KONKAN - A PARADISE WORTH EXPLORING

An off-beat destination and one of the hidden gems of India that very few people know about, Konkan region is the most beautiful and God gifted land in Maharashtra, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea at the western coastline of India. Apart from being rich in its own Konkani culture, this belt is home to some of the most scenic beaches, many of which are yet to be commercialized and retain their pristine beauty.

With a coastline of over 720 kms, Konkan is dotted with loads of tourist places adorned with alluring natural beauty and plethora of things to do. You would come across exotic tropical settings with bountiful offerings of nature in forms of cascading waterfalls, virgin landscapes, age old historical forts, heritage & prehistoric sites and scrumptious seafood & typical Konkani homes. Along with the great natural beauty, Konkan region boasts of several places of geographical, cultural and architectural interests. Here, we share 9 reasons why you must add Konkan to your bucket list:

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES:

Konkan region is well famous for its long and narrow stretch of sparkling white sand beaches with crystal blue waters which are the main tourist attractions. With Sahyadri hills on one side and the Arabian Sea on the other, this beautiful stretch is home to more than 50 beaches offering nature at its best.  So the next time you wish to slake your quest for spending some quality time on that exotic virgin beach, head off to one of the beaches in Konkan. I bet you’d not be disappointed. For adrenaline junkies, Konkan also offers many aquatic sports activities like SCUBA Diving, Parasailing, kayaking and more at the beaches.

If you want to start your beach trip to Konkan, we would highly recommend starting with Tarkarli beach. It is among the rare locations in India having a huge and active Coral ecosystem. Also, Scuba diving here is conducted by some of the best professionals in the Business, as IISDA is located at Tarkarli. IISDA is an institution dedicated for SCUBA Diving and other aquatic sports.

Apart from Tarkarli beach of Sindhudurg, Ganpatipule beach and Dapoli of Ratnagiri, Harihareshwar and Diveagar beach of Raigad district are the few most famous beaches of Konkan.

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FOODIES PARADISE:

With great seashore, comes great seafood. Konkan is a go-to destination for avid seafood lovers. You will get a vast variety of seafood made from fishes and aquatic animals like pomfret, swordfish, crabs, shrimps and more. All the dishes are made with traditional konkani spices and methods. You just can’t have enough of its fish delicacies and keep on craving for more. Kombdi Vade, a traditional Malvani chicken recipe served with a traditional patty is another unique recipe of Konkan. You should definitely try this dish to have an authentic konkani food experience.

Though Konkani food is popularly known for its non-vegeterian dishes, its lesser known vegetarian dishes such as fanas bhaji (jackfruit), kaju bhaji (cashew), watanyachi usal, vaalache bhirde, patolya, etc. are equally noteworthy & gaining fame & popularity. And who can forget the delicious Solkadhi, one of the popular local drink of the region.

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MAJESTIC FORTS:

Unlike the lavish fort-palaces of Rajasthan, the forts in Konkan are rugged military bastions from which the generations of fierce warriors; the Marathas, the Peshwas, the Siddhis; watched over and guarded their territories from enemies and invaders. Major forts of Maharashtra are situated along with the Konkan coastline, with a number of architectural wonders in the form of sea-forts such as Janjira, Vijaydurg, Suvarndurg, Ratnadurg, Sindhudurg and many more. These amazing forts are now famous as one of the most important trekking destinations around Pune and Mumbai.

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RELIGIOUS HOTSPOT:

Konkan region is home to many beautiful and powerful temples in the state with some of the most ancient temples of multiple Hindu deities, predominantly Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh. These temples are known for their antiquity, religious significance and beauty. You will fall in love with the architectural beauty along with the spiritual experience you get praying in the temple hall. The area has been an important site since prehistoric times which signifies how it has been a religious centre since the primordial era. No wonders why this place is also referred to as Devbhoomi which means the Land Of Gods. Some of the most famous temples in Konkan are Marleshwar Temple, Ganpatipule Temple, Sri Harihareshwar Temple and Kunkeshwar Temple.

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MESMERIZING WATERFALLS:

Lush greenery, misty waters, gushing cascades - sounds like the perfect break from city life? This is what the waterfalls of Konkan have in store for you. The best of monsoon in Konkan are these cascading waterfalls. With relatively lesser crowds, breathtaking views, accommodation options, and delectable cuisines, the region has only the best to offer its visitors. Amboli village of Konkan is home to many small and big waterfalls. Amboli waterfall, Vyaghreshwar Waterfall, Marleshwar Waterfall and Dhodavane Tivre Waterfall are famous falls of Konkan.

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RICH FLORA & FAUNA:

Konkan region of Maharashtra is rich in biodiversity but the wildlife & forests of Konkan are fairly unknown to the outside world. Konkan comprises of a perfect ecosystem. Forests of Konkan are home to small rodents, shrews and many critically endangered, endemic species of animals along with 367 species of marine flora and fauna.  It is also a resting ground for many exotic birds like seagulls, Horned Owls, Dwarf Kingfisher, Rollerbird and much more. Almost 40% of Konkan region is covered with green forest. Few sites within the region, such as Amboli and Tillari, often make headlines as several new species of amphibians, reptiles, and other taxa have been discovered here. Amboli receives heavy rainfall during the monsoon and is one of the wettest place in India. The scenic landscapes and thriving biodiversity of these sites attract droves of researchers and nature enthusiasts. 

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KONKANI PEOPLE & CULTURE:

Konkani people are generally peace loving, very simple and warm hearted. They are very helpful and friendly towards tourists. They depend mainly upon fishing and farming for their livelihood, but nowadays some are making their living with the help of growing tourism in the region. Marathi, Konkani and Malvani are the main languages spoken here, and Hindi and English are understood by many. Their love for celebration is deeply rooted in their culture and it finds its expression through the various festivals celebrated throughout the year. Some of the main festivals celebrated are Diwali, Dassehra, Gudhi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Narali Pournima, Holi, Naag Panchami and Makar Sankranti.

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FOLK ART:

Folk art forms in Konkan are famous for their vibrant and insightful glance at the stories, legends and traditions of the past. Their mysticism lies in the elaborate preparation, natural setting and the overall serene ambience of the display. Some of these famous folk art forms, the precious artefacts of our colourful past include Dashavtar, Jakhadi, Naman, etc.

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CONNECTIVITY & AFFORDABILITY

The most important thing about Konkan is you don’t need to spend huge amount of money to explore the region. All you need is just a true wanderer’s spirit. Konkan is well connected to all major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru etc. by means of road, railway and via sea. The newly operational Chipi Sindhudurg Airport in Vengurla provides great connectivity to Konkan.

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BEST PERIOD TO VISIT:

Konkan can be visited from November to February as the temperatures are a bit milder with less Humid conditions. But many local people who work outside Konkan or ‘Chakarmanis’ as they are locally referred, do visit in the summer vacations. If you decide to visit Konkan in summer be sure to book an A/C accommodation. For people who cannot tolerate Hot and Humid conditions, December and January months are the best time to visit.

Have you visited Konkan before? Do share your favourite place in Konkan in our comments box....

Video Credits: Maharashtra Tourism

 

Konkan Kulture

Don’t Just Visit, Experience It

 

Bio: KONKAN KULTURE is a Destination Marketing Agency for the Konkan region of Maharashtra. We focus on promoting Konkan Tourism & other businesses in Konkan, to make it more attractive to the tourists and other potential travellers, boosting the number of visitors and local businesses & providing employment to the locals. It is also about increasing awareness of the destination's rich culture and heritage to raise demand and improve its reputation.

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