Murud - of Unspoilt Beaches and Mid-sea Forts

Quote: If you are transiting through Mumbai, and still want to get a glimpse of what India has to offer, then you must make it a point to visit the town of Murud-Janjira. A scenic three-hour (165 km) drive from Mumbai gets you here and then transports you to a realm of tranquility and serenity.

Murud is a town which has something to offer for all kinds of people. If you are a beach freak, then you'll simply go ga-ga when you land on the main beach. It is a wide expanse of clean and opulent sand stretching along for miles. You could simply bask in the sun or rent a bicycle and ride along the shoreline with the wind blowing gently in your face.

Or, if you are into history and culture, then you'll probably see something which might just enthrall you. Located in the middle of the Arabian sea are two beautiful and well-preserved forts dating back to Shivaji's time. The Kasa fort (1.5 hours sailing time) and Janjira fort (30 minutes sailing time) are no less than architectural marvels. The sight of these forts from a distance is truly wondrous and the best part of going to the forts is that you need to take a small sail boat from the mainland. A truly extraordinary experience.

The adventurous might also want to rent a cycle and ride along the Murud, Janjira town, the oldest municipality in India, developed by the Nawab more than 100 years ago.

So, for all those people who are looking for a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai or are just transiting through it, take a drive to Murud and experience bliss!

Quick Tips:

There is no specific "best time" to visit Murud. When the madness of Mumbai gets to you, you can simply jump into your car and drive away.

There are a few good resorts in Murud. Some are located right on the beach and some a little bit away from it. If you have your own transportation, you could stay away from the beach and come down during the evenings or for people who use public transport, it would be advisable to stay near the beach.

A couple of things that can be done en route to Murud are:

1) Explore the lighthouse and Portuguese fort at Korlai.

2) Stop by at Nandgaon's Ganpati temple and get Lord Ganesh's blessings.

3) Explore the 2000-year-old Buddhist caves and Bhalgaon (20km away).

Best Way To Get Around:

Mumbai to Murud by road is 165km via Revadanda. It's a beautiful drive which is along the coast a few minutes after you pass Alibaug.

You could also take a ferry from the Gateway of India and land at Mandwa jetty. From there, a local rickshaw will get you to Murud in a few minutes. This is a faster way to reach the town.

Once you reach, there is not much of public transport available except for Maharashtra State buses and auto-rickshaws which are quite rare. So it's advisable for you to take your own transportation if you are planning to travel around.

Quote: The best thing about the Golden Swan beach resort is that it is located bang on the beach. Just exit from the back gate and pass a row of conifer trees and "ta-da", a wide expanse of beach lies in front of you.

The resort has some wonderful but expensive Mediterranean-style cottages and a few cheaper beach houses. All these are directly accessible to the beach and the main road that connects to the town. Though the beach houses are a few meters away from the main resort, the service provided is excellent.

The resort also has a wonderful restaurant where you can choose from a wide variety of cuisines, from Chinese to Mughlai, something to suit everyone's palate.

Evenings are a great time to play beach volleyball. The resort will set up a net for you and provide you with a volleyball. Also, if you are the type who doesn't like to get dirty, you could simply play badminton or indoor carrom.

Overall, this is an excellent resort, both for those who don't mind spending a bit extra as well as for budget travelers.

Quote:

The Janjira fort situated in the deep sea, 3 kms off the coast of Rajpuri is a symbol of strength and defiance. The Arabian sea batters its walls from all sides and yet it stands majestic - with its 40 feet wall sticking out even during full tide.

It is said that the fort was never conquered for over 350 years since it was built in the 15th century by the Siddhis. It withstood an onslaught from the British, Portuguese, and even the mighty Shivaji who tried 6 times, but was unsuccessful!

How to get there?

Rajpuri, from where you can take a sailboat to the fort is around 8 kms from Murud. You can hire an autorickshaw to take you there if you don't have your private vehicle. The sailboats depart every 15-20 minutes depending on the number of passengers they get. The bad part about sharing a sailboat with other passengers is that you need to stick to their schedule which gives you only 30 minutes to spend on the fort. For people who want to spend more time, it would be advisable to hire a sailboat with a guide for the whole day. This is because covering the entire fort could take a few hours.

Janjira is spread on an area of about 22 acres. There are two water tanks inside the fort and a well which has cold and sweet water. This is quite mind-boggling as who would expect a sweet water well in the middle of a fort which is in the middle of a sea...

There are also 19 towers and some very well preserved cannons. From certain points you can also see the neighboring Kasa fort which is also mid-sea. Overall the condition of the fort is excellent from the outside. However, most of the areas inside are covered with thick overgrowths of trees and moss and are quite dilapidated. However, the overall experience is wonderful and it leaves you with a sense of awe and mystique.

Finally for all of those who are baffled thinking "How did they manage to build a fort in the middle of the sea?"

Simple, they built it on an island...