Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan

genesis · 4th March 2009, 22:32

Spent a long weekend in January visiting Shrivardhan, Harihareshwar and Dive Agar. The fact that my friend had a house a few minutes from the beach acted as added incentive! The journey from Mumbai to Shrivardhan via Mangaon and Mhasla was uneventfully done in 4 hours (return in 3.5) including a breakfast break.

From Shrivardhan did day trips to Dive Agar and Harihareshwar. Harihareshwar, home to a famous Kal Bhairav temple is also known as the Kashi (Varanasi) of the South due to its religious significance. A circumbulation of the temple adjoining the beach takes you up a cliff, down a periliously steep staircase and then opens out on a spectacular rocky outcrop (accessible only during low tide), providing magnificent views of the coastline on one side and strange shaped formations carved out by waves on the other. Dive Agar's claim to fame, other than a virgin beach and lush coconut plantations, is a temple built around a gold mask of Ganesha which was uncovered by an old lady a few decades ago. While most tourists end up going to the 'official' temple where the mask and treasure chest is housed behind bars, a quick jaunt down a side road takes you to the original discovery spot where the lady now has installed a small shrine, selling photographs and stories of how she was stiffed of a reward by the government! The other highlights of this restful long weekend were the daily jaunts to the beach, crossing the creek to Jivna Bandar to buy fish off the boats, a fiesta of fresh coastal cuisine and sitting by the sea with the waves lapping in the background. Coming back to Mumbai, seafood does not taste the same again!

Am attaching some pictures. The complete set can be viewed at

Genesis - soumya.org: Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan

ASHISHPALLOD · 6th March 2009, 09:49

@genesis,
need more pics.
had you done beach drive at diveagar?
i think its only beach in maharashtra where beach drive is possible.
could not resist to post pics of beach drive done by me at diveagar.

Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan-image014.jpg

Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan-image024.jpg

@genesis,
please carry on your travelogue with more pics.

genesis · 6th March 2009, 11:15

Did not do a beach drive though it looked like a lot of fun. I believe that in the long run it contributes to beach erosion and damage. (personal philosophy) Plus I have this phobia of getting sand in the undercarriage of the innova.

Did see some bikes attempting it though.

The drive along the coast from Shrivardhan to Dive Agar is mind bogglingly beautiful.

Here are some more pics of:

Dive Agar Beach and Lady who discovered the Suvarna Ganpati

Shrivardhan Fish Auction And A BIG Stingray at the auction

Harihareshwar Outcrop and Rock Formations

Enjoy!

arindamray · 6th March 2009, 11:41

Nice one. Please feed us some more of it

OT: Went through your site, Coffee House pics made me nostalgic.

lohithrao · 6th March 2009, 12:06

Love the first shot, will never get bored of beaches

keep it goin.

dushmish · 6th March 2009, 12:41

Cannot believe the Stingray auction! I would drive down just to see the Stingray from so close. Lovely pictures. Liked your desription which went beyond the obvious. Good way to explore new places.

Ciao!

genesis · 6th March 2009, 16:24

@dushmish: Since you seem to LOVE stingrays...

here are three more pics of the giant for you. For anecdotal value, the thing sold for around 900 rs.

magiceye · 25th March 2009, 12:45

Excellent pictorial which tells so many wonderful tales! Lovely!

kannan666 · 25th March 2009, 13:05

Very enlightening travelogue and nice pics ! Till now, I had'nt even heard of these places let alone seeing them !

4wdrifter · 25th March 2009, 17:29

Nice to hear these places mentioned again. I rallied in this area in the late '80s early '90s. It was completely virgin then. No place to stay at Srivardhan, Diveagar was a small village with one road about a km long. The marshals at Diveagar could hear our cars taking off from Mhasla.

akbaree · 25th March 2009, 21:19

Thanks for sharing this travelogue. Nice pictures !!!.

