TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN DAPOLI

Dapoli is a coastal hill station city in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It lies around 215 km south of the state capital Mumbai. Dapoli is also known as Camp Dapoli as Britishers set their camps here. Dapoli is a beautiful village situated at an altitude of 700 to 800 feet above sea level. It is home to one of the biggest Agricultural Universities in India, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeet.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, tourists often come here to spend their leisure time. Thousands of seagulls and occasional dolphins visit the beaches every winter. There are many orchards in the Dapoli area which have been used to develop agri-tourism centres. Dapoli is famous for its fish markets, fish auctions, historic forts, harbours and monuments.

So strap up your travelling gear, but keep lots of space in your heart, mind & soul to soak in what could be one of the most memorable experience of your life.

Top Places To Visit In Dapoli:

1. Keshavraj Temple
2. Anjarle Beach
3. Kolthare Beach
4. Panhalekaji Caves
5. Kelshi Beach
6. Mahalakshmi Temple
7. Karde Beach
8. Harnai Port & Fish Market
9. Shree Chandikadevi Temple, Dabhol
10. Savane Beach
11. Suvarnadurga Fort
12. Kadyavarcha Ganpati
13. Shree Parshuram Smarak
14. Ladghar Beach
15. Murud Beach
16. Unhavare Hot Water Spring

 

1. Keshavraj Temple 

It is an ancient temple situated in the village of Asud. From all the sides, the temple is paved by stone pavements. The main deity is Shree Vishnu. A small climbing route with well-built steps, leads to the temple. Temple is surrounded by the forest, giving an experience of a jungle trek. Tall trees of beetle nuts, coconut & mangoes make it a lush green environment throughout the year. The ancient heritage beauty of the temple takes you to the complete serene and beautiful experience of nature. It is believed by the locals that the temple was built by Pandavas overnight.

2. Anjarle Beach

It is one of the less crowded beaches, about 2 km in the stretch. The Water is clean, the sand white, and one can enjoy playing with waves and sand. This Beach is known for its Turtle festival, you will be able to witness the turtle hatching every year from February to May. Anjarle beach is famous for turtle nesting as a part of conservation of the species. That one place in Konkan that gives the peace & silence one needs and a feel of the village, one always craves for. A complete getaway from daily routine.

3. Kolthare Beach

Being located in the coastlines of Maharashtra, you will find quite a few different beaches in Dapoli. One such beach is Kolthare beach, and it is one of the cleanest beaches in India. You will find the spot where river Panchanadi meets the Arabian Sea here at Kolthare Beach. Being a non-commercial beach, you will be able to enjoy the serenity of this beautiful beach.

There are quite a few beach homestays near Kolthare beach. People who have visited this beach have called it the Unknown Treasure of dapoli and hence this one is worth amongst the best places to visit in Dapoli.

4. Panhalekaji Caves:

True history buffs always includes Panhalekaji caves on their list of places to visit in dapoli. Situated in hilly ranges of Dapoli, the caves are around 20km away from Dapoli-Dabhol road near the village named Nante. Panhalekaji Caves comprises 29 caves that began building in the 2nd or 3rd century and completed it after many centuries. These manmade caves have beautiful idols of Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Goddesses Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati in it. These magnificent caves are the oldest caves with so much history behind it, certainly a place to visit while in Dapoli.

5. Kelshi Beach

Located in Kelshi village that belonged to Peshwa dynasty, Kelshi Beach stretches up to 3 km and is covered with cypress, coconut and betel nut trees.

You will have a chance to see traces of sea urchins, sea anemones, to name a few. Here at Kelshi Beach, you will find sand dunes formed by a Tsunami and dates back to 1524. People who like to collect seashells are in luck as Kelshi beach is filled with shells, conches and troves of cowries.

6. Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalakshmi Temple is situated at the foot of Utamber hills around 3 km from the village Kelshi. It is built during the Peshwa era. It has eight feet tall stone wall compound around the sides. The main entrance has Nagarkhana. There is a temple with a Shivling inside. A pond with steps, Pushkarni, is also built near it, with a variety of lotus flowers blossoming here.  The devotees get a special experience of calmness & purity here. The Nagarkhana for playing clarinets enchants you at the entrance. There are two domes, one is the goddess Mahalakshmi Mandir where the idol of the goddess is Swyambhu (self-created), other is the place for the prayers.

7. Karde Beach

It is one of the nearest beaches to Dapoli, with mixed white & black sand, and stretches out about four kilometers. It is a quiet and safe to swim beach. It is one of the unexplored beaches yet, which gives you that silence & privacy one needs. Less noise & more of seashore & waves sound, a perfect destination to relax & rejuvenate. Black & white sand mixture makes it shine with the sun rays falling on it, a unique experience to catch. A place makes it more special as it makes you reunite with yourself with beautiful nature.

