Guhaagar Travel Guide

This analysis provides travel information based on a trip to Guhaagar, a coastal town in Maharashtra, India.

Overview

The travelogue details a family trip from Pune to Guhaagar, focusing on the scenic routes, local cuisine, and attractions. The journey highlights the natural beauty of the Konkan region.

Route & Transportation

• Starting Point: Pune
• Route (Going): Pune - Satara - Umraj - Patan - Kumbharli Ghat - Chiplun - Guhaagar (approximately 70km from Kumbharli Ghat)
• Route (Returning): Guhaagar - Mangaon - Ghats
• Alternate Routes: Kumbharli Ghat, Varandha Ghat, and Tamhini Ghat are potential routes from Pune. Varandha Ghat is noted to have a road in poor condition.

Accommodation

• Rajkamal Homestay: Recommended homestay located close to the sea, surrounded by coconut and betel nut plantations. Offers a serene experience in nature. Contact Mr. Shyam Athavale, the owner of Ramkamal Homestay who has 6 rooms near sea.

Food & Drink

• Ashishti Dairy (Near Chiplun): A recommended stop for refreshing lassi and masala taak (buttermilk) along the way.
• Rajkamal Homestay: Provides home-cooked meals. The menu includes a variety of vegetarian options like Matar Batata Bhaji (peas and potato curry), cabbage vegetable, amti (lentil soup), chutney, koshimbir (salad), and sakhar aamba (sweet mango pickle).
• Annapurna Restaurant (Guhaagar): Known for its delicious seafood thalis, especially the Pomfret Fry Thali, which includes pomfret fry, fish curry, chicken, and rice bhakri. Prawns fry plate is also another recommendation.
• Local Breakfast: Try local Konkani breakfast items like Ghavan with coconut chutney, Thalipeeth (savory pancake), Dahi (yogurt), and Dadpe Pohe (flattened rice soaked in coconut water with grated coconut).

Places to Visit in and around Guhaagar

• Guhaagar Beach:
  • Known as the largest beach in Maharashtra with white sand.
  • Relatively flat and safe for swimming.
  • Offers scenic views with blue sea on one side and green trees on the other.
  • Guhaagar's beauty is enhanced by traditional houses and distant green hills.
• Kumbharli Ghat: Scenic mountain pass connecting Satara and Ratnagiri districts. Features winding roads and lush green landscapes.
• Koyna Hydroelectric Project (Pophali): A hydroelectric project built on the Koyna dam water.
• Temples in Ghats: Small temples dedicated to the deity of the ghat are common along the routes. Offering a coconut and praying at these temples before proceeding is a traditional practice.
• Shree Vyadeshwar Temple:
  • Located centrally in Guhaagar, near the ST stand.
  • Panchayatan-style temple with Lord Shiva (Vyadeshwar) as the main deity, surrounded by temples of Lord Ganesha, Suryanarayan, Ambika Devi, and Laxminarayan.
• Guhaagar Beach View Point: Offers a panoramic view of the entire Guhaagar coastline.
• Shree Walukeshwar Temple (Asgoli): Located in Asgoli village, near the beach. Known for its scenic and serene environment with coconut trees and the sea in the background.
• Anjanvel Lighthouse:
  • Offers views of the sea from three sides.
  • Open to tourists from 3 PM to 5 PM.
• Talkeshwar Temple (Anjanvel): Located near the Anjanvel Lighthouse, offering a scenic view of the sea.
• Gopalgad Fort (Anjanvel):
  • Also known as Anjanvel Fort, built in the 16th century by the king of Bijapur.
  • Features strong fortifications and a surrounding trench.
  • Offers views of the sea.
• Velnashwar Temple: Located approximately 15 kilometers from Guhaagar.
• Hedvi:
  • Shree Dashabhuj Laxmi Ganesh Temple.
  • Hedvi Beach and Bamanghar Cliff.

Tips & Recommendations

• Best Time to Visit: The travelogue suggests visiting during or after the monsoon season for lush green scenery. Mornings are particularly beautiful on the beach.
• Beach Activities: Guhaagar beach is ideal for walking, playing in the sand, and enjoying the sea.
• Cultural Note: Visiting temples and offering prayers is a traditional practice in the region.
• Preservation of Nature: The absence of hotels and resorts directly on the beach helps preserve its natural beauty.
• Traditional Houses: Mr. Shyam Athavale lives in 150 years old house, showcasing the traditional architecture of Konkan. Features wooden pillars and thick mud walls.