Diveagar : Konkan

I was planning a trip to Diveagar recently. It's a small village on Konkan coast in Maharashtra. A place with beautiful and safe beach still not very commercialized, it's perfect place for weekend trip.

While planning the trip I had to dig lot of info, I thought I'll publish it here so that it comes handy for others.

Travel

Pune to Diveagar : 200 Km via Tamhni / 248 Km via Mahabaleshwar

Pune-Tamhini-Kolad-Indapur-Mangaon-Srivardhan/Harihareshwar.

Tamini route : next to no traffic, awesome scenery and good roads too

You must plan to tank up in Pune for the entire trip. Pumps on this route are far and few and I doubt the quality of the fuel that is available

Via Tamhini ghat (approx 200 km)

• Pune — Paud – Pirangut Road — Tamhini Ghat — Turn left at Vile
• Vile — Nijampur — Mangaon .You will reach NH – 17. Continue traveling left towards Mahad
• Turn right 500 mts after Mangaon ST Stand on SH 97 to Mhasala. Turn right again on SH98 after Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan

(Road map: Pune – Chandani Chauk – Paud – Mulshi – Dongarwadi – Tamhini Ghat – Vile – Nijampur – Mangaon – Lonere Phata – Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan. Road is smooth and good. It could be bad for portion of the ghat section. Avoid crossing Tamhini Ghat after 6:00 PM. It is not safe)

Via Mahabaleshwar (235 km)

• Pune — Pune – Bangalore Highway — Surur Village
• Turn right towards Wai — Panchgani — Mahabaleshwar — Ambenali Ghat — Poladpur.
• You will reach NH17 at Poladpur.
• Turn right towards Mahad – Lonere Phata – Goregaon
• Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan (SH 98)

(Road map via Mahabaleshwar: Pune – Shirval – surur – Wai – Panchgani – Mahabaleshwar – Poladpur – Mahad – Goregaon – Mhasala – Arathi Road Junction – Shrivardhan. Road is smooth and very good. It is 4 lane toll road (NH4) till surur village (first 80 KMs). Ghat section is also good and safe to cross even in the night as it is crowded with Mahabaleshwar bound traffic.)

Via Bhor (185 km)

• Pune — Pune – Bangalore Highway NH4 — Khed Shivapur
• Turn right just ahead of Khed Shivapur at Bhor Phata
• Bhor — Varandha Ghat — reach NH – 17 at “Hotel Sagar” just outside Mahad.
• Turn right towards Mangaon. Get off the highway at Lonere Phata to Goregaon – Mhasala – Shrivardhan. (SH 98)

(Road map via Bhor: Pune – Khed Shivapur – Bhor – Varandha Ghat – Mahad – Goregaon – Mhasala – Shrivardhan). Road is 4 lane toll road till Khed Shivapur. After that it is not in good shape. Do not cross Varandha Ghat during night as it is not very safe. This is shortest distance to reach Mahad from Pune but road is not that smooth. If you have good 4 wheeler like Scoirpio, Supo, Safari, you may even opt for this route.)