4th March 2009, 22:32	#1
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan Spent a long weekend in January visiting Shrivardhan, Harihareshwar and Dive Agar. The fact that my friend had a house a few minutes from the beach acted as added incentive! The journey from Mumbai to Shrivardhan via Mangaon and Mhasla was uneventfully done in 4 hours (return in 3.5) including a breakfast break. From Shrivardhan did day trips to Dive Agar and Harihareshwar. Harihareshwar, home to a famous Kal Bhairav temple is also known as the Kashi (Varanasi) of the South due to its religious significance. A circumbulation of the temple adjoining the beach takes you up a cliff, down a periliously steep staircase and then opens out on a spectacular rocky outcrop (accessible only during low tide), providing magnificent views of the coastline on one side and strange shaped formations carved out by waves on the other. Dive Agar's claim to fame, other than a virgin beach and lush coconut plantations, is a temple built around a gold mask of Ganesha which was uncovered by an old lady a few decades ago. While most tourists end up going to the 'official' temple where the mask and treasure chest is housed behind bars, a quick jaunt down a side road takes you to the original discovery spot where the lady now has installed a small shrine, selling photographs and stories of how she was stiffed of a reward by the government! The other highlights of this restful long weekend were the daily jaunts to the beach, crossing the creek to Jivna Bandar to buy fish off the boats, a fiesta of fresh coastal cuisine and sitting by the sea with the waves lapping in the background. Coming back to Mumbai, seafood does not taste the same again! Am attaching some pictures. The complete set can be viewed at Genesis - soumya.org: Seaside Sojourn In Shrivardhan Attached Thumbnails Attached Images
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 09:49	#2
ASHISHPALLOD Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MH42 Posts: 2,005 Thanked: 334 Times	@genesis, need more pics. had you done beach drive at diveagar? i think its only beach in maharashtra where beach drive is possible. could not resist to post pics of beach drive done by me at diveagar. @genesis, please carry on your travelogue with more pics.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 11:15	#3
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	Did not do a beach drive though it looked like a lot of fun. I believe that in the long run it contributes to beach erosion and damage. (personal philosophy) Plus I have this phobia of getting sand in the undercarriage of the innova. Did see some bikes attempting it though. The drive along the coast from Shrivardhan to Dive Agar is mind bogglingly beautiful. Here are some more pics of: Dive Agar Beach and Lady who discovered the Suvarna Ganpati Shrivardhan Fish Auction And A BIG Stingray at the auction Harihareshwar Outcrop and Rock Formations Enjoy! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 11:41	#4
arindamray BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 750 Thanked: 91 Times	Nice one. Please feed us some more of it OT: Went through your site, Coffee House pics made me nostalgic.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 12:06	#5
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	Love the first shot, will never get bored of beaches keep it goin.
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 12:41	#6
dushmish BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 418 Thanked: 82 Times View My Garage	Cannot believe the Stingray auction! I would drive down just to see the Stingray from so close. Lovely pictures. Liked your desription which went beyond the obvious. Good way to explore new places. Ciao!
	() Thanks

6th March 2009, 16:24	#7
genesis BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 773 Thanked: 339 Times	@dushmish: Since you seem to LOVE stingrays... here are three more pics of the giant for you. For anecdotal value, the thing sold for around 900 rs. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

25th March 2009, 12:45	#8
magiceye BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: mumbai Posts: 239 Thanked: 117 Times	Excellent pictorial which tells so many wonderful tales! Lovely!
	() Thanks

25th March 2009, 13:05	#9
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	Very enlightening travelogue and nice pics ! Till now, I had'nt even heard of these places let alone seeing them !
	() Thanks

25th March 2009, 17:29	#10
4wdrifter BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bombay Posts: 88 Thanked: 24 Times	Nice to hear these places mentioned again. I rallied in this area in the late '80s early '90s. It was completely virgin then. No place to stay at Srivardhan, Diveagar was a small village with one road about a km long. The marshals at Diveagar could hear our cars taking off from Mhasla.
	() Thanks

25th March 2009, 21:19	#11
akbaree BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 613 Thanked: 107 Times View My Garage	Thanks for sharing this travelogue. Nice pictures !!!.
	() Thanks