Alibaug Travel guide

A small, idyllic town on the narrow strip of the Arabian Sea, at the southern tip of Mumbai, Alibagh or Alibaug, is fringed with tall coconut trees and golden sandy beaches lapped by the ocean. Apart from the quaint village houses, it also has farm houses of Mumbai's affluent folk.

Nearly 300 years old, Alibaug was founded in the 17th century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, a naval chief of Shivaji's kingdom. The Marathas made Alibagh a Taluka in 1852 and named it Shribag. Because Alibaug was not connected to the mainland by road at that time, the only way to get here was through the sea from Revas, Dharmtar or Mankule. However the construction of the Dharamtar Creek opened its doors to a wider public, connecting it to metros like Mumbai.

A weekend getaway and a popular business centre today, Alibaug is frequented by affluent Mumbaiites, mostly to enjoy the beauty of the sea. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of the Bene Israeli Jews, who migrated to west Maharashtra in the 19th century from nearby Indian cities and parts of modern Pakistan.

The Kulaba Fort is the prime attraction of Alibaug. Encircled by the sea, it is best visited within an hour of the low tide and unless you leave before the high tide, you will be stranded there for the next 5-6 hours. The other places worth visiting here include Magnetic Observatory, Kanhoji Angre Samadhi, Vikram Vinayak temple, various small churches and synagogues, and the tower of St. Barbara.

The sandy stretches of the nine beaches here are ideal for long walks and sunbathing. Some of the more popular beaches include Akshi, Revdanda, Kihim and Nandgaon. A little away from Alibaug is the Janjira Fort (about 4 km from Murud). Although in ruins now, it is interesting to know that there were people actually live in this fort till 1971.

Food is very local here with most of the restaurants serving 'thalis' with some lip smacking sea fish like pomphret and surmai.

Weather
This place enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year due to the vast number of trees. Monsoon is very heavy and thus, some times ferries and catamarans are not operational from mid-June to late September. However, the downpour and greenery make Alibaug irresistible during the monsoons.

Best Time to Visit
Throughout the year, especially in the monsoons.

Prime Attractions
The place which was developed in the 17th century by Shivaji's naval chief Kanhoji Angre houses many forts, churches, synagogues and the famous Tower of St. Barbara.

Beaches

Alibaug beach: This is the key beach of the town. The Kolaba fort becomes visible from here.

Akshi Beach: It is situated 5 km away from Alibaug.

Kihim Beach: Kihim is a private place at a distance of 12 km from Alibaug. The place is famous for intense cover of Coconut trees and forests which house butterflies, birds and flowers.

Kashid Beach: It is situated on the Alibaug-Murud highway, about 30 km away from Alibaug.

Mandawa: Situated 20 km north of Alibaug, many celebrities own bungalows here. The catamaran/ferry services are available from Mumbai to the Mandawa jetty.

Nagaon beach: Located about 7 km away from Alibaug, this place is famous for coconuts and betel nuts.

Other Attractions

Kolaba fort: A prime location, this fort is situated in the sea at a distance of 1-2 km from the Alibaug shores. One can walk to the fort in waist-deep water, at the time of fall. However, during the tide, boats need to be used.

Kanakeshwar temple: This religious place is falls on the way to Mandawa, is on a hill near Mapgaon village, about 12 km from Alibaug.

Chaul: This historic town; 15 km from Alibaug is famous for its Portuguese ruins, an old church, a synagogue, Buddhist caves, the Hamam Khana and a temple.

Vikram Vinayak Temple or Birla Temple, Salav: The temple falls on the way to Janjira, 20 km from Alibaug.

Murud-Janjira: Janjira is a celebrated fort situated not very far from Alibag.

Accomodation
Being a tourist center, there are many hotels, resorts and lodges in the town:

Big Splash

Hotel Ravikiran

Kashid Beach resort

Prakruti resort

Sand piper resort

Sunglow resort

Windmill resort

HOW TO GET THERE?
Road	It is also accessible by road via Panvel in about three hours (124 km).
Sea	Alibaug is easy to get to in about an hour by the combination of a catamaran/ferry from Gateway of India in south Mumbai (three hours) and then by bus from Mandwa jetty across the bay.

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