Stay

Name	Contact	Tariff Double bed	Extra bed	How far from beach	Sea food available	Accommodation type	URL
Vrindavan Sameer or Vasant B. Gandre	02147-224270	500 800 (5 ppl)	100	5 min	no		no
Shri Umesh Limaye Direction : From Ganesh temple to Limaye school	02147 224490, 02147 224377	800	No charges	5 min	yes	concrete and tiled roof above First floor	no
Suhas V Bapat Near Marathi school, Dive Agar 402404	02147 224377
Ramesh Awlaskar Pune : 9960592221 Parag	02147 224707 Pune : 9960592221 Parag	900 (5 ppl) in single room		10 min	no	Tiled roof
Anand Kelkar	02147 224242
Smt. Vandana Virkud Near Chaukalshi Mali Samaj Hall, At Post Divegar, Tal. Shrivardhan, Dist. Raigad	02147 225017	1000 : 4 ppl		2 min	yes
“Ashirvad” Shri Umakant Ganpat Vichare At Post Dive-agar, Tal. Shrivardhan	02147 225017
Smt. Sucheta Abhaya Bhatawadekar At – Post. Diveagar, Tal. Shrivardhan, Dist. Raigad	02147 224874 9323137055 9420423533 (bsnl diveagar) 020-24217953 (Pune)	1400 With food (veg) Breakfast+lunch+dinner Non-veg extra No package without food	400	10 min	Yes (on order)	Titled roof	AnandYatri.in
Anant Parker	952147 - 225045
Ramesh Hodgde	9421952989	1200 non ac (4 ppl) 1800 ac	no	5 min	yes
Mauli Resort	02147-225225 9869033406 - Shrikant 9273130038	Db: 1500 Bangalow : 2bhk : 3500		5 min	yes		www.Resortmauli.com
Anant Krupa Guest House Mr Mahesh Pilankar	02147-225323 9819801136 (Sagar Mayekar :Mumbai)	600	No charges	10 min	Not available	Asbestoses sheets roof Old
Ambiance Cottages, Diveagar Mr. Vijay Patwardhan	02147-224091, 225334, 225335	Non ac: 1100 Ac: 1600		10 min	yes
Mr. Praful Patvardhan	9420323602, 9420395036
Pinakin hotel	94235 33314, 92255 05830	Non A.C: 1500 A. C. Deluxe: 2000	200 300	2-3 min	yes		http://hotelpinakin.com/

Photos for some are available on this orkut account (one need to log in to view)

http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#FullProfile?rl=pcb&uid=15793013142391300807

Other sites where you can check out accommodations :

AnandYatri.in

www.Resortmauli.com

http://hotelpinakin.com/

http://www.konkanyatra.com/diveagar/hotels.html

Places to visit

If you are looking for a holiday with beautiful sun kissed beaches away from the hustle and bustle of city, a trip to Srivardhan - Harihareshwar - Diveagar is the right kind of holiday for you.

Srivardhan is a typical Konkani town with a beautiful beach and small wadi's, Srivardhan is the place from where the prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom the 'Peshwas' originally came from.

Somaja Devi temple, Birthplace of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat.

The drive from shrivardhan to diveagar is just superb. many beautiful beaches.spend max time on this stretch. maybe early morning / sunset.

Harihareshwar located at only 18 kms. from Srivardhan is also a beautiful place with with an ancient Shiv Temple and Kalbhairav Temple situated on the beach. Harihareshwar beach is also a very clean and excellent beach. MTDC has very a good resort at Harihareshwar with Tents to stay.

Harihareshwar has spectacular rocky outcrop (accessible only during low tide).

temple Pradakshina till hill top : it has nice view. do not spend long time on that marg, coz water level rises tremendously during tide change.. Hight tide starts in late afternoon like 3 PM.

Diveagar The Shekhadi Road leading to Diveagar is a very pleasant drive as the road is parallel to the coastline and you can see many breathtaking views along the entire stretch of the road.

Golden mask ganesh temple (suvarna Ganesh) also check out original place of excavation.

The Kuda caves near Tale are also worth your visit but are slightly off the road. Visiting Kuda while coming to Srivardhan is more convenient as it is on the way to Mhasala near Mangaon and you will only spend a few hours more. However you are advised to take food and waterwith you as there are no hotels or shops nearby for many kilometers.

Bagmandla Beach
Bagmandla beach Situated near Srivardhan is a very clean and secluded beach near Harihareshwar, you will surely enjoy playing in the white sands and clean water on the beach.You can also take a boat ride from here to the nearby Bankot Fort.

Temples

Janjira fort

Infact early mornings are always preferred for Photography, coz the sun rises east, and fort entrance faces the sun in morning. So you can snap some good shots of the fort..

Possible itinerary

Day 1: Mumbai -> Harihareshwar (via Kuda caves) -> Shrivardhan -> Diveagar

Day 2: Diveagar -> Murud-Janjira fort -> Alibaug (via Birla Temple, Korlai fort, Revdanda fort)

Happy traveling !!