8. Harnai Port & Fish Market

The largest and biggest fish market in Maharashtra is the Harnai Fish Market. This market is open twice a day once in the morning at 8.30 am and then in the evening at around 4 pm. This port is extremely popular for its fish auctioning, which takes place daily. One can see thousands of fishermen in the area, going about their daily business. Tourists love this spot because it is from the Harnai port where you can go to the various forts and landmarks listed above. The port is famous for its sight of thousands of boats lined up together. The open view of the sea and people selling fish, some even cooked, makes it a very enjoyable tourist spot.

9. Shree Chandikadevi Temple, Dabhol

It is a temple devoted to the goddess Chandika, one of the avatars of Devi Parvati. The temple is on the mountain top near Dabhol. The temple is a natural cave & the idol is in one single stone carved naturally. According to anecdotes, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited the place after successfully acquiring Dabhol. Devotees coming to the temple will notice that there is no electricity in the temple area and the only source of light is the soft gleaming light of the lanterns lit around the temple.

10. Savane Beach

Savane Beach is one of the region's cleanest and most secluded beaches. The route to the pristine beach along the curvy coastal road adds to the mesmerising beauty of the attraction. Known as a virgin beach, it is apt for those seeking a peaceful getaway to get closer to nature and away from city life.

11. Suvarnadurga Fort

This fort was built in seventeenth century by Adilshaha for defense purpose. Later it was won by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He renamed it Suvarndurg as it was like a golden feather to the Maratha Kingdom. The Suvarnadurga is under authority of Archaeology Department. This fort is accessible by boat from Harnai. The best season to visit this fort is from September to May. The main entrance of the fort is huge & hidden within two bastions. A 4 feet tall door, leading to the sea side from the fort, is articulately hidden in the fortification and is famous attraction for visitors. There are 24 bastions around, and each one is about 30 feet high. The fort is spread over large area of 8 acres.

12. Kadyavarcha Ganpati

It is a Lord Ganesha temple on the hilltop & so is the name Kadyavarcha Ganapati. Though climbing the hill is little tough with sharp turns, the scenic beauty of the sea & river gives an exotic experience. The Idol Of Lord Ganesha here is with the Right Trunk. This temple was previously built of woods & rebuilt in the late seventeen century. Approximately 200 years old temple assures inner peace.

13. Shree Parshuram Smarak

A beautiful monument has been erected in the village of Burundi on the hillside near Ladghar beach in Dapoli taluka. Surrounded by lush greenery, Ladghar beach in the distance adds to the beauty of the place. Here you will see a massive bronze statue of Lord Parashuram standing on the replica of Earth, and inside the replica of Earth, there is a meditation or prayer room for the visitors. Lord Parshuram is believed to be the one who had created Konkan by shooting an arrow, hence a great deal of significance is given to Lord Parshuram by the locals. At the sight of this magnificent and powerful statue of his, the mind automatically leans at his feet.

14. Ladghar Beach

If you love adventure then Ladghar Beach is a must-visit place for you. At Ladghar beach, you can enjoy water sports like going for a banana ride, water scooters, parasailing, powerboat, and many more. Ladghar beach is covered with beautiful red pebbles and in the evening, you will be able to see the multitude of orange and red shades that is a part of the Arabian Sea. Due to this reddish hue the beach is known as the “Tamas Tirtha.”

15. Murud Beach

Murud beach is called Murud Harnai to distinguish it from same name beach in Raigad District. It is a clean beach with grey-black sand. A Long beach close to Harnai port & fish market. Watersports facility is available here. The scenic beauty of the mighty Arabian sea is enhanced here. Beach is safe to swim. Bordered by coconut groves and hotels, this beach is one of the most famous beaches in the Ratnagiri district.

16. Unhavare Hot Water Spring

Hot water springs located in Unhavare, Dapoli is a must-be on your bucket list of places to tick off. The springs are surrounded by lush green trees along with a view of a nearby temple. The temperature of the water is always 70 degrees irrespective of the season. There's provision to bathe in these soothing, refreshing, and undeniably hot natural wonders. The water in the springs is said to have 'Gandhak' (Sulphur) in a substantial amount which helps cure skin diseases. It is an effective medicine for stress that you incur during the day. The water level of the spring surprisingly always remains constant. It is a wonderful and rejuvenating experience that everyone can be a part of.

 

Dapoli is a versatile place and to say the least; there is something for everyone in this place to explore. You can relax, laze around and unwind in Dapoli amidst the beauty of nature. Indeed, a good and must visit a getaway destination for the city folks.

Have you been to Dapoli before? Feel free to drop your experiences about the destination in the comment box.

 

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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