Alibaug is a lazy town, situated very close to the Arabian sea, on the western coast of India. And it is the place of the rich and famous. Reaching Alibaug, via Navi Mumbai, takes less than 3 hours. It is just 110km away from Mumbai on the NH17 Mumbai-Goa highway and the roads are good.
Attractions
There is not much to see though other than the turquoise blue sea amidst the rolling expanse of the green mountains and the old Colaba fort that one would need to reach on a horse cart. But if you have few days to spare from your stressful life then do head to Alibaug. The pollution is low and the calmness of the place is sure to soothe your nerves.
You could even while away your time on the sandy beaches riding a horse or eating coconut water and bhel puri.
The Kashid beach is also a stone’s throw away (32km) and can be visited if you have an extra day to spare. Prakruti Beach Resort is the perfect luxurious place to stay while at Kashid.
Colaba Fort
This fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj in 1680. It is a major water fort of the Konkan region. It has two entrances – one from the sea end and one from the shore. There is not much to see inside. But amidst the ruins stands a mandir. Go, close your eyes and pray for a minute as you hear the waves crashing onto the rocks outside. This fort however, can and should, only be ventured into during the low tide.
Most Luxurious Resort
The most luxurious resort at Alibaug is the Radisson Blu Spa And Resort. It is located on the banks of the Veshvi lake and is a premium property of the Carlsons Hotels Worldwide. This resort also boasts of the world famous Mandara Spa of Thailand (don’t miss getting pampered here at least once!)
The food is tasty but there could have been more choice for lunch and dinner, given that it is a five star resort. The buffet spread, although elaborate, had the ‘five star’ missing.
For entertainment, the resort has a piano lunge bar to while away your evenings listening to the tunes of the piano and sipping on your favourite drink and a Kids’ play area. The kids’ play area “Wonderland”, however was very dimly lit and had games like carom and pool table and is more suited for teenagers. A slight disappointment for those travelling with toddlers.
The swimming pool with a separate shallow kids pool and a sunk-in bar, was however, was clean and quite relaxing.
End note
All in all, Alibaug is a good weekend getaway from Mumbai if you don’t want to do much other than just while away your time. However, do avoid the monsoon season when the roads can get quite bumpy due to the innumerable potholes created by the lashing rains.