Exploring Konkan During Monsoon
If you are planning to visit the Konkan coast during the monsoon season, then this article will definitely help you explore this western coastline of India during the rain. The article also clearly explains the cool monsoon destinations in Konkan.
It was raining heavily in Mumbai when I sat down to write this post. The weather outside literally took my mind back to my favourite beaches in Konkan and the ideas to write started pouring in effortlessly.
Across the coastline of Indian Peninsula, winter is considered to be the ideal season for planning a beach holiday, well, except for Konkan coast where the monsoons are even more beautiful than for the rest of the year. The mere sight of lush green western ghats on one side and Arabian sea on the other is captivating enough to drive down to Konkan during rains. Playing in water is obviously not recommended during monsoons but the pleasure of sitting on the porch of a beachside cottage with a steamy hot cup of tea and the sound of waves in the backdrop is unparalleled. If you are planning to explore Konkan coast, then continue reading and visit this amazing destination on your next vacationList of Some Cool Monsoon Spots in Konkan
Konkan coast, a ~720 km long stretch along the western coastline of India is home to pristine beaches and waterfalls. The part of Konkan lying in the Indian state of Maharashtra, starting from Alibaug to Tarkarli showcase the culture of the region which includes diverse cuisine, temples and of course, variety of juicy & delicious Alphonso mangoes.
Here are a few of the beaches of Konkan coast which are accessible from major cities of Maharashtra, starting from Alibaug to Goa.Kihim:
Kihim beach in Alibaug is about 100 km drive from Mumbai. It is one of my favourite destinations for an impromptu weekend trip any time of the year. The entire shore is lined with beachside bungalows and the rooms are available on reasonable rates. I usually stay at Sea castle Kihim
The best thing about staying in these bungalows is the homely vibe and, not to forget the home-cooked seafood thali which comes with a glass of solkadhi. Solkadhi is a delicious digestive drink made of coconut milk and kokum which is ideal after hogging on a lot of food. There's a small Chowpatty at the beach where you can have Maggie, Poha; which is another delicacy of Konkan, fried fish of your choice, tadgola (ice apple), and the list goes on. For adventure lovers, paragliding, hovercraft ride etc. are available in the evening. You need to negotiate the rates though.
The sea plays hide and seek with high and low tides throughout the day and every time you take a stride along the beach, you get to see something new and more beautiful about it. When in Kihim, all you do is walk on the beach, collect sea shells, try local delicacies, take a tonga ride along the beach and relax. Diveagar, Harihareshwar & Shrivardhan:
Situated at about 5 hours drive from Mumbai, Diveagar was famous not for its beach but for Suvarna Ganapati (Golden idol of Lord Ganesha) temple till the year 2012 when some thieves stole the golden idol. I was lucky enough to visit Diveagar in the year 2009 for the first time and have been there multiple times since then.
Diveagar Beach
Diveagar beach is one of the safest beaches on Konkan coast. Apart from the temple and the beach, it is an ideal place to enjoy local cuisine and for that, one should completely avoid eating at some fancy restaurant and instead try local eateries called Khanawal in Marathi. If you are a seafood lover then Patil Khanawal is the best and if you are a vegetarian, Suhas Bapat Khanawal is the place to be. You need to place your order 2-3 hours in advance for lunch/dinner in order to enjoy local Konkani food.
If you are planning a trip to Diveagar & Harihareshwar, it is advisable to stay at Diveagar and drive down to Harihareshwar from there. Make sure to drive through Aravi beach to enjoy the captivating view of Arabian Sea on one side and western ghats on the other. The condition of the road is not very good but the experience is worth the trouble.
The ancient temple of Harihareshwar Lord Shiva is located at a hillock adjacent to the beach and on the way to parikrama, lies an old stairway leading to the beach. The beauty of Harihareshwar beach lies at the back side of the temple where the mighty waves splash against the rocks and believe me, it's a sight to behold.
You can drive down to Srivardhan, the historical town of the Peshwas which is about 20 km from Harihareshwar. Srivardhan & Harihareshwar are considered to be twin towns with lot of beach properties but the more tranquil place to make a stay is Diveagar.Velaneshwar, Hedvi, Guhagar:
These are the beaches that are closest to my heart. As I said earlier, every beach town in Konkan is famous for its temples and not for the beach, holds true for the temple/beach towns of Velaneshwar, Hedvi & Guhagar as well.
Velaneshwar is a pristine beach hidden from the eyes of tourists and is usually visited by Maharashtrians whose primary purpose is to visit Velaneshwar temple which is situated at the shore. An evening at this quiet yet beautiful beach is ideal to just sit and get lost in your thoughts.
Velneshwar beach
About 4 km from Velaneshwar lies the rocky black sand beach of Hedavi. When you walk along the Uma Maheshwar temple on the beach, you will witness a natural wonder called Bamanghal which means a large crack between two rocks where a huge amount of water spurts between the crack.
