Harihareshwar Temple and Beach, Maharashtra

Town - Harihareshwar

District - Raigad

State - Maharashtra

Harihareshwar town is well known for quite a few tourist attractions, the main being the Lord Shiva temple due to which the town is called Dev Ghar , meaning House of God.

Visiting the temple and the beach is a must in a visit to this place, nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of the Konkan region of the state of Maharashtra.

The temple complex has a main Lord Shiv temple along with a Lord Kaal Bhairav temple that is to be visited first before taking darshan of the Shiv Linga in the main temple.

It is believed that Lord Shiva created Kal bhairav and blessed him with all the mantras.

The Shiv temple has idols of Goddess Parvati,Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.

The linga is quite ancient and has historical importance. The temple architecture is in the Hoysala style. It was built by Veer Narasimha II.

There is a pradakshina path around the temple which the devotees can partake in, though it is not advisable during the high tide. One also has to beware of crabs on this path. 

Behind the temple there is a huge rock boulder that appears to be broken into two parts. 

It is believed that it was broken by the mighty Bhim, one of the five Pandava princes as it stood in the way of reaching the temple.

Quite a few stalls by the locals in the temple complex provide Maharashtra's iconic fast food, Vada pav along with cold drinks etc. 

Local guides are also available for any interested tourists wanting to know the rich and ancient history of the temple.

Adjoining the temple is the Harihareshwar beach.

The beach is about 2.4 km long  and one of the most underrated beaches of Maharashtra. The beach has black silt and rocky formations.

The beach is a haven for adventure enthusiasts for it offers a plethora of water activities and sports, ranging from motor boat rides, jet skiing, water scooters, banana boats, ETV ride etc.

Horse cart riding along the beach is also available.

The beauty of the Sahyadri ranges and the Arabian sea is a picturesque combination that enthralls the tourists. 

Visiting Harihareshwar as a weekend getaway is very popular, especially for people of the metros, Mumbai and Pune. The Harihareshwar temple and its beach is a must-see in such a tourists itinerary. 

Pictures - Trawell.in

Beaches of Maharashtra

To claim that the state of Maharashtra is blessed with natural beauty would not be wrong. From the majestic mountains of the Sahyadri ranges and its deep still valleys  to the coastal plains of Konkan with its picturesque, pristine beaches lined with tall swaying coconut and palm trees, alongside the gleaming blue water of the Arabian Sea, the  state of Maharashtra has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, due to its 720 km coast line. 

From the bustling metropolis of Mumbai to quaint quiet villages in the Konkan, each and every beach has a charm and beauty of its own.

One can indulge in revelry and fun on the more popular and crowded beaches, go in for adventure water sports or simply lie back and become one with nature on the quaint and quiet ones, the choices are endless. Quite a few have unique attractions like the Sea forts of the Marathas and / or temples and caves to explore. The activities to indulge in and enjoy are numerous depending on the inclination of the traveller.

Here is a list of the top beaches of Maharashtra -

1. Aksa Beach, Malad

2. Achara Beach, Alibaug

3. Akshi Beach, Alibaug 

4. Awas Beach, Alibaug

5. Anjarle Beach, Ratnagiri 

6. Andheri Beach, Mumbai

7. Arnala Beach, Virar, Thane

8. Ambolgad Beach, Ratnagiri

9. Bassein Beach, Vasai - Virar, Thane

10. Bordi Beach, Dahanu, Palghar 

    
    
    

11. Bhogave Beach, Sindhudurg

12. Chivla Beach, Sindhudurg

13. Dapoli Beach, Ratnagiri

14. Devgad Beach, Sindhudurg

    
    
    

15. Diveagar Beach, Raigad 

    
    
    

16. Devbagh Beach, Ratnagiri, Malvan 

17. Guhagar Beach, Chiplun 

    
    
    

18. Ganpatipule Beach Ratnagiri 

    
    
    

19. Gorai Beach, Mumbai 

20. Girgaon Chowpatty, Mumbai

21. Ganeshgule Beach, Ratnagiri 

22. Harnai - Murud Dapoli, Ratnagiri

    
    
    

23. Harihareshwar, Raigad, Konkan

    
    
    

24. Juhu Beach, Mumbai 

25. Kihim Beach, Alibaug 

    
    
