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Marve
- Manori - Gorai
To the North of Mumbai lie these 3 calm and pleasant beaches.Nearest
of the three is Marve which is an attractive, intriguing
fishing village. The village provides breathtaking sights
of sunset and sunrise from the low-lying hills. Gorai and
Manori, a little further away, though a trifle crowded with
revellers, are popular for their wonderful all night beach
parties. A 15
minute ferry ride from Marve or Borivali takes you to Gorai
and Manori.
Bassein
An important ship-building centre in the 17th century,
the Marathas defeated the Portuguese here in 1739. The
Portuguese fort now stands in ruins amidst the dense palm
grove. 10 kms away is the former Konkan capital (1500
B.C. to 1300 A.D) now known as Nalasopara village. Nalasopara
is believed to have been the birthplace of the Buddha
in a previous incarnation. Many Buddhist relics have also
been found here. The Vajreshwari temple, the Akloli hot
springs, the Sadguru Nityanand Maharaj Samadhi Mandir
at Ganeshpuri, the Bhimeshwar temple and other ashrams
are at a short distance away from Bassein. There are quite
a few interesting churches, too, in Bassein, poignant
reminders of the Portugeuse past. The churches of Nalasopara
are a reminder of the Portuguese.
Murud
- Janjira
The majestic fortress of Janjira is a major attraction
of Maharashtra. The splendid piece of architecture of
this impregnable fort stands three centuries old. Set
on an island, it can be accessed by boats. It was the
former capital of Sidis of Janjira. Murud, which houses
this famous fort, is also popular for its enchanting beach
and rejuvenating stretches of coconut and palm groves.
The Lord Dattatraya shrine, the 3 headed image representing
the holy trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva lies on a
hill at the top. A little further away are the two beaches
of Nandgaon and Kashid reflecting alluring beauty, Ganpati
temple, and the annual fair held in God's honour, every
February. Other sites of interest in this area, are the
palace of the Nawab and the Janjira caves.
Mandwa
- Kihim
The virgin, pristine beach of Mandwa, is easily accessible
from Mumbai and is just 120 kms away. The village of Mandwa
captures your heart with its overwhelming serene atmosphere
and endless coconut palm groves. Just near Mandwa is another
unspoilt and isolated beach, Kihim . This slightly unusual
beach is a treat for a nature-lover, housing deep woods
a variety of rare butterflies, wild and uncommon flowers
and many species of birds. It was a popular haunt of Dr.
Salim Ali, the famous ornithologist. Other interesting
places are Kolaba Fort, near the shore, and Chaul (15
kms from Alibagh) which is a site of historical importance,
boasting an assortment of Portugeuse ruins, Buddhist caves,
the Hamam Khana, a church, a synagogue and a temple.
Dahanu
- Bordi
The tranquil seaside and the vast stretch of unspoilt beach
of Dahanu lies in the district. 17 kms long the coastline
stretches from Dahanu to Bordi. Dahanu has a plethora of
fruit orchards and is most famous for its chickoos. Udwada
the most famous shrine of the Zoroastrians is accessible
from Dahanu. The sacred fire in this splendid temple is
the prime attraction of this region. This fire has been
kept alive for almost a thousand years, an incredible, nevertheless,
true fact. |
