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This is not a travelogue as such but a trip report with some information about coastal side of Maharashtra. Yes, its report about my recent trip to Ganpatipule, Jaigad and Guhaghar from Pune.
Route :- Pune – Umbraj – Patan – Chiplun – Niwali – Chafe – Ganpatipule – Malgund – Jaigad – Tavasal – Guhaghar – Chiplun – Patan – Umbraj – Pune
Pune to Umbraj –
As usual route on NH48. First time found less traffic in Khambatki. Please be aware that the last bend on the ascent has dug up due to some work. There is no signage for same, if you are in speed and on left most lane then you will end up landing in that pit.
The diversions till satara are present but found that the bridges are almost complete with proper lane marking. Don’t know why they are taking time to open it.
Paid toll of Rs.60 at Annewadi. The Fastag lane has notice stating that they will charge all Non-Fastag vehicles entering this lane thrice the toll amount. But I witnessed that they were doing their routine work ignoring the notice as Fastag lane was clogged as usual by trucks and non Fastag vehicles.
Umbraj – Chiplun
Good roads throughout along with lot of tree canopy and greenery (in this hot summers). Traffic at congested areas like Patan, Pofli and Chiplun. The kumbharli ghat is in good condition, you will find lot of sellers selling Jackfruit, Jamun and Karvanda. There is small bridge before entering chiplun whose left side is closed for some work. They have marked the diversion for same.
Chiplun – Niwali
The condition of NH66 is good and scenic along with twist and turns. The only thing of worry is people making dangerous overtakes. Lots of petrol bunks en-route but found very less eateries which are decent, hence took lunch halt at Drive Inn near Dhamani. You will also find HP outlet in this campus
Niwali – Chafe
This is one of the best and silky patch ever. You can maintain good speeds on it. The patch has few pumps but rare eateries. You will come across Jakadevi village where you will find some manageable two wheeler traffic. They have put proper marking for speed breakers. At chafe you will find signage of left turn towards Ganpatipule via MSH4.
Chafe – Ganpatipule
This is MSH4 which is in mixed condition. At times it is good to patchy but overall manageable. There is arc welcoming people to Ganpatipule. You need to pay Rs.10 as an entrance to Ganpatipule. There is crowd and mismanaged parking (though it is free) which you will witness few meters before temple. There is an uneven ground marked as pay and park. I paid Rs.50 for parking on that uneven unmanageable ground.
There was huge rush of devotees in Ganpatipule Temple, you need to stand in that twisty queue for at least an hour to get darshan. There is famous Ganpatipule beach next to temple, so entire rush after getting darshan heads straight towards beach. The beach is very crowdy where you can find all sort of eateries and shops selling all sort of knick-knacks.
Ganpatipule – Malgund
We have opted our stay at Malgund. The place is located at approx. 2Kms from Ganpatipule on MSH4. The beach is clean, serene and crowd less. It feels like personal one, you won’t find any shops, adventure activity and eateries here.
Way to Beach
"Suru" tree (don't know the English name, it looks like pine tree)
Panoramic view of Malgund beach
Sunset at Malgund beach
Malgund – Jaigad
This is straight drive on MSH4. The road is again in mixed condition with good and patchy spots. At sometimes in villages it turns very narrow. There are few speed breakers near villages, you need good visibility to spot them in time. As you approach Jaigad you will find chimneys of huge JSW plant. The roads in Jaigad are wide, nicely marked and good in condition.
Jaigad Lighthouse
For visiting famous Lighthouse of Jaigad, you need to take left into JSW plant and go straight up to their main gate. Just before main gate you need to take left which will take you at Lighthouse. The location is nice for photos. You can step into Lighthouse tower only between 1600 hrs to 1700hrs after paying Rs.10 per adult and Rs.3 per child between 3 to 10 years. For photography from tower you need to pay Rs.20 per mobile / camera.
Instruction to visitors of Light House
Famous Jaigad lighthouse. Many marathi movie songs are shot here.
Jaigad Fort
For visiting Jaigad fort you need to go inside Jaigad village. There is no entry fee nor any parking fee for Jaigad fort. The state of fort is in ruins but is still a place to be. At one side you will find picturesque view of Jaigad (mainly a fishing village) while at other side you will find huge plant of JSW.
