Weekend getaways

8 best weekend getaways in Konkan, Maharashtra

Beaches, sea forts, fishing villages and Alphonso mangoes, from Alibaug near Mumbai down to Tarkarli and Malvan.

8 min read
A long sandy spit, a creek and green trees on the Konkan coast at Ganpatipule, seen from above
The coast at Ganpatipule. Photo: Sanjaybhagwat, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

A Konkan getaway makes you want to slow down. Coconut trees line the winding roads, small villages sit between the hills and the sea, the food is fresh and local, and the sunsets make you forget to check your phone.

Konkan runs along Maharashtra's western coast, and there's much more to it than a quick beach visit. You can explore old sea forts, spend a night in a coastal homestay, find quieter fishing villages, or pick a beach where the only plan is to watch the waves. If you're looking for the best weekend getaways in Konkan, here are eight places to add to your list.

PlaceFrom Mumbai by roadWithout a car?Good for
AlibaugAbout 3 hours, or a ferry to MandwaYes, ferry from the Gateway of IndiaA quick beach weekend
KashidAbout 3.5 hoursST bus, slowBeach, sunsets
DapoliAbout 5 to 6 hoursTrain to Khed, then about 30 kmSeveral beaches, homestays
Diveagar and ShrivardhanAbout 4.5 hoursST bus, slowQuiet beaches, families
GanpatipuleAbout 7 to 8 hoursTrain to Ratnagiri, then about 35 kmTemple, beach, long weekend
RatnagiriAbout 7 to 8 hoursYes, Konkan RailwayForts, food, mango season
Tarkarli and MalvanAbout 9 to 10 hoursTrain to Kudal, then about 30 kmSnorkelling, Malvani food
GuhagarAbout 6 to 7 hoursTrain to Chiplun, then about 45 kmA quiet beach, solo trips

Times are rough and depend on traffic and the ghats. From Pune, the Raigad beaches (Alibaug, Kashid, Diveagar) are about as far as from Mumbai, and the places further south are a little closer.

1. Alibaug, for a quick beach getaway

The stone gateway and round bastion of Kolaba Fort in Alibaug, under a blue sky
The gate of Kolaba Fort, Alibaug. Photo: Vikas Rana, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

If you want a break without committing to a long road trip, start with Alibaug. Its beaches and coastal cafés are close to Mumbai, which makes it a popular choice for a spontaneous weekend. The ferry from the Gateway of India to Mandwa takes about an hour, and Alibaug town is about half an hour by road from the jetty.

Spend your time on Alibaug Beach, walk out to Kolaba Fort, which you can reach on foot only at low tide, or head to nearby beaches such as Kihim and Nagaon.

It suits a quick weekend, couples and group outings.

2. Kashid, for a sandy beach and sunset views

A forested headland at the end of Kashid beach, with low waves in the evening light
Kashid beach in the evening. Photo: Sakshimandhane, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

About 30 km further down the Raigad coast, Kashid is known for its white sand and laid-back surroundings. It's a good choice if your idea of a holiday is fewer plans and more time by the sea.

Pair the beach with a drive through the coastal countryside, and stay the night to enjoy the quieter hours before the day-trip crowds arrive.

It's for couples, beach lovers and relaxed road trips.

3. Dapoli, for beaches and coastal villages

Fishing boats with colourful flags in the harbour at Harnai, with fishermen on the shore
Fishing boats at Harnai port, near Dapoli. Photo: RisbudAbhi, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Dapoli gives you more than one beach. Murud, Karde, Ladghar and Anjarle are all nearby and each has its own character, so you can spend a whole weekend moving between stretches of coast.

Visit Harnai for its fishing harbour and the evening fish auction, and look out to Suvarnadurg, the sea fort just off the shore. If you like slow travel, stay in a local homestay rather than trying to cover everything in a day.

Dapoli is about five to six hours from Mumbai by road. It suits families, nature lovers and longer weekends.

4. Diveagar and Shrivardhan, for a quieter Konkan escape

Ripples of wet dark sand on Shrivardhan beach at low tide, with a green hill behind
Shrivardhan beach at low tide. Photo: Saikrushna Guntapelliwar, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).

Sometimes the best trip is the one with the emptiest itinerary. Diveagar and Shrivardhan, about 20 km apart, have open beaches, coastal drives and a relaxed pace.

Walk along the shore in the morning, have a Konkani thali for lunch and leave the afternoon free for the villages around. The two work well together on a two-night coastal road trip.

They're good for slow travel, families and peaceful beach weekends.

