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.  

Unwind Karde :)

Wanted to begin the new year by indulging in my passions of travel and photography and did just that this new year. Drove down to Karde from Mumbai for a rejuvenating beginning to the new year! Spent a couple of days gorging on sea food and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets!

We set out from home at 0630hrs on the first day of 2010 and got on to NH17.

We had the moon for company all along.

The first dawn of the year was an awesome sight from the Panvel bypass.

Had an idli dosa breakfast at Kamaths in Mahad and moved on to Khed from where we take the turn for Dapoli and onwards to Karde where we had booked a room in Hotel Kinara.

Reached the Hotel at 1230hrs after covering a distance of 290kms. Our lunch order was confirmed on the phone by the Hotel a day earlier. This is the practice followed by all the Hotels in the area hence you cannot just walk in and expect to be served. The meal order has to be placed at least a couple of hours in advance.

Had an excellent fish Thali and a delicious veg Thali and followed it by getting back to the room and resting for a while before proceeding to Harnai beach to witness the fish auction.

Harnai beach is around 8kms away and we reached there via a treacherous path by car.

The boats had come in and the auction was on in full swing.

What struck us was the way the fish was transported from the boats to the shore.

The boats cannot come in right up to the shore due to shallow waters and hence bullock carts, yes bullock carts, take sacks of ice to the boats, offload the fish onto the ice in plastic crates and cart it back to the shore!

It was fun watching and clicking all the activity on the beach. Spent nearly an hour there, after

which we returned back to our Hotel that was all decked up in celebration of 2010.

On our way back spotted this cannon at Harnai.

Watched the sun go down which created a magical ambiance with paragliding activity on the beach.

Had an awesome dinner of, yes, fish! Retired early for the day as had to get up early to go for the ‘dolphin viewing’ boat ride at dawn.

Saw this heavenly sight from the balcony at 0600hrs.

The boat was scheduled to arrive at the hotel to pick us up at 0700hrs.

And sure enough, saw the motor boat puttering in on time, and we, along with 8 other tourists,

were helped aboard by the crew. And on we went in search of the elusive dolphins.

Managed to spot a few in the half hour ride that cost us only Rs.100/- per head.

The sunrise witnessed from the ocean was awesome!

Revelling in the beauty we returned to the hotel had ‘kanda pohey’ for breakfast and got ready to visit the ‘Kadyavarcha Ganapati’ which is around 20kms from the hotel at Anjarle.

Had a peaceful darshan of this legendary idol. This idol is believed to have come ashore Anjarle from the sea and was installed on the cliff using wooden pillars in around 1150. Later it was renovated during 1768 to 1780.

The Ganesh idol’s trunk is curved towards the right, which is very rare. Kadyavarcha Ganapati is also considered as the live deity (a jagrut daiwat) who responds to distress calls of common people (nawsala pavnara Ganapati).

The dome of this temple has the ‘Ashtavinayak’ embedded on it.

There is a small Shiva Mandir adjacent to this temple.

Sat there awhile and returned back to the hotel for yet another excellent meal of fish and ‘vaalaach beerd’.

Spent the evening walking along the beach, watching a glorious sunset.

For dinner that night had an unusual prawn biryani. It was a Malwani flavoured biryani and absolutely yummy! And of course every meal was accompanied by delicious solkadi.

Got up early as it was the final morning at Karde for us and wanted to take in as much as possible of the ambiance of a lovely morning on the beach.

Went for long walk on the beach and around 0930hrs set out on the return journey to Mumbai. But had a stop scheduled on the way.

There was this beautiful old temple at Murud Harnai which is just about 2kms from Karde.

Murud is also the hometown of our great freedom fighter Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondu Karve whose bust is erected opposite the Durga Devi temple.

This Durga Devi temple was built almost 300yrs back and the pujari affirmed that his was the 6th generation looking after the temple.

The carved wooden pillars in the temple are beautiful.

A Ganesha temple in the premises

There is a large bell at the entrance of the temple. The temple poojary told us that it was brought by Chimaji Appa after winning over the Vasai fort, from one of the churches there.

Had our breakfast at Dapoli and returned to Mumbai via Mandangad covering a distance of 249kms.

The roads were largely good and the traffic minimal. Only in certain patches the road was rough – untarred.

Reached Mumbai at 1630hrs after a magical holiday at Karde.

Getting there

By Train

Mumbai - Karde

• Mumbai - Khed Station (via Konkan Railway)

• Khed Station - Dapoli (29 km) (via private transport – jeeps, etc. / state transport - ST buses)

Dapoli – Karde (20kms) (via private transport – jeeps, etc. / state transport - ST buses)

By Road

Mumbai – Karde

290kms Route Mumbai - Panvel – Mahad –Khed – Dapoli – Karde (Mumbai –Khed NH17)

250kms Route Mumbai – Panvel – Mangaon – Mandangad – Dapoli - Karde (Mumbai – Mangaon NH17)