Not heard of any sort of historic wars on this fort. You will find waste management system and washrooms of those era on this fort. It is said that when the construction of the fort was in progress, the arch over the main gate collapsed for number of times. Someone said that the fort will get built only after sacrificing human life. A youngster from nearby village named “Jaiba Malhar” sacrificed his life by getting clayed himself in one of the fort ramparts. The name of fort is derived from his name as “Jaigad”.
Jaigad Fort
Entrance of Fort
Panoramic view of Fort from inside
One more view from inside
JSW plant as seen from fort
Rampart of fort
View of Jaigad from fort
View of sea from window of fort
Jaigad – Tavasal
You need to come back to MSH4 from Jaigad village and turn towards ferry point. There was no signage I could see for Jetty, but you could see clear sign stating “Hedavi - Velneshwar” which is next village on MSH4.
The ferry carries maximum 10 vehicles at a time. It is an hourly service starting from 7:00am to 10:00pm. The site of this shipping company is Jaigad-Tawsal - Suvarnadurga Shipping & Marine Services
Ferry Service
Rate Chart
View from ferry boarding point
Tavasal – Guhaghar
Again it’s a journey on MSH4 with mixed state of being good to patchy. The road passing through villages is narrow at times. Watch out for few unmarked speed breakers. There are lots of small ghats with all sorts of twist, turns, pin bends. There is very less (almost 1-2) pumps throughout with very few decent eateries. At Hedavi one can visit famous Dashbhuija Ganesh Temple which is right on the road on your right side.
Dashbhuja Ganesh Temple, Hedavi
Guhaghar
Once a serene village now is changing into commercialized one. The beach is too much crowdy with all sorts of panipuri, shevpuri and ice cream stalls. They have adventure activity as well. Lots of people passing by this road also visit this beach. If you still was your own space then you need to walk to left side on beach until you get crowd less patch. You can visit the famous Vyadeshwar Temple near beach.
Vyadeshwar Temple
Crowdy side of beach
Crowd less side of beach
Sunset at Guhaghar beach
Guhaghar – Chiplun – Patan – Umbraj – Pune
Guhaghar chiplun takes almost hour drive. The road is very good in condition with proper signage towards Chiplun, Pune and Mumbai. You will find some traffic as you enter into Chiplun. There are many small roads joining NH66, so if you find yourself lost then don’t hesitate to ask locales.
Thanks for reading !!
Route :- Pune – Umbraj – Patan – Chiplun – Niwali – Chafe – Ganpatipule – Malgund – Jaigad – Tavasal – Guhaghar – Chiplun – Patan – Umbraj – Pune
Pune to Umbraj –
As usual route on NH48. First time found less traffic in Khambatki. Please be aware that the last bend on the ascent has dug up due to some work. There is no signage for same, if you are in speed and on left most lane then you will end up landing in that pit.
The diversions till satara are present but found that the bridges are almost complete with proper lane marking. Don’t know why they are taking time to open it.
Paid toll of Rs.60 at Annewadi. The Fastag lane has notice stating that they will charge all Non-Fastag vehicles entering this lane thrice the toll amount. But I witnessed that they were doing their routine work ignoring the notice as Fastag lane was clogged as usual by trucks and non Fastag vehicles.
Umbraj – Chiplun
Good roads throughout along with lot of tree canopy and greenery (in this hot summers). Traffic at congested areas like Patan, Pofli and Chiplun. The kumbharli ghat is in good condition, you will find lot of sellers selling Jackfruit, Jamun and Karvanda. There is small bridge before entering chiplun whose left side is closed for some work. They have marked the diversion for same.
Chiplun – Niwali
The condition of NH66 is good and scenic along with twist and turns. The only thing of worry is people making dangerous overtakes. Lots of petrol bunks en-route but found very less eateries which are decent, hence took lunch halt at Drive Inn near Dhamani. You will also find HP outlet in this campus
Niwali – Chafe
This is one of the best and silky patch ever. You can maintain good speeds on it. The patch has few pumps but rare eateries. You will come across Jakadevi village where you will find some manageable two wheeler traffic. They have put proper marking for speed breakers. At chafe you will find signage of left turn towards Ganpatipule via MSH4.
Chafe – Ganpatipule
This is MSH4 which is in mixed condition. At times it is good to patchy but overall manageable. There is arc welcoming people to Ganpatipule. You need to pay Rs.10 as an entrance to Ganpatipule. There is crowd and mismanaged parking (though it is free) which you will witness few meters before temple. There is an uneven ground marked as pay and park. I paid Rs.50 for parking on that uneven unmanageable ground.
