Saturday, June 29, 2013

Ride the Konkan coast

Just as summer was coming to an end I embarked on a solo ride on my Royal Enfield 500Classic ‘Desert Storm’ for a ride along the 500kms long Konkan coast in Maharashtra.
Kicked off my ride at 6am on a Tuesday morning to ensure that I do not have any problems for accommodation enroute as inevitably weekends bring on the hordes of tourists out to have a beach time!
As always my 1st stop was at Sai Snacks near Panvel for a hearty breakfast of ‘Kandey Pohey’ followed by 
                
                                                         
a refreshing cup of hot chai to lead me on to NH17 onward to Alibaug.


Took a short break of around minutes just before Alibaug, and checked the route details as given by     


Mr.Kumar H.V. and rode on to Kashid and Janjira Murud to the Rajapuri wharf to get across to Dhighi on a 


motor boat. This point is common for boats that take you to the mid sea Janjira fort and also to Dhighi.


Once our boat docked in, we were told to get on and wait while they lifted the bike into the boat. Once in 


the boat the bikes were lashed on to each other and a pole in the boat. It took us about 20 minutes to get across after which the bikes were offloaded after we had got off. The process of loading and offloading the


bike into the boat was scary and was enough for me to promise myself not to do it ever again.
From Dhighi it was a beautiful ride all the way to Harihareshwar via Diveagar and Shrivardhan. Checked in 


at a homestay ‘Om Shree’ in Harihareshwar and was fortunate that they could cook up a decent lunch thali for me. The staff is very courteous and helpful. The room was clean air-conditioned and did have a tiny toilet but no wash basin. Had to pay Rs.1600/- for the room. All along the route there was no provision in any of the hotels/motels/homestays for single bedded rooms. I had to pay for a double bedded room with a miniscule reduction in tariff.


After resting for a couple of hours walked to the Harihareshwar temple and then on to the beach for a 


session of sun set photography.
Set off for Bhagamandala jetty (5kms away from the homestay) next morning at 9am as the ferry to take me


across to Bankot was at 0930hrs. This ferry was the type where I could ride my bike on and off the ferry so 


was a beautiful experience. Had 2 more ferry crossings before reaching Ganapatipule, Dabhol to Dhopave and Tasval to Jaigarh.
The route to Ganapatipule was very scenic as we passed through Dapoli and Guhaghar. The amazing part of 


this entire route is that from one village to another you either are crossing a ferry or going over a hill! And there is hardly any traffic all along. You own the road!


I checked in at ‘Atharva’ homestay in Ganapatipule. Paid Rs.800/- for a non-air-conditioned room. Clean room and toilet. Only tea/coffee/bottled water available. For meals you have to go out.


Spent the evening visiting the temple and the beach. Due to the popularity of this temple the beach just 


outside the temple is a litter bin. It is unfortunate that responsible tourism is not inculcated in our tourists.


Left for Tarkarli next morning at 7.30am and reached at 1.30pm. Checked in at ‘Leesha’ homestay for 


Rs.1500/- for an air-conditioned cottage. Had an excellent home cooked fish thali and as usual went to the 


beach in the evening for a cloudy sunset.
From Mumbai to Tarkarli had covered a distance of 650kms over a period of 3 days all along the coastal route. It was a delightful ride.
Rode back to Mumbai from Tarkarli on NH17, a distance of 543kms in 11 hours of sedate riding with breaks enroute for breakfast and lunch.
Overall an amazing ride!


49 comments:

  1. Wow, this is an interesting trip on bike. For the solo lady, it might not be possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Possible for a solo lady too! There are quite a few female ladies travelling solo in India!

      Delete
  2. Lovely pictures sir and narration too... Soon will find some break from Himalayas for a change and get along this route later this year :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Dheeraj. You will love it!
      And I will be riding to the Himalayas!!

