Ganesh Gully, Harihareshwar

 Town- Harihareshwar

District - Raigad

State - Maharashtra
Location - 2 km from Harihareshwar bus stop
Timing for Visiting - 6 a.m to 5 p.m.

Beauty of the Konkan coastal town Harihareshwar is unparalleled due to the Sahyadri ranges .It has quite a few tourist spots that one can appreciate and enjoy.

Ganesh Gully is one such popular place about 1 km from the Harihareshwar temple. It is a Hindu pilgrimage point especially for the devotees of Lord Ganesh.

The Hindi word Gully ( गल्ली ) literally means a narrow passage joining two places. 

Ganesh Gully is a small culvert, meaning a narrow passage of about 3 feet width between two rocky mountains  that leads to a sea bed where a huge idol of Lord Ganesh is submerged in the sea at a depth of 30 feet.

The darshan of the Lord is possible only during the low tide when the water recedes revealing the idol for viewing. 

To reach up to here, the steps of Harihareshwar temples are to be climbed. The point is called Shukla tirth viewpoint. From then on, it is a trek / walk of about 1 km leading to the gully. 

The trek is quite risky and not advisable for children, elderly people etc. 

However, new stairs have been built recently along with railings to hold on which makes it much easier and accessible to cross the gully. 

Needless to say this point is full of adventure and natural beauty. 

Picture source - Trawell.in

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

Diveagar Beach , Maharashtra

Town-  Diveagar near Harihareshwar

District - Raigad

State - Maharashtra

Location - 

• 35 km from Harihareshwar

• 19 km from Shrivardhan

The third konkan beauty in the trio of Harihareshwar - Shrivardhan - Diveagar, Diveagar is the smallest and least developed of the three, lying within easy reach of each other in the konkan region, Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra.

Diveagar beach is only 4 km long and less flashy and fancy as compared to the other two.

The coast is lined with Suru trees. 

The southern end of the beach has a bird sanctuary for migratory birds. 

Diveagar town itself is quite unpretentious, being a simple coastal community.

Most people are engaged in fishing with other occupations being coconut, betelnut and paddy farming, 

The beach is clean and calm with the usual tourist attractions like horse and camel riding, horse buggies ; numerous water based activities - jet skiing, paragliding, banana rides etc.

The Arabian sea provides the same feeling of scenic beauty, vastness and awe one experiences in the midst of nature's wonders with the sunset being truly spectacular.

Also, one of the main attractions in the sea here is the sighting of Dolphins. 

Tourists visiting can partake in the few simple offerings like bhel puri, coconut water, vada pav from the food stalls by the beach side.

The crowds on the  weekends are a little more as compared to the weekdays. Morning and evening visits are better than the afternoon due to the weather factor. Needless to say, mornings and evenings being cool and pleasant. 

Staying over in Diveagar involves simple home stays, homemade Malvani food, though pre-booking with the local villagers is a must as they can provide and make advance arrangements. A few hotels and rental cottages are also available. 

In conclusion, Diveagar beach visit provides one with a break from the busy city life and an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate nature. 

Pictures source - wikipedia

Recommended Reading - The State of Maharashtra

Harihareshwar, Maharashtra

District - Raigad

State - Maharashtra

Distance from -

• Pune - 190 km

• Mumbai - 210 km

• Dapoli - 61 km

• Raigad - 95 km 

• Shrivardhan - 19 km

• Diveagar - 35 km

• Mahabaleshwar - 213 km

• Chiplun - 114 km

• Alibaug - 122 km

Nearest Railway station - Mangaon @ 60 km distance

How to reach - 

• By road 

• By trains till Mangaon

• Cabs and cars  from Mangaon to Harihareshwar

Best time to visit - October to March ( Post         

monsoon and winter months)

Where to stay - Resorts like the MTDC, budget hotels and Bed and breakfast rental homes.

Harihareshwar is a coastal town nestled in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra. It is surrounded by 4 hills; Brahmadri, Harihareshwar, Pushpadri and Harishchandra. It is very popular as a Hindu pilgrimage centre due to the various temples.

With regards to natural beauty, it has one the best and clean pristine beaches, historical temples and the calm and timeless quality of the Sahyadri ranges. The town is flanked by dense forests on one side and beautiful beaches on the other adding to its allure.

Due to its religious significance with regard to the famous Harihareshwar coastal temple, it is also referred to as Dev Ghar ( House of God )

Another significant point is that the river Savitri meets the Arabian sea right by the coastal temple. 

Its proximity to two other weekend tourist attractions, Shrivardhan and Diveagar make it more convenient to club in the 3 places in a single trip for the tourists.

It has everything for the beaches-and-nature lover, religious pilgrim, water sports adventurer and the weekend get-away tourist wanting a break from the busy city life.

For the foodies, konkan seafood is a big attraction.

Here is a list of the places of tourist interest in Harihareshwar.

1. Harihareshwar beach

2. Harihareshwar temple

3. Kalbhairav temple

4. Ganesh Gully

5. Shankar temple

6. Somaja Devi temple

7. Velas beach

8. Diveagar beach

9. Shrivardhan beach

10. Ghushneshwar

11. Kondivli beach

12. Bankot fort

Picture source - wikipedia