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Location : Near Pune, Maharashtra

How to get there : By road, buses available form Pune, Mumbai, Thane; By rail, Pen railway station; By air, Mumbai airport

Best Time to Visit : Months between October and May

Alibag is a picturesque town that is located in Raigad District near Pune. Its proximity to Arabian Sea, is a picture-perfect place for the tourists. Adorned with natural beauty, this place has a gamut of beaches that are magnificent to watch.

Highlights of the place :

This coastal town boasts of tranquil and clear waters that intermingle with the sandy beaches and panoramic views. Being an enchanting escapade, one can spent his leisure time away from the hustle and bustle of crowded metropolitan cities. Alibag is known for its mystic charm and amazing coastline. Located at the southernmost part of Mumbai, this place is fringed with a number of village and farm houses. Earlier a battle ground of Marathas, this serene place has turned into a tourist attraction. It was due to the efforts of Kanhoji Angre that this place became a major hub of Maratha power.

Major attractions of the place :

As Alibag has remained an important base of Marathas, it is stuffed with many forts and temples. Kolaba Fort which is accessible only during low tides is a main attraction place for the tourists. Janjira Fort, a well known and historically important structure. This fort is distinctive as it never fell to enemies like Dutch and English; it came to be known as the strong marine fort of India. Though it is in ruins now, yet its palaces, mosque, rounded bastions have remained popular in past. The carved sculptures depicting ferocious animals are the major highlight of its walls.

As far as beaches are concerned, Nagaon Beach, Kihim Beach, and Mandwa Beach are very popular among tourists. Nagaon is a picturesque place fringed by coconut trees and betel nuts. The rows of coconut also admire the beach of Kihim which is known for its exclusive flora and fauna. One can hope to find rare species of butterflies here. Kashid Beach is adorable due to the presence of ravishing white sand and mesmerizing beauty.

Kaneshwar Mandir at Alibag is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a climb of about one hour which can be covered through its numerous stairs. The beauty of the temple is simply breathtaking. There are several small temples that are dedicated to Hindu deities like Hanuman, Krishna, and Shiva. The entrance gate of Shiva temple is embellished with Lion sculpture. Water bodies like Bheem Kunda and Gomukh are worth visiting by the tourists.

Akshi Beach is popular among movie-makers as it is blessed with heavenly beauty and white sand coastal regions. One can also relish food at the stalls that are scattered here and there at the beach. A less frequently visited beach is Varsoli which houses a big naval base. Kolaba Fort is a historic place that that has long history of battles and wars.