      Delete
  3. Though arduous, bike ride gives an unique experience and thrill. It's a great adventure. Like the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely pictures. Specially the ones of the sea and the sunset.
    And the Enfield needs a mention too. Uncommon colour.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amazing trip. It's fun to go for a trip on your bike. Sad about tourist being irresponsible. Lovely shots.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful travelogue. That loading the bullet in boat does look a bit tricky...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hari Om
    ...erk - I was just thinking how dare you put such a beaut bike through that horror of the first boat trip when you voiced exactly that concern yourself! Having been a solo traveller pretty much all my life, I can identify and sympathise with the double room, nearly double prices. It's everywhere in the world. Aircon isn't my thing, but it was good to read that most of these had ensuite toilet!

    It is a sad thing that India at large has just not got the 'litter message' - it takes a concerted governmental effort. I grew up in the early days of "keep Britain Tidy" and can recall streets being very littered prior to the re-education of the masses. IT CAN BE DONE BHARATA!! This is SUCH a beautiful country and your travelogue, Deepak-ji, shows your love and concern for it. This was an absolute joy to view and read. The middle sunset with dog-rays photo is a gem. DhanyadaH !! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hari Om

      Glad you enjoyed the post.
      Thank you for your views!

      Delete
  8. You had a wonderful trip! I had to stop a while at the poha... Then managed to travel with you to through out the rest with my tummy rumbling!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. beautiful trip !! I lived it through your post, as if !! I must tell you , I envy your machine. I have been longing to own that ...and the traveller inside me loved your post so much bhai :) unexplanable .. Kandey pohey .. mouth watery ..had at my friend's place.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Awesome pictures , great post and looks like a fantastic tour

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Avi. Yes it was a fantastic ride!

      Delete
  11. That is an awesome ride! To ride along the coast is absolutely blissful. Lovely photographs.

    http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
  12. That looks like a wonderful journey...

    ReplyDelete
  13. A dream of a journey! I would not enjoy seeing my bike lifted into a ferry either-



    ALOHA from Honolulu
    Comfort Spiral
    ~ > < } } ( ° > <3
    > < } } ( ° >

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a wonderful road and boat journey! Love your water and sunset shots. Really stunning. Thanks for taking me to your exhilarating journey.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Snaps r awesome, reminded me my native village konkan...

    ReplyDelete
  16. wonderful beach but has been littered by locals and tourist...
    You provided some valuable information that will help travellers on there way.
    Thanks for sharing..

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for this wonderful trip. I too could visualize and enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely captures of the Konkan coast, Deepak!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks like a nice trip... would love to do something like this..
    Nice pics..

    ReplyDelete
  20. Lovely pictures. Specially the sea and the sunset.

    ReplyDelete
  21. sounds really interesting....next time you can visit tambaldeg, walawal and Achara in south konkan....

    ReplyDelete
  22. Perfect...just what i was looking for. I plan to do this trip in a couple of weeks. What would be an ideal budget for this trip? Did you go to Goa after Tarkarli? If yes then how?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Budget would depend on the type of food you want to eat, place you want to stay and the fuel consumption of your bike. On an average I spent 1200/- per day for an a/c room and 120/- per meal.
      No I did not go to Goa. I returned to Mumbai from Tarkarli.

      Delete
  23. Hi i am planning to do this with a friend. 2 women and my bullet! Can you help me in planning please

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure Antra. Mail me your email id on blownmagic@yahoo.co.in

      Delete
  24. Hi i am planning to do this with a friend. 2 women and my bullet! Can you help me in planning please

    ReplyDelete
  25. Do the ferries at Dighi,Dabhol to Dhopave and tasval to Jaigadh take small cars across also. Also if one wants to travel from harihareshwar to Murud by bus does the bus also cross at Dighi or does it detour.I enjoyed your blog.Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes they do take cars. I think the bus takes the detour.
      Glad you enjoyed the blog.
      Do check out http://magictravels.blogspot.in/2015/04/velas-on-konkan-coast.html

      Delete