Alibag a Beautiful Place to Enjoy and Relax

Alibag is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Maharashtra for its beautiful and relaxing beaches. It is located in the Raigad district,
very close to the Arabian Sea and is mostly popular for its beaches, historical monuments, forts and temples. The word Alibag means “Garden of God” and is one of the most preferred weekend gateways for the people of Mumbai, especially the rich and the famous, who have farm houses along the beach. It is also a favourite picnic spot and centre for business conferences. This place is surrounded by sea on all the three sides and is also known as the Goa of Maharashtra.

This city was built by the naval chief of Shivaji, Kanhoji Angre in the 17^th century and came into prominence after Shivaji built the fort of Kulaba. This town is also a very important centre for Bene Israeli Jews. The town with all its bordering villages is one of the most chosen destinations in Maharashtra. Out here you will find nature at its best with its clean waters, fresh air, sand like beaches and pristine natural beauty. This maritime town located at the southern tip of Mumbai is about three hour drive from the main city. Alternatively you can also reach here by ferry which takes shorter time, just about an hour.

The surroundings and natural environment of this place is simply amazing. It is a tropical island with its beautiful trees, palm lacunae beaches, orchids for different varieties of fruits, chikoo trees and many more. The air out here is much fresh and unpolluted compared to the main city. This place becomes more interesting during the rainy season. The fresh smell of the mud and the sight of the rain washed trees makes you stay here forever. That is the reason people come here in huge numbers, time after time.

Some of the most popular places you can see here are the Khanderi fort built in the year 1678, Kolaba fort built by Shivaji, Undheri fort, Akshi Beach, Alibag Beach, Brahma Kund, Kihim Beach, Nagaon Beach, Versoli Beach, Kanjakeshwar Devasthan Temple, Mandwa, Rewas Jetty etc. Among them the most popular one is the Alibag beach which has the blackest sand of the whole region. This beach becomes more lively in the morning when the bathers come and in the and the evenings where you will find a long array of food stalls selling tasty local delicacies. You can stroll around, relax in the beach, play water sports, take an excursion of the nearby villages and have unlimited fun. More than all these attractions, the atmosphere of the place itself is most alluring.

The best way to reach here is by taking a ferry from the Gateway of India in Mumbai. It is just about an hour away. Alternatively you can also hire a taxi or take a train to the nearest railway station at Pen which is about 28 kms from this city.

Best time to visit – November to July, but this is an all-round destination and can be visited at any time of the year.