Sindhudurg Attractions - Tourist Places To Visit In Sindhudurg

The name Sindhudurg originally means a Fort Built on Ocean or an Ocean Fort, in Marathi. Perhaps the most iconic creation in this area, the Sindhudurg Fort was constructed within 3 years from 1664-1667 by King Shivaji. A 100 Portuguese architects from Goa and over 3000 strong workforce were deployed to build this fort, that today stands tall on the ‘Kurte Island’.

Hiroji Indulkar, a noted architect of that era, supervised the construction and it is believed that 4000 mounds of iron was casted for creating the base and to lay the foundation stone for the fort. The fort is spread over 50 acres of land and boasts of a 9.2 m high rampart that is 4 km long and is studded with 42 bastions. The Fort houses the temples of Hanuman, Jarimari and Goddess 'Bhavani’.

The Tarkarli Beach is a major attraction in Sindhurdurg. A small village in the Sindhudurg district, Tarkarli is blessed with a long coastline that is just made for those long, idyllic romantic walks filled with nostalgia. The heady feeling one gets of the soft sand tickling your feet and the presence of clear water that stretches to the horizon is incomparable.

The water is so pristine and clear that the seabed is clearly visible. The beach is also a trusted zone for female turtles, and you may just come across a turtle lazing on the beach or hatching or protecting its eggs in the sand.

The Sagareshwar Beach is home to the quaint and ancient Sagareshwar temple of Lord Shiva. Built with stones, this grand temple is met by the submissive sea waves at its footsteps. It is located in the district of Sindhudurg.

The beach surrounding the temple has been wisely crafted and nurtured to grow a blooming courtyard of a variety of lowers bursting with all sorts of colours imaginable. Right at the entrance of the temple is the massive Deepstambh, and the ever vigilant Nandi the Bull, at the entrance of the Lord’s abode.

The Karli Backwaters is a much sought after destination in Sindhudurg. If you thought that the backwaters at Kerala was as good as it could get, you must not miss out on the Karli Backwaters - the influence of the Karli river where it meets the Arabian sea near the Karli creek.

The picturesque area is best experienced in a boat ride that starts from the creek. The ride against the river nearing its journey is amazingly swift. The river banks are canopied with verdant forests, giving you an Amazon-esque feel.

The Mochemad Village – near the town of Vengurla – is peacefully nestled in the picturesque green hills and mountains of Sindhudurg. It also boasts of a golden sand beach, with the shore stretching for miles together. The coastline is lined with ‘Suru’ tree plantations.

The water, needless to say, is clear of any dirt – pure and clean – and the waves of the Arabian Sea splash on the beach relentlessly. The beach is open for swimming, and is isolated from the general hustle found on beaches.

The Vayangani Beach is like no other beach, and attracts tourist for a far lot more reasons than merely its beautiful seashore or crystal clear water. Located in Sindhudurg, this beach attracts its visitors for the enchanting location it is set in, with greenery surrounding it. The entire beach stretch is covered with lush green mango, cashew and jackfruit trees. Sipping on tender coconuts, while observing the setting sun, is an experience one wouldn’t want to miss out on.

The Aravali village is no stranger to pilgrims. Shri Vithoba Temple and Sateri Devi Mandir are popular for being a Jagrut Devasthan, i.e., Lords who fulfil a devotee’s wishes. Pilgrims throng the narrow, long routes with bananas as offering to Lord Vithoba. It is situated near Sindhudurg. Kolhapuri Chappals are claimed to be Lord Vithoba’s most preferred set of offerings.