Alibag is a beautiful coastal town located at a distance of approximately 108 kms from Mumbai and is famous for its beaches and forts. Some of the beaches include Aakshi, Kihim, Kashid, etc. The city is about 300 years old and was developed by the erstwhile naval commander of Chhatrapati Shivaji. According to tales about the origin of the name of the city, there existed a merchant named ‘Ali’ who owned huge number of plantations and the city was therefore name ‘Ali-Bag’ i.e. (Ali’s plantations) after him.

Duration of stay: A minimum of two day stay is recommended.

Things to do:

·         Alibag Beach: There are numerous beaches around alibag but the nearest and most popular among the tourist is the ‘Alibag beach’. The water is very shallow and one can also see the famous ‘Kolaba fort’ from the shore which is at a distance of 1-2 kms. One of the popular activities on the beach is to ride on a horse-driven cart through the expanse of the beach and enjoy the gentle sea breeze.

·         Kolaba fort: The kolaba fort is located at a distance of 1-2 kms from ‘Alibag beach’ and is easily accessible by foot during low tide. It was built by Chhatrapati Shivaji and is more than 300 years old. Even though the fort is surrounded by the sea, there is fresh-water well inside the fort. There also exists a siddhivinayak temple inside the fort which was constructed in 1759.

·         Kashid beach: It is a beautiful beach located at about a distance of 30 Kms from Alibag and is located on the Murud-Alibag road. The beach stretches for 2 kms and is surrounded by hills on both sides and is a beautiful sight to behold. The beach is famous for its ‘white’ sands and also the scenic environment i.e. greenery and hills on the side of the shore.

·         Nandgaon: Nandgaon is a small town located at a distance of approximately 44 Kms from alibag on the alibag-Murud road and has one of the most peaceful beaches along the coast since many travelers are unaware of the beach and is best suited for a serene holiday/getaway without the usual hustle and crowds. The town is also famous for its ‘siddhivinayak’ temple.

·         Janjira fort: Janjira is an island fort located on the coastal village of Murud and is situated at a distance of about 52 Kms from alibag. It was initially built by the Konkan kings and later on conquered by the siddis and had a reputation of being impregnable. The fort was well protected and even Chhatrapati Shivaji during his period could not conquer the fort from the siddis.

·         Khokari/Khokri Tombs: Situated on the outskirts of Murud i.e. at a distance of approximately 50 Kms from alibag, The tombs are believed to be more than 500 years old and contain the tombs of the earlier kings of janjira. There are 3 tombs on the site. According to local tales in the area, there exists untold secrets of treasures within the tomb but one has to read the ‘Quran’ backwards without repetition or pause to be able to gather the knowledge of the treasure.

How to reach:

• Air: Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai - 108 kms
• Rail: Pen Rail station – 28 Kms.
• Road: Buses are available for nearby cities as well as to Mumbai and Pune.
• Sea: One can take a bus to mandwa i.e. about 20 Kms from Alibag and from there Catarmanan/ferry service is available for Mumbai (Gateway of India).