Dapoli beaches Great Travel Attractions

A very pleasant destination in the district of Ratnagiri at a height of around 800 feet, Dapoli in the Konkan region of Maharashtra in India, is a great amalgamation of nature’s blessings and beautiful surroundings. With hills and forests forming the major background and the coastline stretching till eyes can’t reach, the place is a hub for all animals and migratory birds. With many plantations of coconut, jackfruit, betelnut and cashew nut, the whole area is a great place as a travel spot and is also known by the name of “Mahabaleshwar of Konkan”.

We decided to visit this lovely getaway spot last month and had to co-ordinate a lot as there were some coming from Pune, some from Kolhapur and some from Mumbai. Dapoli is accessed from Kolhapur by the Chandoli –Amba Ghat- Nivli Phata- Chiplun – Khed – Dapoli route. From Pune you could reach Dapoli by crossing the areas of Bhor, Poladpur and Khed. From Mumbai, you can reach by driving down straight from Mumbai to Dapoli. We all met at Dapoli at the resort that we had booked earlier.

Beaches in Dapoli are a feast for the eyes. These beaches have managed to retain their pristine and virgin look and look resplendent as they are untouched and unspoilt. The clean beaches here are a feast for the beach lovers and Dapoli beaches are supposed to be the cleanest on the western coast of India. Many come here for their hiking trails and indulge in a lot of exciting activity. The temples, caves, hot springs and the forts are all great excitement for the tourist. Anyone visiting Dapoli in the summer months is sure to find the trip sweet as the world famous Indian mango Hapus is found in plenty during this time.

Dapoli has its own history and cultural background too. The beach here extends from Kolthare and Dabhol to Kelshi. There are archaeological sites here which lend a lot of historical importance to the place.

We indulged in various water sports activities that were available here. The dolphin rides here are a must do. These rides take us around in the sea waters and help us watch the dolphins playing. In fact this is a favourite of all tourists who love to come here and enjoy these beautiful creations of God playfully jumping in the waters. This is the most popular water sports activity here. There were many parasailers who were enjoying their bit in this wonderful activity.

As evening drew, the sun set and the entire area was filled with an orange hue. This sight remained in our minds forever and we could only capture the entire scene in the camera for us to remember it for life. The ambience, the atmosphere, the surroundings all have an effect on the tourist who remains enthralled here. There is fine cover of white sand here in the beach but there is a lot of black sand under the white beauty. The beaches in Dapoli are interconnected barring few which are not connected due to the intermittent creeks. The rocky terrain here dominate the landscape and give the tourists a chance to get adventurous and trek up. Many bike lovers come here and love to ride their bikes against the background of the greenery and the waves.

This land of surprises is a site of the earlier Panhalekaji Caves. It has the best hot springs at Unahavare, and has the most amazing stuff to offer to the tourists. The Suvarnadurg and Kanakadurg are two major forts here which give a historical touch to the place. So it is not surprising that there are many spots in Dapoli which really intrigue you and take you to a land totally unimaginable. Then there is the Kadyavarcha Ganpati in the region of Anjarle which is another tranquil temple. The serene surroundings of the temple area and the ancient construction render the pilgrim absolutely overwhelmed.

Then we went to the Harnai port to see the main fishing village here. Apparently around 4 to 7 p.m, there is a fish auction. This is a great sightseeing activity here. Every evening, there are innumerable fishing boats that gather here and auction their catch at the said time. It is an important trade relation between the fishing trade and trading centre. As we witnessed the whole auction, we were filled with awe and amazement that even such things happen in remote areas Of India. We went in a bullock cart here and had the time of my life.

As we were returning back, I restructured my thoughts and was quite impressed with this simple travel destination. It is a place where you can find a hill station ambience along with a beach atmosphere. Once we are here we could also enjoy in the Murud Beach which is just around 10 km away from here. It is said that the British had their summer houses here while they were here. Dapoli also is witness to the activities of the great leaders of India like Karve, Ambedkar and the ancestors of the Peshwa family.

So filled with cherished travel memories I write about this trip to Dapoli.