Harihareshwar is a five hour drive from the bustling roads of Mumbai to the narrow and serene roads of the village of Harihareshwar on the Konkan belt of Maharashtra. It is marvellous to see just a few hours away from the Metro there are so many beautiful and lesser known places to explore in this state.
The drive was a wonderful one along trails of lush green trees on both the sides and with the rains pouring heavily. The visibility went really low for our driver to drie which gave us more time to gaze at the beauty around us. Finally the narrow roads of Harihareshwar village leads us to a lovely home stay. It’s located in the village with paddy rice fields surrounding it and the beach just five minutes down the road. The homestay is a pretty cottage with airy big and clean rooms and a veranda which looks out to the simple village with huts, well and a boulevard leading to the beach any many more surprises. The place for lunch was a house in the village serving delicious Maharashtrain cuisine. We were also served with yummy Modak on special request. Then it was time to visit the beach, a two minutes walk from our eatery lead us down a narrow alley between coconut trees on both the sides to the virgin beach of Harihareshwar. It is a delightful feeling with not a soul on the beach except for us. It felt as our private beach with the whole sea to us and the entire stretch of the shore to walk across. It is a dark sand beach with the calm sea gushing silently into the clear air around us. The feeling is so serene that one can spend hours just sitting on the beach, staring into the sea.
Then it was time to hit the sea in your shorts and T-shirts. The sea aint violent and so you can have a great time in to the deep waters without any fear of drowning. Time just flew sitting walking and swimming on the beach. After dinner we set up a bonfire on the beach. It was awesome sitting under the blanket of stars on the pitch dark beach with the light of the fire hitting your face and simply chatting away.
The next day cycles were hired and we went off riding on the kachcha roads of the village, exploring the nooks and corners of the place. You come across a very interesting lifestyle on your way. We could see tiny cottages with thatched roof and the Dish TV antenna. Places with cows and buffaloes in the sheds which are turned into eateries with their milks. And many more such small things to discover along the way.
There is also a Harihareshwar temple with a beautiful view and a nice trek up which looks out to a breathtaking view of the sea. Boats are also available to take you on a tour in the middle of the sea (not during the monsoons) with the cool breeze in your hair and water all around you, everywhere. Then we happened to discover another beach which was even prettier. This beach is much rockier with crabs scattering around everywhere on the beach making designs on the sands. You can just wander off and end up discovering a whole new place with a great view or another marvellous landscape.
A weekend on these virgin beaches is a complete stress buster from our otherwise hectic schedules. The MTDC resorts have attracted more tourists but it is still a much less travelled place which is still quite untouched and has a lot to offer.
