On Friday, we decided to have some fresh air and to be away from the hectic life of Mumbai/ Thane….

But where to go? After lot of scratching my old remains of brain cells and squeezing the elixir of my friend’s brain, we decided it is to be Murud- Zanjira.

I asked my friend to hire a Tata Sumo, bring gallons of water for our journey.

At 6.30 in the morning, we set for our weekend (Don’t Know if that word is valid for Retirees) gateway.

It is about 160 km from Thane and we calculated that by 11.00 Am we will be there….

We both friends started talking animatedly regarding our past visit to Murud. Friend’s wife quipped “you both are behaving as if you two are school children and going for school picnic”. My friend laughed aloud and said “My school never took us to any picnic”.

I kept quite, same was the case with me.

We crossed Panvel and took right turn at Palaspe Phata( Phata is a Marathi Word, It means Opening / Branch) to Goa Highway. We crossed Pen and Stopped at Vadkal Naka,

for our breakfast.

We left Goa Road and drove to wards Alibaug about 18 km away. We crossed a beautiful hill. At the start of the elevation of the hill, the road branches out to Khihim anther beautiful sea beach of Raigadh District. And a beautiful temple Kanakeshwar is also near by.

But, that is another story.

We kept Alibaug in our right and Took the left turn, about 1.5 km from ST stand and proceeded to wards Revdanda. Crossed Akshi( A Good Beach), Naigaon ( Another Good Beach), Choul ( Famous For Datta Temple, you have to negotiate 350+ stairs to reach a hill top for the darshan).

Chowl is also famous of “Wadis” residential houses, surrounded by coconut, betel nut, spice plants( Tejpatta, Jaypahal Etc) and fruit bearing trees.

We reached Revdanada at about 10.00 AM. Once there was a good fort was there. Passed through one of the old archway, kepping the rundown fort at our right.

If have time you can have a look at this ruin.

Next attraction was a bridge over Kundalika River, a jetty for iron ore for Vikram Ispat. After the bridge, if you are a devotee Of Ganapti Bappa, take left turn, drive about 2 km to reach well maintained Birla Ganpati Mandir. We took the right turn and stopped at Kashid Beach.

Kashid is one of the few white sand beaches in this area. It is still not commercialized, only a few expensive (It is related. What is expensive for me may not be for others) hotels/resorts and a few shops for snacks, cigarettes and cold drinks.

We walked along the beach and enjoyed the beauty of Kshaid for half an hour and veered towards Murud, our destination.

Nandgaon famous Ganpati Mandir was on the way. We took blessings from Ganpati Maharaj, and were on the road agin.

Our Vehicle reached a hillock; we stopped our vehicle to look to the Murud from a vantage point. The scenery was simply beautiful.

The palace of Sindi Nawab is the first building, as we entered Murud.

We were lucky to get rooms in Hotel Kinara right on the beach.

We all used wash room and proceeded to wards Patil’s “Khanawal”

Khanawal means eating place. Patil is famous in this region for their Konkani type non-veg dishes. Patil did not disappoint us. We took rest and we enjoyed the evening of Murud beach. Our added bonus was Sunset at the beach.

Murud is a coastal Konkani village turned town. An old world charm still can be found.

Attitude of the local people is laid back. Coconut trees and betel nut trees are ample and they constitute the beauty of the place. Narrow and winding roads are the cities feature. The best place to stay there is MTDC, bang on the beach just at the entry point to Murud.

Next morning, we set out for Zanjira Fort about 5km away from Murud.

We parked our vehicle at Rajapuri ferry wharf and boarded a country boat. No safety belt, no safety device for the 2km boat ride propelled by wind and supported by long bamboo stick.

About 20 passengers are allowed per boat. The captain of the boat directs the passenger to sit on the boat in accordance with the passenger’s weight! It is great experience to observe how the boatmen catch winds in to their sail to drive the boat.

We reached the fort.

This fort is surrounded by Arabian Sea. It had 22 turrets and 22 cannons. It was built in 16^th century, yet the 40 feet walls are still strong.

Siddis built this fort and they placed their cannon is such a strategic way that Marathas, British and Portuguese were never able to conquer it. It is the only the only impregnable fort in India.

Visit got over and came back to hotel, packed our bags, checked out. Went for a darshan Of Lord Dattatreya, whose mandir is on a hillock. Previously one had to negotiate steep stairs to go there. Now vehicle can straight go to the top.

We had a beautiful panoramic view of Murud from there. It is to be experienced, no words can match that.

After our ladies were sufficiently convinced, the Lord had heard their prayer, we hit the road again to wards Siddi Ka Maqwada.

It is about 7/8 km from Zanjira on the road to Sri Wardhan.

This monument was built by Siddis in their glorious time, now only ruins remain.

But, as a snapper it did not disappoint me.

We were on the way back to Thane with a sweet memories of our week end get away…

In my age only sweet memories are energy producer, do you agree?

 

Kashid Beach

The View From Top, Near Murud

The Palace Of Siddi Nawab

Murud Beach

See You Tomorrow, Bye

I am for the Night

A view Of the Fort From Rajapuri Hill

The Captain and His Passengers

The Entry Point To The Fort

40' High Wall Still Strong

A View From The Topmost Point

The Wall and His Tormentor, Sea

The Gun and The Boat

The Arch And The Sea

The Passage

The Lookout Point

The Cannons Which Thwarted The Invaders

Fort Is In Shambles

The Nawab House

The sweet water pond surrounded by sea water

The Symbol- A Tiger = 5 Elephants

Siddi Ka Maqwara

Another Angle

The Arches

Zanjira Fort From Here