    

26. Kashid Beach, Alibaug

27. Kalamb Beach Thane 

28. Kelshi Beach, Dapoli, Ratnagiri

29. Kondivali Beach Diveagar

30. Kunkeshwar Beach, Sindhudurg

31. Khavane Beach, Sindhudurg

32. Kondura Beach, Sindhudurg

33. Kelva Beach, Palghar 

34. Mochemad Beach, Sindhudurg

35. Murud - Janjira Beach 

36. Marine Drive Beach, Mumbai

37. Manori Beach, Mumbai 

38. Mandwa Beach, Alibaug 

39. Mandvi Beach, Ratnagiri 

40. Mandangad Beach, Ratnagiri

41. Madh Island, Mumbai 

42. Manori Beach, Dharavi, Mumbai

43. Mahim Beach, Mumbai 

44. Mayureshwar Beach, Kandivali 

45. Nagaon Beach, Alibaug 

46. Navapur Beach, Virar 

47. Nivati beach, Vengurla

48. Pandhra Beach, Ratnagiri 

49. Palghar Beach 

50. Prabhadevi Beach, Mumbai 

51. Palm Beach Navi Mumbai 

52. Revdanda beach, Kashid

53. Redi Beach, Sindhudurg

54. Reti Bandar Beach, Thane

55. Rajapur Beach, Ratnagiri

56. Shrivardhan Beach, Raigad 

    
    
    

57. Shiroda Beach, Sindhudurg 

    
    
    

58. Sagareshwar Beach, Sindhudurg

59. Saswane Beach, Alibaug 

60. Shivaji park Beach, Mumbai 

61. Suruchi Beach, Vasai - Virar 

62. Sarve Beach, Kashid 

63. Savane Beach, Padachakond 

64. Tarkarli Beach, Sindhudurg 

    
    
    

65. Talashil Tondavali Beach, Sindhudurg

66. Tondavali Beach, Sindhudurg

67. Uttan Beach, Mira - Bhayandar, Thane 

68. Uran Pirwadi Beach, Navi Mumbai

69. Velneshwar Beach, Ratnagiri

    
    
    

70. Velas Beach, Alibaug

    
    
    

71. Varsoli Beach, Alibaug

72. Versova Beach, Mumbai 

73. Vijaydurg Beach, Devgad, Sindhudurg

74. Vengurla Malvan Beach, Sindhudurg

    
    
    

75. Vayangani Beach, Sindhudurg

76. Velankanni Beach, Mira - Bhayandar, Thane

77. Wairy Ubhatwadi Beach, Sindhudurg

Recommended Reading - Tourist Places of Maharashtra and Hill Stations of Maharashtra.

Images courtesy - mtdc.co and wikipedia

Devghali Beach, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra

Located between the Sahyadri mountains and the Arabian Sea, Devghali Beach is one of the smallest yet picturesque beach in the district of Ratnagiri, in the State of Maharashtra. As it is, the Konkan region is tremendously scenic with tall coconut, palm trees, lush mango trees and undulating hills covered with greenery. The beaches here are worth a visit due to the serene and calm ambience and to feel one with nature. 

Village - Kasheli

District - Ratnagiri

State - Maharashtra

Address - P8G6+P2G, 

Kasheli, Ratnagiri

Maharashtra - 416707

Best Time to Visit - Monsoon and Winter Sessons

How to reach

Via Railways - The nearest railway station is Kudal at a distance of 33 km

Via Roadways - Mumbai to Sindhudurg in MSRTC buses and Sindhudurg onwards in again State Bus, Autorickshaws, Cabs or Private vehicles. Private vehicles from any of the closest major towns and cities 

Via Airways - There is no direct airway to  Kasheli village. The nearest airport is Ratnagiri airport at a distance of 40 km.

Distance from - 

Malvan - 13 km

Kudal - 33 km

Kankavali - 53 km

Sindhudurg - 71 KM

Kolhapur - 162 km

Satara  - 280 km

Pune - 395 km

Mumbai - 515 km

Clean, pristine, isolated, quiet, serene, beautiful and hidden between mountains and the sea, Devghali Beach near the village of Kasheli is a treasure for the tourists looking for a hidden gem that has not yet been corrupted by civilization and lies quietly in the lap of nature.

