Beach, Booze and Sun Bath- What is the first thing that comes to your mind? I guess, you’d have thought about Goa. But the place we are going to take you to is considered a mini Goa away from Goa.
(Clockwise from top: Kolaba Fort, Korlai village as seen from Korlai Fort, Murud Janjira Fort, Kihim Nagaon beach, Cannons at Murud Fort, Kashid beach)
Beach, Booze and Sun Bath- What is the first thing that comes to your mind? I guess, you’d have thought about Goa. But the place we are going to take you to is considered a mini Goa away from Goa.
About 130 kilometres from Mumbai and located on the Konkan route, is a place famous for coconuts and betel nuts. Nagaon, is a village near Alibaug where the main attraction for tourists is the beauty and serenity of the place. I used the term mini Goa as this place has everything to give, that Goa has, except the “usual” crowd on the beach. I am guessing that you’d know why the word usual was quoted in the previous sentence. (wink)
Apart from offering white sand beaches and a break from the monotonous city life, this place has a very amiable hospitality culture. While you struggle to get a decent and not very expensive stay at Goa, the residents of Nagaon offer you a comfortable accomodation with meals, in their very own house. Does that not sound like a home away from home? And no, they do not judge you from your activities. (If you get what I mean)
The Kolaba Fort (not to be confused with Colaba in Mumbai) is one of the must-visit places here. The main attraction of the fort is that though it is built on a seashore, it has freshwater wells within the fort premises. The fort served as a naval station for the Marathas during the Portuguese and British rule.
The Kihim Nagaon beach is densely covered with Coconut trees. The woods are also, home to plethora of birds, butterflies and plants which are not seen in any other place in India. Heard of the song “Sagar kinare, Dil ye pukare” from the movie Sagar? Guess, where was it filmed.
For those who have a thing for hygiene and cleanliness more than the sense of dressing, Kashid beach is the place to visit. The magnificent blue waters and Casuarinas groves along the length of the beach, makes it a rejuvenating beach holiday spot. Tourists flock onto this place during all seasons except monsoon, as the tides go as high as five feet during monsoons.
The Murud Janjira fort in the coastal village of Murud stands as the only undefeated fort in the Konkan region despite the attacks India faced from the Dutch, Portuguese and British. One can find cannons of Indian and European style, still preserved in the fort.
The Korlai village boasts of residents born of Indo-Portuguese origin, creating a unique combination of Indian and Portuguese culture. Don’t miss their welcoming dish while you visit them. The place also has a fort, known as Korlai fort lost in the sands of the place.
Don’t have a long vacation or budget for Goa? Step on your accelerator and drive off to Nagaon for a short and rejuvenating experience with the waters.
