One of The Best Weekend Getaways Near Mumbai - Diveagar

Diveagar is a beach town, located on the gold coasts of the Konkan, Maharashtra. The town is famous for its exquisite beaches and blue waters and hidden gold treasure. Diveagar lies under Raigad district which is a famous Maratha district of Maharashtra. The Coastal lines of this place are bestowed with coconut and betel nut trees which make this place more beautiful. White sparkling sand, blue waters and beautiful coasts make a special combination of fun and peace.

Diveagar is on one end of the three beaches - diveagar, Shrivardhan and Harihareshwar. Temples in this region is very famous and Harihareshwar is popularly known as the Dakshin Kashi. Shrivardhan beach is a small cove with a very calm sea and unlike Diveagar is a flat beach. Dighi is a 15 mins drive from Diveagar from where you can visit the famous Murud Janjira. 

Accommodation in Diveagar

Diveagar is a beach city and hence, is a famous tourist spot. There are so many hotels and guest houses which provide accommodation to the visitors who visit this place. The hotels in this city vary from economical to luxurious ones which also provide a sea view. Exciting packages and discounted prices of these hotels lure visitors to come here. One can enjoy the food, facilities and hospitality of these hotels in Diveagar according to their budgets.

How to reach

Diveagar by road

There are regular buses from Mumbai to reach Diveagar. One can take state or private buses to reach Diveagar conveniently. The city is at a distance of 170 km from Mumbai, 90 km from Raigad and 35 km from Harihareshwar shrine. Thus, you don’t need to worry about how to reach Diveagar.

Mumbai to Diveagar (Mumbai - Panvel - Mangaon - Mhsala - Diveagar)177 km  - 3 hours 26 mins

 

A PLEASANT ONE DAY TREKKING DESTINATION - KARNALA FORT

Karnala fort in Raigad district about 10 km from Panvel city. Currently it is a protected place lying within the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. It was a fort of strategic importance as it overlooked the Bor pass which connected the Konkan coast to the interior of Maharashtra and was the main trade route between these areas.

To reach Karnala Fort, there are two ways up: one is easy and other is bit more difficult. Those who have not done trekking or consider themselves in good enough physical condition can take the former. Experienced trekkers would find the latter interesting - it is at par with some of the easy-medium Sahyadri treks like Tikona Fort.

For the easier route: Move left from the entrance. One can take this path, which starts from the water pump house. Follow the arrow marks displayed on the trees.

For the difficult route: Move right from the entrance. This path can be taken from man-made Steps near the entrance, which leads directly to the forest. This has a few streams (get ready to have your shoes wet!), small waterfalls and traverses through foliage. It's recommended you get a good pair of sports shoes, and plenty of water. The total elevation of this climb is around 375 m. While it's not difficult, there are some rocks and steep climbs to negotiate.

How TO REACH

From Mumbai - Karnala fort is 60 km from Mumbai, on the Mumbai-Goa Highway, NH-17. This is a 2-hour drive via Thane Creek and Panvel. Central Railway trains from CST Station stop at Panvel, 12 km from the Fort base; from here you can catch autorickshaws, taxis and buses. State Transport buses run from Mumbai Central to Karnala fort. You can hire a Taxi from Mumbai or Pune and shouldn't be very expensive.

From Vashi (Navi Mumbai) - Karnala fort is 32 km from Mumbai From Vashi, regular buses and autorickshaws (6 seaters) going towards Pen from Panvel will drop you at Karnala, but the frequency is very less after 6.00-7.00 PM. The fare is around Rs 15.00. Though this might be adventurous for a foreigner, it's not unusual and these rickshaws are generally safe.

Do Apart from Trekking

Apart from trekking, soaking in nature, and searching for birds, there is precious else to do at Karnala Sanctuary. However, along the way, you can also have a snack / lime juice at a little stall. There are also little shelters with corrugated roofs where you can sit and have a meal with your family

Major Attraction Spot

Karnala Bird Sanctuary is a major attraction to the visitors of Mumbai, Thane and other nearby towns. About one hundred thousand local tourists visit the sanctuary every year. Karnala is a paradise for bird watchers. One can also visit Nature Interpretation Centre and trek down to famous Karnala Fort located amidst sanctuary.