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Tourism in Alibag

Tourism in Alibag
Alibag or Alibagh or Alibaug, is the beautiful coastal town in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is the headquarter of the Raigad district and is ably governed by their own Municipal Council. This beach town is an old place with glorifying signs of Maratha rule here and there. The place is immensely popular among tourists from all parts of India and abroad. The beautiful sunny beaches with rows of palm and coconut trees, the holy temples and shrines and the magnificent forts standing in their historic glory are the attractions of the place.

Alibag is not very far from Mumbai city, the finance capital of India and other major cities of Maharashtra. The place is just about some hours away from Mumbai and Pune. The approximate distances are 95.4 kilo meters from Mumbai city and 142.5 kilo meters from Pune with a network of well connected roads. Weekend trips are quite popular over here. Many good tourist locations are available over here with loads of places to stay. In spite of this commercialization Alibag has somehow retained the charm of its beautiful nature with a hint of local tradition and culture.

Places to See in Alibag

Alibag is the place for beaches. There are 13 different beaches in and around Alibag town. All these beaches are equally beautiful with Alibag Beach being the main one. The beaches are long and widely stretched and clean. Some of the popular beaches of the region are, Kihim-Navgaon Beach, Thal Beach, Akshi Beach, Nagaon Beach, Varsoli Beach and many more. The white sand and the sparkling blue water is a treat to the eyes. A walk among the coconut plantation is an experience to remember. Since almost all the beaches are flat, they are popular for various water sports like jet skiing, banana boat rides and parasailing. Camping at night is also an exciting option.
Tourism in Alibag
Other than beaches, Alibag is also rich in historical conservation. There are few forts of historical importance still standing with the ancient glory. Most of these forts are adjacent to the Arabian Sea and can be approached with the help of small boat rides from the mainland. Kolaba Fort is the most important fort of the entire Konkan region and holds the Maratha architectures on its walls. This sea-fort is exactly 1 kilo meter away from the main shore built on huge stones. The fort has remained intact till date and gets mostly inundated during high tide. Other important forts to visit are Murud - Janjira Fort of the late 15th Century, Revdanda Fort and Korlai Fort of the Portuguese. A visit to the Portuguese forts can make you see the church of those times along with their famous inscriptions.

For people looking for heritage and devotion, Alibag has a range of ancient temples. Some of these temples are age old structures with ancient relics and idols inside them. Kanakeshwar Temple is one of the oldest temples of the region. Devotees have to go on an hour’s trek through the rocky edges of a small hill near Mapgaon village to reach this temple.Tourism in Alibag 13 kilo meters from the main town, this temple are the abode of Lord Shiva. One can visit ‘Nagobacha Tappa’ (a place of snakes) which is very near to this temple. Vikram Vinayak Temple, Datta Mandir, Hingulja Mandir and Brahma Kund are some of the popular religious tourism spots of and around Alibag.

Apart from these places tourists can also see the Tomb of Kanhoji Aangre, Magnetic Observatory which was built in 1904, Phansad Sanctuary, Garambhi Dam and Sawatkada Falls.  There are many more places to see and enjoy.
 

Shopping Experience in Alibag

Alibag is not a place for the shopaholics. It is a small coastal town amidst nature and shopping can be best avoided over here. In case someone is looking for some souvenirs, there are few small market places where variety of items can be purchased at a reasonable cost. Bags, antiques, junk jewellery, leather items etc, can be looked upon. Kohlapuri chappals or sandals are something which can be bought from here. Various designs and sizes are available in the market places. Raigadi Bazaar is the most popular shopping area of Alibag. The place holds evening markets and with the glitters and dazzles of the shop lights, the place looks like a fair.

Food and Good Places to Stay in Alibag

Being a coastal town, the abundance of fish is notable. Rice, sea fish and vegetables are the staple diet of the region. Tourists can enjoy variety of sea fish delicacies in the form of fries or spicy curries. For adventurous food lovers Oysters are an option to try. Tesriya is a popular oyster curry which is a fun to taste.

Alibag has a range of good hotels, starting from luxurious bungalows to Super Deluxe, Deluxe and Semi Deluxe Hotels. For adventure tourism lovers, camping on sea beach is an exciting option. Camp fire and star gazing can be enjoyed on the backdrop of the vast Arabian Sea.

How to Reach Alibag

The Alibag town is very well connected to different parts of Maharashtra. One can go on a road trip from Mumbai via Pen or take NH-17 till Wadkhal and take right to reach Alibag. Daily state government bus services are available between Borivali, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Kolhapur, Miraj, Nashik and Alibag. Private Volvo buses are also a viable option. Different car rental companies are also in operation, they offer both reasonable and luxury cars at various rates for day or overnight trips.

For travellers who hate to do long bus or car journeys train can be availed. Alibag has no railway station of its own. One can reach Roha, Panvel or Khandala stations which are respectively 47 kilo meters, 65 kilo meters and 70 kilo meters away from the Alibag main town. Trains from different parts of India connect to these stations. Outside these stations tourists can avail local taxis and state buses which will take them to their favorite coastal town, Alibag.

Alibag is also connected by the waterway routes from Gateway of India and Ferry Wharf. The nearest jetty to Alibag is Mandwa, which is around a 50 minutes journey on the Catamaran Sea from Mumbai. From Ferry Wharf one can take his own car on the huge strollers and reach Mandwa. The boat or stroller rides are very pleasant and adventurous at the same time. From Mandwa it is just just about an hour drive till Alibag. The nearest airport to Alibag is Mumbai International Airport which is around 140 kilo meters away from the coastal town.

Best Time to Visit Alibag

Alibag has a pleasant weather throughout the year, hence there is no best time to visit the place. Monsoon months can be avoided if you are planning for an Alibag visit as too much rain and strong winds can dampen your visit. The sea also remains rough and swimming is not allowed. Winter months are pleasant while summers can also be enjoyed with not too much heat. Temperature varies between 36oC to 14oC throughout the year. Travel can be planned leaving the time range of June – October. Tourists must carry light cotton clothes, shades or sunglasses and beach slippers. Sunscreen lotions are also a must carry along with umbrellas.

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