Hedavi also houses the ancient Hedavi Ganapati temple of Lord Ganesha and is a pilgrims' centre for Maharashtrians.
About 20 km away from Hedavi lies Guhagar, famous for Guhagar (Goddess Durga) Devi temple who is kuladevi of Kokanastha Chitpavan brahmin community of Maharashtra. Another famous temple in Guhagar is Shri Vyadeshwar temple of Lord Shiva.
If you are in a mood to try typical vegetarian Konkani cuisine then Guhagar is the place to be. There are plenty of eateries run by people of Kokanastha brahmin community. I decided to eat at Damle's and believe me, the food tasted heavenly yet simple. These beach towns are accessible by road but in case, you are planning to travel by train, then the nearest railhead is Chiplun and there are plenty of MSRTC buses available from Chiplun bus stand for Guhagar & Velaneshwar. I preferred to stay at MTDC Velaneshwar beach resort which is situated at a hillock overlooking the beach. From Velaneshwar, I hired an auto rickshaw to show me around.
Guhagar beach
Guhagar beach is one of the cleanest and longest beaches I have ever been to. It is not very safe to play in the water but it is ideal to take a stride along the beach and soak in the beauty of the surroundings. There is also a small Chowpatty at the beach but surprisingly there is absolutely no litter on the beach.
If you are in a mood to try typical vegetarian Konkani cuisine then Guhagar is the place to be. There are plenty of eateries run by people of Kokanastha brahmin community. I decided to eat at Damle's and believe me, the food tasted heavenly yet simple.
These beach towns are accessible by road but in case, you are planning to travel by train, then the nearest railhead is Chiplun and there are plenty of MSRTC buses available from Chiplun bus stand for Guhagar & Velaneshwar. I preferred to stay at MTDC Velaneshwar beach resort which is situated at a hillock overlooking the beach. From Velaneshwar, I hired an auto-rickshaw to show me around.Goa:
You must be thinking, how did Goa, the ultimate party destination of India make it to this list! Well, you are in for a surprise and that too a pleasant one. Goa is not just about beaches, shacks and clubs but there is an unseen side of Goa too. A monsoon a trip to Goa is always a strict no-no for party animals but let me tell you, the waterfalls and spice gardens here are breathtaking and worth missing out on clubbing.
Harvalem Waterfall:
Harvalem waterfall, situated in Sanquelim is about 40 km from Panjim. The drive from Panjim to Harvalem starts with Mandovi river on one side and old Portuguese style houses on the other. As you go a little further, the lush green western ghats dominate the view till you reach Harvalem village. After reaching Harvalem, a short stairway leads to the waterfall. After a bit tiring flight of stairs, when the tiny droplets of water sprinkle across your face, all your fatigue just vanishes. Harvalem also houses historical Pandava caves and a temple of Lord Shiva. A small Goan eatery situated opposite the temple serves delicious bhaaji pav and believe me, it's a must try there. 
Sahakari Spice Farm
Sahakari spice farm is located in Ponda which is spread across 130 acres of land. The spice plantation covers ~60 acres of land and the rest of it is bananas and cashew plantations. The entry ticket for the farm is Rs. 400/- which includes a delectable Goan meal and an hour-long guided tour of the farm. The guided tour includes tiny details of various spices used on a daily basis in Indian household and farming techniques of spices, bananas and cashews. The tour guides here keep the tourists engaged by making them taste and smell various types of spices and also explain the medicinal uses of these spices.
Inside the Sahakari Spice Farm
Harvalem waterfall and Sahakari spice farm can be covered in a day and after getting back to Panjim in the evening, you can either take an evening stroll along Miramar beach or just relax and sip on a hot cup of coffee or grab a pint of beer at Dona Paula Jetty which is quite a popular sunset spot in Panjim. 
Dona Paula Jetty
If you still crave for more, then head out to Mandovi river cruise in Panjim. It is an hour long cruise which takes you around Panjim. Standing on the deck of the cruise, staring at water and neon signs all around, when a cool breeze brushes across your face, you definitely experience a feeling of fulfilment.
Apart from these places, you can also go to Sinquerim and Candolim beaches in North Goa to enjoy the clean and less crowded beach with hardly any shacks.
Fort Aguada from Sinquerim beach
I can go on and on about the beauty of Konkan during monsoon and it's a really difficult task because missing out on describing the beauty of so many beaches and waterfalls are inevitable. There are several other beautiful places like Vengurla, Tarkarli in Maharashtra and Tambdi Surla & Dudhsagar falls in Goa and the list is unending. But when it comes to writing a post, one has to stop somewhere right!
So this monsoon, ditch Lonavala Khandala or other crowded touristy places and head to Konkan for an unforgettable experience and believe me, if you go to Konkan once, you will always want to keep coming back again and again.
Author Bio: Nomadic Meteor-A Trekker, foodie, storyteller and a traveller with full-time job who loves to capture memories. In short, a traveller caught in the cogwheels of corporate life!
