Maharashtra’s best kept Secret – Shrivardhan beach

Srivardhan Beach in Konkan area is not only Maharashtra’s but India’s best-kept secrets.

Its pristine beaches, lush green mango, coconut, and areca nut orchards and the quaint village-like lifestyle will charm you.

Located on a peninsula, this beautiful town is in proximity to a few other picturesque beach destinations such as Diveagar Beach and Harihasreshwar beach.

7 Awesome things to do in Srivardhan

1. Visit the pristine shrivardhan beach

Duh! Point one is  a no brainer, right?

The coast is about 3 kilometres long, very clean and very calm.

Shrivardhan beach is a delight to visit during the early morning hours and around sunset time. 

My advise would be to avoid going to the beach during afternoon as it gets quite warm around noon. 

It is very refreshing to walk by the sea during evening soaking in the beauty of the sun setting in the Arabian sea.

Srivardhan beach is shallow for quite some distance making it safer to Swim even for children.

The beach is suitable for all ages.

A walkaway with many benches has been developed to sit and soak in the tranquility.

Don’t miss out on the art work in the sand. While wandering along the Srivardhan beach we spotted these “sand ball flowers” .

These intricate galaxy-like artwork were produced by sand bubbler crabs as they burrow into the beach. ‘The crabs work very hard pushing sandballs away from the entrance of their burrows, which forms “sand ball flowers” or a “sand ball galaxy”. (Source)

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2. Visit the birthplace of the first Peshwa

It is notable as the birthplace of Balaji Vishwanath. Balaji was the first Peshwa (1713–1720) of Maratha Empire appointed by Chhatrapati Shahu, grandson of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

A statue of Peshwa Balaji with few inscriptions on the base of the statue has recently been constructed.

It was here that Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath was born in 1660. The statue is a freestanding statue which means it can be viewed from all sides.

A seal of Balaji Vishwanath is placed on the base of the Statue. On either side of the base of the statue are images of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur and Brahmendra Swami (Source). 

Below the images, words in praise of the Peshwa are written.

The place however is in need of renovation.

3. Visit the Somjai Temple

The Somjai temple is located near an open ground (more like a parking place) along the main road near the main bazar.

Few steps lead to two temples. One is the old red roofed tiled temple of Somjai and the other  is a modern concrete structure.

The modern structure holds gatherings of public interest like Bhakti sangeet etc.

The Goddess Somjai combines in herself four deities–Shiva, Bhavani, Vasuki, and Nandi.

4. A walk through the quaint village

Walk around the scenic beach town of Shrivardhan. The traditional Konkani houses with red tiled roofs , farmyards with beetlenut and coconut trees and small shops by the streets give Shrivardhan its old-world charm.

The “farmyards” in Maharashtra are called “Wadi”. The green canopy of betel nut at almost every  ‘wadi’ is a feast to the eyes.

Shrivardhan is famous for its betel nut ‘Shrivardhan Rotha’, 

We were visiting Shrivardhan beach around Diwali. Every second house had a small mud fort built inside their courtyard by the kids.

The mud forts in marathi are called “Shivajinche Kille”. It is a tradion in Maharashtra where the kids at the time of Diwali make small forts out of clay (now even with cardboards) inside their courtyards to pay respect to the great Maratha warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

5. Shopping in Shrivardhan Beach

There is not much to shop in Shrivardhan. However, if you are visiting Srivardhan beach around Diwali you can buy (just like we did) the small clay figurines.

These mud forts are then adorned with toy size figurines of Shivaji Maharaj, his sainiks (soldiers), mavale (peasants), animals, villagers, deities and other artefacts to recreate a scene or story from Shivaji’s life (Source).

6. Visit Diveagar Beach

Diveagar Beach is more crowded than the Shrivardhan beach but is very scenic and beautiful. 

I would highly recommend the RoopNarayan Temple.

Roopnarayan Temple a very old temple of lord vishnu on the sea-shore of dive-agar, recently being renovated by the govt. of maharashtra.

Also worth visiting here is the Suvarna Ganesh Temple.

7. Visit Harihareshwar Beach

The tranquil beach of Harihareswar is very popular amongst the people of Maharashtra. This beach has blackish sand.

The 16th century Harihareshwar Temple complex has two adjacent temples.

A pradakshina route goes around the temple, along the sea shore.

It is not advisable to go on this route during high tide.

Shrivardhan Beach Location

By Air:

The nearest airport is at Mumbai.

By Rail:

Nearest railhead is at Mangaon. Few of the trains running on Konkan Railway stop there.

By Road:

There are State Transport buses that go directly to Shreevardhan from Mumbai and Pune and Mangaon.

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Pune: 5 hours (163 km) via Tamhini Ghat Road.

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Mumbai: 5 and half hours (186 km) via Bengaluru – Mumbai Highway.

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Harihareshwar: 40 min (21 km) via Jasavli – Nigdi – Harihareshwar Mandir Road.

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Diveagar: 48 min (23 km) via Shrivardhan Road

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Murud Janjira: 1 h 42 min (38 km) via Shrivardhan Road

Distance of Srivardhan Beach from Alibaug: 3 h 28 min (91 km) via Revdanda – Murud Road

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Shrivardhan Beach, Beautiful Beach In Konkan

This video by Ahmed khatib shows the Shrivardhan promenade with benches to sit and enjoy the surreal sea view.

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