Day 1 - Konkani Food Exploration, Fish Market, Windmill Farm.
You can explore the below options for your stay at Devgad.
- Hotel Diamond: This is a low-budget hotel, Room tariff starts from Rs 900.
- Nivant Resort: Room tariff at this hotel starts from Rs 1200.
- MTDC Resort: A medium-budget resort at Kunkeshwar (7 km from Devgad). The room tariff starts from Rs 2500.
Assuming that you reach Devgad around noon, have an early lunch so that you can spend the rest of the day exploring the town.
Lunch options in Devgad town:
- Hotel Vasant Vijay: This eatery is famous for its Kombdi Vade (a type of poori made of jowar or rice and chicken masala) and Kaju chi usal / aamti (Gravy dish made of cashew nuts). It is located at Devgad College Road.
- Nikhil Lunch and Dinner: This eatery is famous for Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian thalis. It is located at Jagtap Complex.
Devgad Fort: Post lunch you can plan to visit the fort which is located at a 4 km distance from the town.
- It was built in 1705 by Kanhoji Aangre, a Maratha naval chief. The total area of this fort is 120 acres and is surrounded by the sea on three sides.
- As soon as you enter the fort you see the Ganesh temple in the center of the fort.
- One can spend around 2 hours here roaming around the ramparts having a good view of the ocean.
Lighthouse: After seeing the fort, visit the lighthouse. This was constructed in 1958 and is a part of the fort.
- The official timings to visit the lighthouse is from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. However, it is possible to visit the lighthouse at other times also as per the discretion of the person in charge. There is an entry fee of Rs 10 per person and Rs 20 for a camera.
- At the parking area, there is a stall selling juices. You must try the Kairi Panna here.
Lighthouse, Devgad
Fish Market: One can experience the auction in the fish market which is located at a 2 km distance from the fort.
- Between 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, one can witness the auctions on a small scale. If you want to see the auctions being conducted on a larger scale, visit early in the morning between 6:00 am to 9:00 am.
- If you plan to stay in a homestay, you can purchase fresh fish from here, and they can prepare a dish for lunch or dinner.
Windmill Garden: After the fish market, it is time to visit one of the main attractions, the windmill garden, which is located at a 2 km distance.
There are around 10 windmills on a small hill overlooking the beach.
Devgad Beach: Get down the steps from the garden to reach the serene beach. You can view the sunset from here also. One can spend around an hour here.
Devgad Beach
Celebrity Wax Museum: After seeing the sunset, spend some time in the evening at the wax museum located at a 3 km distance from the beach.
Located in Sayma Heritage Shopping mall, the entry fee is Rs 100 per person.
Wax Museum, Devgad
Dinner could be explored at the below places:
- Hotel Santoshi: This eatery is famous for its seafood. It is located opposite the ST Stand.
- Kandalgaonkar’s Rasoi: This eatery is famous for its Stuffed Pomfret and Modak (steamed dumplings with an outer covering of rice dough stuffed with coconut and jaggery filling). It is located on Taramumbari road.
- You can end your day by shopping at the bazaar for various Konkani Meva. See the Things to Buy section below.
Overnight stay at Devgad / Kunkeshwar
Day 2 - Visit Ancient Lord Shiva Temple and Virgin Beaches.
After breakfast, you can consider the below sights around Devgad town.
- Shri Vimleshwar Temple: An ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at 10 km distance from the town.
- As per local belief, the temple was built by the Pandavas in one night. This temple, carved into a laterite rock, is nestled amidst coconut and betel nut plantations.
- The Cave temple is considered a unique archaeological monument and the special attraction is the continuous flow of water in the nearby rocks throughout the year.
After seeing the temple, cross Devgad town to see other beaches and temples.
Note: Take the new route, via Taramumbari-Mithmumbari towards Kunkeshwar passing through Suru trees and running parallel to the coast. Words can not describe the beauty of this route.
- Beach Visit: Visit the virgin beaches with white sand (Between Devgad & Kunkeshwar)
- Taramumbari: Located at a 13 km distance from temple.
- Mithmumbari: Located at a 2 km distance from Taramumbari. You can see the windmills from here also.
Mithmumbari Beach, Devgad
Kunkeshwar: After spending quality time at the above beaches, take the scenic route to Kunkeshwar temple, located at a 2 km distance.
- A well-known Lord Shiva temple was constructed during the 12th century. This temple is also known as the Kashi of South Konkan.
- Mahashivratri is celebrated on a grand scale with a huge throng of devotees visiting this place. Outside the temple, there are many shops selling eatables, memorabilia, Malvani meva, etc.
- The beauty of the temple is enhanced with a long stretch of seashore with white sand. Kids can enjoy a camel ride at the sea beach.
Kunkeshwar Temple
Lunch options near the Kunkeshwar temple:
- Hotel Raj Aswad: This is a Vegetarian restaurant and is famous for its Thalis.
- Hotel Shivshamboo: This eatery is famous for its Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian thalis.
Pokharbav Ganesh Temple: An ancient cave temple located at a 15 km distance from Tambaldeg beach on Devgad road.
- A small water body flows throughout the year below the temple. There is a Shivling which is situated on the back of a tortoise-shaped rock.
This ends the 1 Night /2 Days Devgad/Kunkeshwar itinerary. Depending on where you plan to do an overnight halt you can decide on the sightseeing spots, since both the towns are at a distance of 7 km from each other.
Gajbadevi Temple: After lunch visit the temple located on a cliff overlooking the beach, located at 12 km distance from Kunkeshwar.
- According to legend, this temple is believed to be originally constructed by the Pandavas. After having a look at the temple, walk down the steps to reach a vast expanse of virgin coastline with white sand.
- On the way to this temple, you can also visit Tembhavarcha Ganpati (swayambhu idol). From here you can see the confluence of the Naringre river with the Arabian sea from a distance.
- Tambaldeg Beach: Another pristine beach located at a 2 km distance from Gajbadevi beach.
This is where the Naringre river meets the Arabian sea. This is also a breeding ground for Olive Ridley Turtles.