There was huge rush of devotees in Ganpatipule Temple, you need to stand in that twisty queue for at least an hour to get darshan. There is famous Ganpatipule beach next to temple, so entire rush after getting darshan heads straight towards beach. The beach is very crowdy where you can find all sort of eateries and shops selling all sort of knick-knacks.
Ganpatipule – Malgund
We have opted our stay at Malgund. The place is located at approx. 2Kms from Ganpatipule on MSH4. The beach is clean, serene and crowd less. It feels like personal one, you won’t find any shops, adventure activity and eateries here.
Way to Beach
"Suru" tree (don't know the English name, it looks like pine tree)
Panoramic view of Malgund beach
Sunset at Malgund beach
Malgund – Jaigad
This is straight drive on MSH4. The road is again in mixed condition with good and patchy spots. At sometimes in villages it turns very narrow. There are few speed breakers near villages, you need good visibility to spot them in time. As you approach Jaigad you will find chimneys of huge JSW plant. The roads in Jaigad are wide, nicely marked and good in condition.
Jaigad Lighthouse
For visiting famous Lighthouse of Jaigad, you need to take left into JSW plant and go straight up to their main gate. Just before main gate you need to take left which will take you at Lighthouse. The location is nice for photos. You can step into Lighthouse tower only between 1600 hrs to 1700hrs after paying Rs.10 per adult and Rs.3 per child between 3 to 10 years. For photography from tower you need to pay Rs.20 per mobile / camera.
Instruction to visitors of Light House
Famous Jaigad lighthouse. Many marathi movie songs are shot here.
Jaigad Fort
For visiting Jaigad fort you need to go inside Jaigad village. There is no entry fee nor any parking fee for Jaigad fort. The state of fort is in ruins but is still a place to be. At one side you will find picturesque view of Jaigad (mainly a fishing village) while at other side you will find huge plant of JSW.
Not heard of any sort of historic wars on this fort. You will find waste management system and washrooms of those era on this fort. It is said that when the construction of the fort was in progress, the arch over the main gate collapsed for number of times. Someone said that the fort will get built only after sacrificing human life. A youngster from nearby village named “Jaiba Malhar” sacrificed his life by getting clayed himself in one of the fort ramparts. The name of fort is derived from his name as “Jaigad”.
Jaigad Fort
Entrance of Fort
Panoramic view of Fort from inside
One more view from inside
JSW plant as seen from fort
Rampart of fort
View of Jaigad from fort
View of sea from window of fort
Jaigad – Tavasal
You need to come back to MSH4 from Jaigad village and turn towards ferry point. There was no signage I could see for Jetty, but you could see clear sign stating “Hedavi - Velneshwar” which is next village on MSH4.
The ferry carries maximum 10 vehicles at a time. It is an hourly service starting from 7:00am to 10:00pm. The site of this shipping company is Jaigad-Tawsal - Suvarnadurga Shipping & Marine Services
Ferry Service
Rate Chart
View from ferry boarding point
Tavasal – Guhaghar
Again it’s a journey on MSH4 with mixed state of being good to patchy. The road passing through villages is narrow at times. Watch out for few unmarked speed breakers. There are lots of small ghats with all sorts of twist, turns, pin bends. There is very less (almost 1-2) pumps throughout with very few decent eateries. At Hedavi one can visit famous Dashbhuija Ganesh Temple which is right on the road on your right side.
Dashbhuja Ganesh Temple, Hedavi
Guhaghar
Once a serene village now is changing into commercialized one. The beach is too much crowdy with all sorts of panipuri, shevpuri and ice cream stalls. They have adventure activity as well. Lots of people passing by this road also visit this beach. If you still was your own space then you need to walk to left side on beach until you get crowd less patch. You can visit the famous Vyadeshwar Temple near beach.
Vyadeshwar Temple
Crowdy side of beach
Crowd less side of beach
Sunset at Guhaghar beach
Guhaghar – Chiplun – Patan – Umbraj – Pune
Guhaghar chiplun takes almost hour drive. The road is very good in condition with proper signage towards Chiplun, Pune and Mumbai. You will find some traffic as you enter into Chiplun. There are many small roads joining NH66, so if you find yourself lost then don’t hesitate to ask locales.
Thanks for reading !!
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