Alibaug- Kashid- Nagaon- Korlai

Route map: Palava- Pen- Dolvi- Alibaug- Nagaon- Korlai-Kashid (~250 kms drive)

Places of interest:

• Alibaug Beach and fort (inside water)
• Kashid Beach (softy sand)
• Korlai fort (the last 1-2 km drive is not for weak hearted)
• Nagaon Beach (driving beach)

Beautiful Sunrise- Nagaon Beach

Driving Experience:

The whole drive experience has improved over years, but still not up-to the mark. The national highway (Mumbai-Goa) is concrete, but safety features are missing. Diversion from highway to Alibaug road was freshly laid and hence my experience was good (pretty sure, it will be wiped out in next monsoon).

Korlai Fort: The 1-2 km road behind is a single lane road, creating a jam with two vehicles in opposite direction. The sea view is fabulous (mini California beach highway road)

Google map accuracy: Was very good.

Mobile Network: Jio network was patchy, south of Alibaug. Better carry some cash and not reply completely on UPI.

Amenities: All road side amenities are there. The area is populated and hence no shortage of vehicle and stomach filling stations.

Activities to do:

• If accessible, go to Alibaug fort, few 100 meters inside sea.
• Take sea bath in Kashid beach.Changing room in beach shacks are there. Beach shacks are there, but donot expect Goa kind of amenities.
• Water sports in Nagaon, Kashid beach.
• Sur rise, Sun set drive in Nagaon beach.
• Drive and hiking to Korlai fort. Light house is also there. (Rs 20/pp entry)

The view from Korlai fort (Portuguese fort, build on Estuary) top. Fabulous.

Hotels:

• Being close to Mumbai, Pune: the place is dotted with hotels and resorts from budget to high end.
• Nagaon, Alibaug and Kashid are main places.
• Prices can double to triple with season and long weekends.
• Tent stay for adventurous ones in Nagaon. Famous among young couples and friends groups.

Others:

• For South Mumbai, M2M ferry service is a good option.
• Do try fish meals, Konkani meals.
• Best time to visit: November to March
• Monsoon can be scenic, if one can tolerate heavy rains.

Sunset in Kashid beach

Alibaug Beach

Korlai Fort: In noise of Alibaug and Kashid, this place is bypassed/missed/unknown. But is a must visit place, for many reasons:

• Last 1-2 kms drive right on coast, is a single lane (freshly laid)concrete road. 2 vehicles from opposite direction and you are stuck. One has to back off.
• The light house has well maintained garden and view from lighthouse top is fabulous.
• The 5-10 mins stepped hike to Fort is worth the effort. ,View of river estuary , explains the importance of fort and why Portuguese build it 500 years back.

Fort top and Lighthouse-Korlai