The beach itself is quite small and there are tiled steps leading down to it from the road.The water here is more of a mix of clear blue and green and the sand is soft. Along the way, to its right is a viewing deck, the Table point  that is built atop a cliff that provides an unbroken view of the surrounding locales and the unending waters of the majestic Arabian Sea. The view of the sunset and the changing color of the sea water is simply mind blowing.There are hills surrounding the beach where adventurous tourists try to trek. Since the place is quite isolated and untouched by commercialisation, there are no food stalls, eateries or shacks on or near the beach. One has to carry own food and water. The best time to visit would be the monsoons, but access may be restricted due to heavy rains or storm - like weather. 

Just close to the beach in the Kasheli village, there is a very famous and historical temple of Shri Kanakaditya. It is one of the few temples in Maharashtra dedicated to the Sun God. The idol is black in colour with eyes and accessories golden. The temple is believed to be 800 years old. The architecture of the temple is beautiful with wooden arcs and seeped in rich ancient culture. The ceilings are covered with sculptures of various Gods and deities.  It is much visited by Sun God devotees and is easy to combine with a trip to the Devghali Beach. 

Images - Youtube channel of Somnath Nagawade

Related Reading - Tourist places in Maharashtra

Scuba Diving, Tarkarli, Maharashtra

Adventure Sports at Tarkarli, Maharashtra are very popular, especially Scuba Diving. 

Location -

Tarkarli Beach

Taluka - Malvan

District - Sindhudurg

Maharashtra

The Malvan region in the Sindhudurg district in the state of Maharashtra is one of the most enticing and picturesque place full of natural beauty that comprises of the majestic Sahyadri Mountains along with the azure waters of the mighty Arabian Sea. One of its most pristine beaches is Tarkarli that has garnered fame not only for its beauty but also for a range of water and adventure activities for the thrill seeking tourists.

One such activity is Scuba Diving that is offered by various diving schools and trainers along the beach side. Basically it comprises of a 30 minute session in which basic techniques and instructions along with practice are given for the first 10 minutes. Then a trained instructor takes each diver for a dive of about 15 to 20 feet depth. The experience is surreal with blue waters gently flowing around with a variety of mesmerizing marine creatures, bright, colourful fishes, aquatic plants, corals and even the remains of some remsins of sea wrecked ships.

There are many sites such as Seven Mandal Rocks, Square Rocks among others for the dive and one can choose as per the activities and depth they wish to partake in as also the budget. Motorised boats take the tourists to the spots along with the instructors.

Facility of changing rooms is also available. The scuba gear and instructions regarding its use and distress signals to be used by the diver are provided by the expert instructor. All safety measures are taken regarding everyone's safety. Even a novice diver can enjoy the experience without any fear or apprehensions.

 One can shoot the visuals themselves while the package also includes a HD video of about 1 minute and 30 seconds for each diver. 

There are quite a few combinations of packages available information regarding which is as follows. 

Plans Available

1. Scuba diving in Malvan (Depth of 20 feet ) + Underwater HD photos & Video.

2. Scuba diving + Underwater HD photos & Video + Parasailing with speed boat.

3. Scuba diving + Underwater HD photos & video + Jet Ski Ride + Banana Ride + Bumper Ride + Speedboat Ride + Water Scooter Ride + Parasailing with speed boat.

Prices -  ₹ 500 Onwards 

Marine Wonders  - Wrecked Ships, Coral reefs, Pretty colourful fishes, Turtles, Lobsters, Sea cucumbers, Sea Urchins, Flowing Aquatic plants, Oysters

Basic Safety Rules / Information

1. Pregnant women are not allowed for scuba diving.

2. Children below 10 years cannot scuba dive

3. People having major health issues or having undergone any recent surgeries cannot participate.

4. ID proof might have to be provided to the organisers

5. The scuba diving gear is sanitised after each use.

6. Depending on the weather conditions, the session may be cancelled as per the discretion of the instructor in charge. 

7. Season to be avoided would be the Monsoon due to the choppy seas and potential risk factors. 

   
   
   

Note - Many online travel websites provide attractive packages at competitive prices. 

Images - Prathamesh Chaukekar from Youtube