Dapoli , Maharashtra, India
To the point: Beaches, temple, water sports and much more, we found a mini Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and we bring you all the exciting things to do in and around Dapoli.
Dapoli
Located in Ratnagiri, Dapoli is a small town separated by the Sahyadri Range and is located at a high altitude of 800 feet above sea level. It is often referred to as a ‘Mini-Mahableshwar’ or ‘Konkan’s Mahabaleshwar’ all thanks to its pristine beauty. Being close to the Arabian Sea, it remains cool all year round is what earned it its nickname. Once upon a time, Dapoli used to be a military camp for British Soldiers and now it is enjoyed by friends and family as a great weekend getaway from both Pune and Mumbai.
Dapoli
The calm and stimulating town has a plethora of things to do like visiting the golden sandy beaches like Karde, Ladghar, Kolthare, and Murud Harnai to name a few. The beaches are not commercial and the surge of tourists an only be seen on the weekends. You can go take a dip in the sea and splash around or sit on the shore and catch glimpses of dolphins which has become a major tourist attraction, yes, we’re serious! You can also get adventurous and partake in water sports like banana boat rides, ATV bikes, jet-skis and much more. So unleash the water baby in you and dive right in!
Dapoli
If you’re sightseeing kinda tourist, then can we interest you in visiting some old forts in Dapoli? Suvarnadurg Fort which translates to Golden Fort is a marine fort located near Harnai. What’s interesting is that this fort actually houses another small land fort called Kanakadurga at the base of the Harnai port. It was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1660. The land and sea fort were once connected by a tunnel, but now you can access both via boats from the port.
Dapoli
If you’re looking for a spiritual site to visit, then Dapoli is dotted with many revered and rare temples in Konkan like Kadyavarcha Ganpati which is famous for its rare sighting of the trunk of Lord Ganesha. The fun fact is that the temple was first built using wood and then reconstructed in 1780. You can also pay your respects at Durga Devi Temple located just a five-minute walk from Harnai Beach. The temple was built way back in 18th Century and this is a must-visit for devotees!
dapoli
Now since Dapoli is a good long drive from both Pune and Mumbai, it is best enjoyed over the weekend or long-weekend, if you know what we mean.
Best time to visit: September to February
Distance from Mumbai: 227 km
Distance From Pune: 183 km
Source Whatshot.in
