A road trip to Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach from Pune (INR 1200)

Abhi!! Where are you headed for the Christmas and New Year eve? A query that has been solicited to me a couple of times in the recent few days. To be very frank, even I don’t know currently what would be my next travel destination. The sole reason being that I don’t plan much, as I find it annoying when the plans get canceled due to one or another reason.

Have you heard about the Konkan Coast? Spreading across an area of around 720 kms, it is a rugged section of the western coastline of India covering the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka. It is home to probably the most picturesque shorelines in India. What flabbergasts me is the extraordinary change in shade of sand from dark to white if you move from beaches of Maharashtra to that of Goa.

Time for some hydration

As I discussed Gokarna in my past post which could be a conceivable contrasting option to the costly Goa at New Year time, let me propose you another great and less expensive choice to spend your holidays. A road trip covering Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan, Aravi, Kondvil and Diveagar Beach!!!

Aravi Beach

How to reach  the beaches

The nearest railway station to Harihareshwar is Mangaon. Trains from major Indian cities like Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Bikaner, and Madgaon halt at the Mangaon station. From Mangaon station, buses are available to reach Harihareshwar which is around 60 kms. If you prefer bus journey over the railway, you can catch a direct bus from Mumbai or Pune to Harihareshwar.

But, what I would suggest is to go on a road trip from Mumbai or Pune. From Mumbai, you can start with Diveagar beach (around 190 kms) and end at Harihareshwar Beach. From Pune, take the Tamhini Ghat road and reach Harihareshwar (160 kms) and then follow the road just by the side of the sea to reach Diveagar. The road to Diveagar from Shrivardhan beach, going along the seafront is one of the most scenic routes I have ever come across. Bikes can be easily rented from Mumbai/Pune.

My journey to Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach from Pune

It had been a long time since I last went to a shoreline, so I was searching for a two-day beach trip close to Pune. While zooming in and out over the Gmaps, in search of a beach to visit in the Konkan coast, I came across the scenic route from Shrivardhan to Diveagar Beach which goes along the seafront. And hence I made up my mind to visit these beaches.

On route to Harihareshwar Beach

On early Saturday morning (5:30 AM), I along with my friend began from Pune. Attributable to the winter season, it was a cold morning. We chose to take the Tamhini Ghat route. I love taking this route as it goes through thick forest with the beautiful Mulshi Lake on one side and scenic mountains on alternate sides. Additionally, with no vehicles on the entire route, it appeared as if we were going on a private road.

Shrivardhan Beach

The road journey in itself is so amazing that on the whole way you would feel like the motivation behind your excursion is fulfilled. But hang on; there is still so much to follow. Following a couple of pit stops in the midst of the amazing nature, we made it to the Harihareshwar beach around 10:00 AM.

Sunset view at Harihareshwar Beach

Hurrah!! There was no one on the beach. We had the entire beach for our self. Such an incredible feeling when you are desperately searching for a tranquil time. We spent the whole day at the shoreline and going to adjacent spots.

On route to Diveagar beach

The following day was planned for exploring the scenic route from Harihareshwar to Diveagar beach, the primary reason why we had planned this trip. The course genuinely defended our choice. It was surely a standout amongst the most panoramic detours on which I at any point did a bike ride. After exploring all the beaches along the way, we started our journey back to Pune at around 1 PM.

Harihareshwar Beach

Harihareshwar Beach

Nestled between the high mountains of Western Ghats (Harshinachal, Harihareshwar, Bramhadri, and Pushpadri), Harihareshwar Beach is the ideal place to be at if you looking for a clean and relatively less crowded beach. There is a high possibility that you won’t find anyone on the beach. Towards the North is the famous temple of Lord Harihareshwar which is said to have been blessed by Lord Shiva.

stairway to Harihareshwar Beach

Behind the temple is a stairway which will lead you to peak. Here you will find another stairway (around 130 stairs) which leads to the rocky patch by the side of the sea. View of the Arabian sea from the stairways is simply breathtaking. Also, don’t miss the sunset as the views are simply stunning. Harihareshwar has a lot of accommodation options according to every budget and liking. Personally, I liked this beach the most compared to the others in the nearby region.

