Underwater magic, a fort and beach bliss: Malvan, Maharashtra

The beach town of the Sindhudurg region is located around 540 kms from Mumbai and some 143 kms from Goa which also has the nearest airport to Malvan. There are multiple ways to get to Malvan – one is to take an airplane to Dabolim airport, Goa and then drive down or take a bus or train from there. By train, Kudal is the nearest railway station and is located around 30 kms from Malvan.

There are shared jeeps and rickshaws but they charge Rs 500 to 800 per seat as of December 2017 which is too much. The cheapest way is to take a ST (State Transport) bus which is economical though a crowded and bumpy ride which is definitely worth it – the ticket is Rs 50 per person.

Malvan

is made up of the main market area where the bus stop is also located. There is Chivla beach, Malvan main beach, Tarkarli beach and Devbag beach. The town is small and can be explored on foot. To Tarkarli and Devbag taking a bus or rickshaw would be a good option as they are far. Both places can be visited in a day, unless one plans to spend some time enjoying the pristine beach.

The town is famous for its seafood and it is a must-have – Atithi Bamboo is a must eat at place and is near Chivla beach. The fish thalis offer fried and curry fish, rice, chapati, solkadi (a traditional drink made in coconut milk) and a salad. The famed kombdi vade is also a must-try while in this place. The food is economical as well as tasty at almost all places with a number of shacks and home-cooked meals all over the town.

The must-see places are Sindhudurg Fort which offers a beautiful view of the blue waters of the Arabian Sea. The fort does not have much to see within it and an hour is enough. The fort has to be accessed by boat and there are a number of families who live on the fort island, they sell refreshments and snacks.

The main Malvan beach is very dirty but there are many water sport activities that happen and draw huge crowds. There is an island called Padma Gad which has a small temple and overlooks Sindhudurg Fort and its massive walls. The island can be reached when a path is opened during low tide. For adventure seekers during high tide, there is an option to wade through waist-deep water and go to Padma Gad.

An ideal place to watch the sunset is at Rock Garden near Chivla Beach. The setting sun looks lovely and the garden is also beautiful with nice flowers and trees which are well maintained. Chivla beach can be seen from here.

Malvan is an ideal place to do scuba diving at. The coral and fish variety is beautiful and the rates are economical as well. Tarkarli beach is superbly clean and the sea bed can be seen clearly to the bottom. The beach stretch is virgin with a few houses along. Devbag beach is also secluded and sees the Sangam of the River Karli and the Arabian Sea. The point can be seen from land as well. Boats offer a closer view at Rs 250 per head as well as promise sighting of dolphins which are found in the waters.

Devbag and Tarkali stays are a little on the higher side as the beaches are secluded. It is worth paying to stay where you almost every day get a beach to yourself. Chivla beach also has a number of locals who have offered lodging at economical rates. Most of the hotels are in the Malvan main market area with air-condition as well as non-air conditioned rooms available.

Shells of various kinds are easily available on the seashore, decorative items made of them are sold in the market as well. Kokum is the famed food from here and is a must buy. There are also various drinks available of fresh fruit which are sold in pulp – do buy them and taste them.

Malvan is more about making memories and the best time to visit is from October to March as the weather is perfect. Malvan has options for both budget as well as luxury travellers and does not fail to impress either. Around four to five days are ideal to explore the full town.

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