A fascinating beach town along the Konkan Coast, Ganpatipule is the Indian answer to the Caribbean Islands! This place is at a distance of approximately 375 km from Mumbai, and belongs to the district of Ratnagiri. This small village in Maharahstra is untouched by the frantic commercialization of urban life and successfully retains its charm of an idyllic holiday destination. The Swayambhu Ganpati Temple at Ganpatipule is a massive attraction of this sleepy village. The idol of Ganpati in this temple is allegedly 400 years old, and carved fom a monolithic rock. It attracts thousands and thousands of pilgrims who throng the temple site to seek Lord Ganpati’s blessings each year. Ganpati is considered to be the Paschim Dwardevta. It is believed that the local people who reside in Ganpatipule are blessed and looked after by the Lord himself. The beaches of Ganpatipule are not only pristine and replete with clear, virgin water, but the region is blessed with abundant flora. Mangroves and Coconut palms line the entire stretch of the beach, making it a luscious view from afar. The Raigad Fort and Raigad Lighthouse are two other sites in the area that must not be missed. A few delicacies to be tried out while in this town are Ambapoli and Phanaspoli – a dried mango papad and jackfruit papad respectively. Kokam Kadi is another favourite amongst the locals. The world-famous Devgad Hapus (a variety of mango) originates from here, and if you happen to travel to Ganpatipule during the summer season, be sure to try them out. Modak, Lord Ganpati’s favourite food item is an absolutely delicious sweet dish recipe that yoou can’t possibly miss out on while there.

          Durshet is a great place to experience the gentle brush of the cool wind and to witness the dazzling lights in the sky. The monsoons are the best time to smell in the wet earth and feel close to Mother Nature. Durshet is a quiet village found on the banks of the River Amba, perched between the two holy Ashtavinayak Temples of Pali and Mahad. It is sprawled over more than 42 acres of forest land. Durshet is comfortably nestled in the lap of the Sahayadri Ranges, off the highway near the village of Khopoli. This tourist site is mainly enveloped in verdant green forests of Mango and Mahu. It provides for an ideal weekend get away for city dwellers to unwind and relax in nature’s arms. The proximity of Durshet to the major cities of Mumbai and Pune has earned itself a lot of tourists waiting to break away from the maddening city crowd.

          A small town located in the Maharashtra state, Vijaydurg lies along India’s coastline. It is at a distance of around 485 km from Mumbai and lies in the district of Sindhudurga. It was formerly known as Geriah. Its idyllic location between the Arabian Sea on one side and the Sahayadri Ranges on the other make it a place worthy of visit. The town of Vijaydurg and the district of Sindhudurg as a whole served as a naval base during the Maratha rule. Even today it is a functioning seaport. Vijaydurg poses as an ideal place to de-stress after a hectic weekend. Virgin, untouched beaches, historical forts – Vijaydurg has a lot to offer to the quintessential tourist. The beaches are lined by a thick green forest rich with Coconut trees and palms. Mango plantations fill the entire region with the heavenly smell of juicy Alphonso mangoes ever summer. There are typical houses made of red wood and stapled roofs that increase the beauty. Vijaydurg is famous for the Vijaydurg Fort – also known by the name Fort Victor – that was built by Maharaj Shivaji during his Maratha Rule in India. It was built more than 300 years back, in the 17th century. The Fort was also called Gheriya as it was surrounded on three out of the four sides by sea. The fort was a force to be reckoned with during the Peshwa and Maratha rule, and considered to be invincible by the penetrating foreign enemies who attempted their very best to ravage the place. The fort has three layers of walls built around it, and several towers and buildings within the vicinity, making the fort formidable. It is stretched out on an area of 17 acres. Built on a massive scale, this fort was captured at one point by the Britishers, who renamed the Fort to Fort Augustus or the Ocean Fort. Architectural enthusiasts will delight in the charm that this centuries-old structure still manages to captivate visitors with.

          A tiny little town set on the west coast of India, Guhagar lies within the state of Maharashtra, under the Ratnagiri District. Flanked by the mighty Arabian Sea on one side and the majestic Sahayadri Mountain Ranges on the other, Guhagar literally means a ‘Cave House’, in the local dialect. Guhagar is famously known as the Temple Town given the number of prominent Hindu Temples that feature here. There are several temples dedicated to different Avatars of Lord Shiva like the Balkeshwar Temple, the Udaleshwar Temple, the Vyadeshwar Temple, the Velneshwar Temple and the Talkeshwar Temple. The Chandika Mandir is a well known shrine that can be found here. The same goes with a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Ufrata Ganpati that is situated along the Guhagar Beach. The Sri Dasabhuj Lakshmi Ganesh Devasthan and the Uma Maheshwari Temple are amongst other temples that can be seen here. Annually, the town sees hordes of ardent devotees and worshippers thronging the area to seek Lord Shiva’s and other Gods’ blessings. Guhagar is especially crowded during the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri when the festival is celebrated with great aplomb. A fair is also arranged in the vicinity around this time.