouse, and then cap it all by plunging / walking on the nearby sandy scimitar of the Korlai beach. 3 hours from Mumbai and makes for a wonderful day trip.

Korlai beach - the view from the fort's vantage

Korlai - a sandy scimitar of serenity

4.  Diveagar:  The queen beach of them all, I can never stop recounting the beauty of this beach. An immensity of a stretch, time just passes by as you watch the slow activities unravelling around you. On a windy day, you can actually see the fine white sands scurrying along the beach and forming wavy striations on the long sandy expanses. One of the most fecund beaches in the state in terms of tiny marine life, a plunge in the clear waters is a must. Finish your dip with some fresh off the tree coconut waters and spicy fish fry at one of the many shacks close to the beach. For the devoutly theistic ones, there’s a popular temple nearby dedicated to Ganesha. (read more on Diveagar: http://the-vagabonds-trail.blogspot.com.au/2015/12/the-sands-of-serendipity-diveagar.html) 

Diveagar - you can't ask for more

5.   Ganeshgule: Okay, this one is a bit far from the city and can be seen in conjunction with Ratnagiri or Panhala – popular tourist locations close by. The reason for entering this list is the remoteness of the place with only one resort (the Oceano Pearl) nearby. Well, if you are lucky, you can actually have the resort and the beach all to yourself! It is one of the most pristine yet remote beaches I have uncovered along this coast. Sit on the rocks at one end of the beach, marvel at the entire place, write your worries on the sands, then take a long walk to touch the rocky walls on the other end of the beach. Finally, catch a ruddy sunset in the evening, while you lose yourself in a solitary dusk broken by the sounds of the crashing waves alone…then walk back to see the blue waters erasing all your scribbled worries to call it a day. That’s Ganeshgule for you, helping you reclaim your life, one wave at a time…

Ganeshgule - No man's land...