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 1^st 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!

Bathing with dolphins in Karde

Had heard a lot about dolphin spotting and watching on the coast of Maharashtra so when I heard of this beautiful small beach at Karde near Dapoli where they organise this activity, we went for it. Karde is around 300kms from Mumbai and we drove there in around 5hrs from Mumbai. A leisurely drive, taking in all the sights on the way. Being winter the ambient temperature was also very pleasant.

Checked into a hotel on the beach and after a sumptuous lunch, enquired at the reception about going dolphin spotting. We were told that it is an early morning activity hence would be undertaken next morning. We would have to assemble on the beach at 6am where the boat would arrive which would take us for spotting dolphins. On a lucky day, apparently one could spot them in large numbers and so we hoped to be lucky.

We spent the evening strolling around on the beach which was very clean. The walk was invigorating. The 

sunset was beautiful as always.

Along came a jeep, to our surprise, for those who were interested in parasailing I think it is called. You are 

harnessed to a parachute and the jeep pulls you along the beach as you sail up into the sky where you hover for a few seconds and then brought down to earth feeling good.

Had some delicious prawn biryani for dinner and this was followed by a briefing for the dolphin safari. We were told specifically to wear rubber footwear and carry along a plastic bag to store your valuables in as the sea water would definitely splash in while in motion at sea. In short we would be in for a cold icy ocean bath!

As we waited on the beach, for the boat to come in at dawn, soaking in the beauty I visualised the Cinthol ad ‘Alive is Awesome’! We felt so alive and in tune with nature as the waves gently lapped in at our feet, with a gentle breeze blowing to dry off the beads of sweat that formed above my lips and eyebrows due humidity.

And then the boat came in, the crew jumped out and helped us put on the life jackets after a briefing on the dos and donts while at sea.

We hopped into the boat and set sail at last for dolphin spotting. The sun started his journey too as it rose to paint the skies in fascinating colours.

After about 15 minutes of sailing into the sea the boatman signalled the faint shapes frolicking in the sea in the 

distance. Yes they were dolphins. We asked for a closer look and were told that he would take us closer provided we were ready for a bath in the sea water that would splash in as the sea was slightly turblulent there. We agreed in unison and off we went. And soon the boat that seemed big now suddenly seemed so tiny as it bobbed up and down in the rather rough waters that started splashing us with icy cold water! But the sight of the dolphins playing up close was a treat! On hindsight, it was an awesome bathing experience while watching dolphins. No photographs as we did not have water proof cameras.

However here is a video by Cinthol on Awesome Ocean bathing.