Caves at Harihareshwar

Shrivardhan Beach

Situated around 20 kms from Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan Beach is an unblemished shoreline situated at Shrivardhan town. In the current years the beach has gained popularity, hence you will find a decent amount of crowd especially on the weekends.  One can find water sports activities like paragliding, sailing, and water surfing at this beach and it is additionally perfect for swimming as the waters are shallow.

Shrivardhan Beach 

Aravi Beach

Aravi Beach is a hidden gem located around 9 kms from the Shrivardhan Beach. This beach is not as much known as different beaches in Maharashtra. Unlike the other beaches, the top layer of the soil is white in color. The beach is very neat and clean, and you may find the beach completely empty most of the times. The beach offers a beautiful view of the setting sun on the horizon. The beautiful road route along the coastline starts from this beach. It’s a must visit if you are looking for a clean and untouched beach.

Aravi Beach

Diveagar Beach

Situated around 25 kms from Shrivardhan Beach, Diveagar Beach is a blend of activities and peace. The beach has increased immense prevalence among the people of Mumbai and Pune who are searching for adjacent beach choices other than the swarmed Alibag and Kashid Beach. You can enjoy all the water-sports here and the beach is also safe for swimming. The beach is less clean in comparison to Harihareshwar and Shrivardhan beach. A lot of stay options nearby Diveagar Beach Resort.

Diveagar Beach

Best time to visit

The best time to visit all these beaches is during the winter months from October to February. The climate is quite pleasant and hovers between 10°C to 30°C. Summers are quite hot which is why it may not be a great time to visit the place during this time. During the monsoon months, the region receives heavy rainfall and is not ideal to visit the place.

Stay and food options at Harihareshwar Beach

There are many budget stay options available nearby the Harihareshwar beach. We stayed at the Sai lodging and would highly recommend it. It is just next to the BOI ATM. The lodge is very neat and clean and the room prices range from 500-1000 INR (200/300 INR per person). Also the restaurant just next to the Sai lodging cooks very delicious food.

Temple near Diveagar Beach

In the past, many of you would have celebrated New Year partying all night along with huge crowd around you. Don’t you need to have a go at something new this year? Spend a night on a peaceful beach and try remembering all the beautiful things that happened to you in the past year. I am sure you would enjoy every moment spent on the beach!!

Always carry a torch with you while travelling. The one I would recommend is: amiciVision Metal LED Torch Flashlight

Do follow me on Instagram as I am regularly posting travel posts and stories over there. Also, you can message me on Instagram if you want to join me on my next trip.

Are you looking for some essential travel gear? Check out my post on What’s in my Backpack.

Looking for more weekend gateway options near Pune? Check out these blog posts:

• A cycle trip to Lavasa city from Pune (INR 100)
• Andharban jungle and Devkund Waterfall Trek – Time to get lost in the dense forest
• Satara – A road trip to the Maharashtra’s Valley of Flowers from Pune (INR 800)
• Tikona Fort Trek and Pawna Lake – One day trip near Pune (INR 250)
• A two-day trip to Torna Fort and Madhe Ghat Waterfall(INR 400)
• Matheran – Asia’s only automobile free hill station
• Daman – A Glimpse of Portugal Heritage
• Kalsubai Peak – Trek to the highest peak of Maharashtra (INR 600)
• Korigad Fort Trek – Exciting one day trek near Pune Mumbai (INR 300)
• Bendewadi, Laalwadi and Jagtap waterfalls – Go get lost in the land of waterfalls!! (INR 300)
• Experience the sunrise from Lohagad Fort near Pune/Mumbai (INR 150)
• Visapur Fort Trek – Thrilling one day trek near Pune Mumbai (INR 200)
• Rajmachi Fort Trek, adventurous one day trip near Mumbai and Pune (INR 350)
• 12-hours monsoon road trip exploring Tamhini Ghat (INR 300)
• An exciting road trip to Purandar Fort from Pune (INR 300)
• Tung Fort Trek – A journey through the clouds (INR 250)
• Garbett Point Trek – An exciting one day trek near Mumbai (INR 350)

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