5. Ganpatipule, for a beach, a temple and coastal drives

The beach at Ganpatipule, with the temple's white spire behind the stalls and trees
The beach and Shree Ganpatipule Mandir. Photo: Dinesh Valke, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Ganpatipule brings together two classic Konkan experiences: a long beach and a visit to the Swayambhu Ganpati temple, which sits right behind the sand.

Beyond the beach and the temple, visit Prachin Konkan, an open-air museum of Konkan village life, or drive north to Jaigad Fort and the viewpoints along the coast. It works as well for a temple visit as for a few lazy days by the sea.

At seven to eight hours from Mumbai, it's best for a long weekend. It suits families, culture lovers and scenic road trips.

6. Ratnagiri, for coastal views, sea forts and Alphonso mangoes

The black stone walls of Ratnadurg Fort on a green hill above red earth, under monsoon clouds
Ratnadurg Fort, Ratnagiri. Photo: Omar AV, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).

If you want several sides of Konkan in one trip, put Ratnagiri on your list. The town has beaches, old landmarks, local food and the region's famous Alphonso mangoes, and it's on the Konkan Railway, so you can come by train.

Start at Bhatye Beach for its long shoreline and sunsets, or head south to Ganeshgule for a quieter beach. History lovers can climb Ratnadurg Fort, which overlooks the Arabian Sea, and visit Thibaw Palace, built for the last king of Burma when the British exiled him here.

If you're travelling in mango season, look for locally grown Ratnagiri Alphonsos. They're among the region's best-known foods and reason enough for many people to visit. Ratnagiri also makes a good base for the villages and beaches nearby, if you'd rather spend a few days than rush through one.

It suits coastal road trips, history lovers, food lovers and summer getaways. A tip: April and May are mango season, but they're hot. October to March is more comfortable for sightseeing.

7. Tarkarli and Malvan, for water sports and coastal food

Old stone ramparts of Sindhudurg Fort on the rocks, with the blue sea and the Malvan coast behind
The walls of Sindhudurg Fort, off Malvan. Photo: Sneyo, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Further south, Tarkarli and Malvan are worth it if you have a little more time. They're known for their beaches, water sports and Sindhudurg Fort, which Shivaji Maharaj built on an island off Malvan. Boats run out to it from the Malvan jetty.

When the sea is calm, book scuba diving or snorkelling with a local operator. Leave time to walk around Malvan town and eat Malvani food, especially the fish curries.

This part of Konkan is much further from Mumbai and Pune than the northern places, so it's better for a long weekend than a quick overnight trip. It's for adventure seekers, food lovers and extended weekends.

8. Guhagar, for a slower beach holiday

Two people walking hand in hand into the waves on the long, empty beach at Guhagar
Guhagar beach. Photo: Mahendra5806, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).

If the busier beaches aren't your thing, try Guhagar. It's in Ratnagiri district, with a long stretch of coast and a quiet small-town feel.

Spend the day walking along the beach, visit the Vyadeshwar temple in town, or explore the countryside around. A good Konkan trip doesn't need a long list of sights.

It suits a peaceful escape, solo travellers and couples.

When is the best time to visit Konkan?

October to March is the most comfortable time for beaches, sightseeing and coastal drives. Summer brings Alphonso mango season, and the monsoon, from about June to September, turns the hills green and fills the waterfalls.

Each season has its appeal, but check the weather and road conditions before you set out. During the monsoon, rough seas and strong currents make swimming and water sports unsafe, and many boat services stop until the season ends.

Plan your next Konkan weekend with Weekend

Have you ever saved a beach from an Instagram reel, spotted a homestay in a YouTube vlog, or promised yourself you'd visit a place someone recommended, then forgotten about it a week later? That's why we built Weekend.

Share a reel or a YouTube video with the app, and it puts every place the video mentions on a map, with the moment in the video where each one appears. Whether it's a solo escape or a coastal road trip with friends, send the plan to your group chat, see who's in and pick a weekend that works for everyone. See how it works.

Your next weekend might already be in your feed. For more on that, read why your next weekend might already be in your saved reels, or see our getaways from NYC, London and San Francisco.

Photo credits

All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, cropped to fit. Cover, Ganpatipule: Sanjaybhagwat (CC BY-SA 4.0). Kolaba Fort: Vikas Rana (CC BY 2.0). Kashid: Sakshimandhane (CC BY-SA 4.0). Harnai: RisbudAbhi (CC BY-SA 4.0). Shrivardhan: Saikrushna Guntapelliwar (CC BY 4.0). Ganpatipule temple: Dinesh Valke (CC BY-SA 2.0). Ratnadurg Fort: Omar AV (CC BY 3.0). Sindhudurg Fort: Sneyo (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guhagar: Mahendra5806 (CC BY-SA 3.0). Each caption links to the original file and its licence.