Konkan, also known as Aparanta, lies between Sahyadri mountains and the Arabian Sea. The plain stretches approximately 760 km. Konkan is derived from two Marathi words, "Kona" meaning corner and "Kana" meaning piece.
This region is rain bathed and is perennially lush green. This coastal belt is famous for its serene beaches, temples and delicious seafood. Konkan is bound by the Sahyadri Mountain range with Western Ghats in the east, Arabian Sea in the west, Gangavali river in the South and Mayura river in the north.
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The pride of Marathas, Konkan is filled with historic wonders and temples. The coast is gifted with abundant flora and fauna, which is sure to give us a break from our fast-paced city life.
PC : Nochalp
Best Time To Visit Konkan: During monsoons, as each nook and corner of the Konkan hamlets turn into a small waterfall, presenting a great joy to the travellers.
Peak Season: From November to March
Places You Can Visit On Your 4-day Bike Trip From Pune To Konkan:
The best itinerary of a Konkan 4-day bike trip from Pune is as mentioned below. Here are the different places you'd come across on the stretch.
Diveagar:
PC : Pankaj Dhande
Located in the Raigarh District, Diveagar has crystal clear, uncrowded beach with seashore extending up to 6 km and is a foremost attraction of the region. It is 160 km from Pune and takes about 4 hours to reach.
One end of the beach is a fishing settlement, while the other has thousands of migratory seagulls in the sanctuary. Other than that, Suvarna Ganesh temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is another prime attraction of the region.
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This is mainly a fishing hamlet, and you can request the local fishermen to take you on a fishing expedition. Water sports like Paragliding is available near the beach. Murud Janjira sea fort is a must visit. An hour's drive from Diveagar, this old fort stands in the middle of the ocean!
Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar:
PC : Omkar
Around 18 km from Diveagar is Shrivardhan, a town in Raigadh District, which is a very calm place in the lap of nature. Somjai temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a famous temple here. There is also a boat service from Shrivardhan to Harihareshwar, if you feel bored of riding your bike.
Harihareshwar, known for its temples and beaches, is called the Kashi of South India. It is surrounded by three hills named Harihareshwar, Harshinachal and Pushpadri. The must-visit Harihareshwar temple is said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva himself. The temple and beach are face to face. This temple is one of a kind with three lingas that are dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Parvati.
Anjarle:
PC : Apoorva Karlekar
Anjarle is almost 55 km from Harihareshwar. It is in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra and is one of the finest places in Konkan. It is a small port that is located near the mouth of the river Jog.
Located 25 km from Dapoli Taluka, it is famous for Kadyawarcha Ganapati temple. Anjarle has pristine beaches, which are surrounded by palm and coconut trees. After the darshan at the hill-top Ganesh temple, take a long stroll on the Palm beach and it is sure to leave you wanting some more. You can check out the Kelshi beach which is 8 km from Anjarle. The road runs parallel to the sea and it is an unmatched joy to see the waves from your bike.
Murud And Karde:
Murud, a taluka city in Raigadh District is 20 km from Anjarle. It is the birthplace of Bharat Ratna Maharishi Karve, who established the first Indian university exclusively for women (SNDT).
Murud beach has a great deal of watersports. You can indulge in dirt biking, parasailing, etc. The Durga Devi temple is another must visit here at Murud. Murud Janjira fort is notable for being the only fort along India's west coast that has remained undefeated by Dutch and British attacks. There are many waterfalls that mushroom around this area during monsoons.
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Karde is very famous for the Karde Beach, which extends one after the other. A long 6-km walk on Murud beach will take you to Karde beach. Karde beach is a typical Dapoli beach with a thin film of white sand enveloping the basal black sand, giving it a very romantic appeal.
PC : Vishaltomar ifm
You can ride your bike along the Karde beach during the low tides to get to the adjoining beaches. You will find the Suvarnadurg, meaning Golden Fort, which was built for the Maratha Navy defense purposes. The land fort, Kanakadurg, and the sea fort, Suvarnadurg, are said to be connected by a tunnel, but this is now defunct. This is a protected monument and the only approach is by a boat.