Life is a beach
By: Sherwin Noronha with Pramila N Phatarphekar
December 14, 2003
Orignal article from midday.com



Vengurla

State MaharashtraDistance 534 km S of Mumbai

Journey Time By rail 9½ hrs + road 1 hr, by road 10½ hrs, by air 1 hr + 2½ hrs by road

Location On the far, far south of Maharashtra’s Konkan strip near the border with Goa, just 28 km from Sawantwadi

Route NH17 to Kudal via Mahad, Lanja and Kankavli, SH120 to Math, SH121 to Vengurla

When you fall short of words you begin to spout poetry. Sounds illogical, but when you are the only soul sitting on a beach under a canopy of stars with just thundering waves and a lonely lighthouse for company, believe me, it’s easy. Life truly is a beach. I hit upon this truth early one morning on the sands of Vengurla’s Sagareshwar Beach, as the first light began etching out the world around and the soft sand took on a golden hue. With its white foaming surf, deep blue sea and a backdrop of swaying green palms, Sagareshwar is a picture postcard setting for a ‘Me, myself and I’ kind of vacation.

And Sagareshwar, as the saying goes, is just the tip of the iceberg. Vengurla’s coast-line is dotted with some of the most exotic and virgin beaches in Maharashtra. This small coastal town portrays the quintessential beauty of the Konkan: beautiful seashore, thick coconut groves and small undulating hills — a veritable treasure chest of myriad shades of green.

Things to see and do

Not at all a run-of-the-mill destination, Vengurla is a getaway for those who are adventurous at heart, ideal for some serious R&R. Besides chilling out on the beach, there is much to be seen — ancient temples, historical forts and quaint villages, all tucked away in the lush green countryside. Though MTDC has declared Sindhudurg the ‘tourism district of Maharashtra’, Vengurla and its surrounds have, for better or for worse, been spared the benefits of official attention and are relatively untouched by mass tourism. That’s why they offer the best chance to discover the rustic Konkan and its village life in all its pristine beauty.

Vengurla’s coast-line is dotted with some of the most exotic and virgin beaches in Maharashtra.

Sagareshwar beachBeaches are undoubtedly the main draw of Vengurla, and the casuarinas-framed Sagareshwar beach, three kilometres from the ST bus stand, is absolutely gorgeous. Access to this beach is over soft, powdery white sand dunes with scattered patterns of low shrubs. In the early morning light, the sand takes on a golden hue. At sunset, the view of that great ball of fire dipping into the ocean is peerless.

Clean and mostly deserted, the beach is quite safe for a dip in the inviting blue waters, though at high tide the pounding waves can seem a bit intimidating. This is not unusual to Vengurla and any seasoned Mumbaikar who has splashed around in the waters off Gorai can handle Sagareshwar with ease. The quaint old Sagareshwar temple of Shiva on the beach has a courtyard blooming with flowers and a huge deepasthambh.

Vengurla’s lighthouse

A lighthouse perched on a hill overlooking the jetty is the unmistakable, unchallenged landmark and main attraction of the town. A steep, winding path up a flight of a huge steps cutting through some thick vegetation leads to the top of the hill. A fairly huge plateau houses the lighthouse and a few staff quarters. What a difference the view from up here must make to those stuck with the dreary job of switching the lights on and off.
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For, the view from the top of the lighthouse is indeed mind-blowing. Ahead of you is a vast seascape, stretching till the eye can see. You have a bird’s eye view of the jetty and the palm-fringed shoreline of Vengurla on the left, with the jagged cliff face kissing the sea on the right. To the north-west, thrusting out of the sea, lie the Vengurla Rocks, also called Burnt Islands, an important pointer for seafarers in times long gone, that they had reached land and safety in Vengurla.

The plateau extends to the north of the lighthouse and is worth exploring in itself. The northern tip of the plateau overlooks a fantastic horseshoe beach. While there is no direct path down to the beach, there are a number of winding pathways going down to small coves — tiny strips of sand just large enough to pitch a tent, with the cliff face rising on both sides. Be warned that this is no walk in the park and only those who have some experience in hiking should try and venture down to the waterline from here.


Vengurla’s Fruit Research CentreEven if you don’t have a green thumb, the Konkan Farming University and Fruit Research Centre at Vengurla is a must-see. The centre’s main brief is to carry out experiments on mango and cashew, for which the region is famed. Indeed, a new variety of mango, named Sindhu, was developed here. The research centre has an excellent nursery where one can buy all types of saplings. Close by is a cashew factory and, on request, one can witness the entire process of how cashews are separated, roasted and packed. Both the research centre and the factory are located off the main road when entering Vengurla towards the Camp area (15 minute walk from the ST Bus Stand on the main Vengurla-Kudal Road). There’s also another cashew factory, Varaskar, in the Camp. Sadly, one can’t actually buy cashews at either.Tip: The best time for a factory visit is from 5.30 am to 6 am, when the nuts are roasted.

Shiroda and Aravali

The important Maharashtrian town of Shiroda, situated 10 kilometres down south from Vengurla, is home to the Mauli Devi Temple whose presiding deity is the kul devi, or patron goddess, of the region. Shiroda is connected to India’s freedom struggle as it participated in the historic Salt Satyagraha of 1930, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Shiroda. Salt continues to be the major produce of this area. However, the USP of Shiroda is its excellent beach, the silvery ocean standing out in sharp contrast to the lush green interiors. Don’t miss Shiroda’s weekly bazaar (Mondays) if you extend your weekend in Vengurla.

The Shri Vithoba Temple and the Sateri Devi Mandir at Shiroda’s twin village of Aravali nearby are also worth a visit. Carry a bunch of Lord Vithoba’s favourite offering of bananas along to the temple. What you must not forget to take along, though, are a brand new pair of large-sized Kolhapuri chappals. The locals believe Lord Vithoba likes to wear Kolhapuris and stroll through the villages at night. Sagartirth is a long stretch of golden beach at Aravali, whose sands are literally untouched and undisturbed.

Disclaimer: this article is not at all my work nor do i want take any credit of this article ,i have mentioned the orignal writers names in the article ,this article is solely owned by midday.com