Locations :
Best Time to Visit : November to July
Founded and discovered by the naval chief of Shivaji Maharaj’s navy, Sarkhel Kanhoji Aangre, in 17th century Alibag is a small seaside town in Raigad, Maharashtra. The town name was baptized after a ‘Bene Israelite’ [a native Jew] named Ali who was the inhabitant of the town and used to own mammoth mango orchards and coconut plantations and hence the nomenclature ‘Alichi Bagh’ literally meaning ‘Gardens of Ali’ or Alibag.
The town was the seat of many historical battles including – 1706 clash between Kanhoji Aangre and Siddi of Janjira, 1722 combined assault against English and Portuguese which they lost and the Sakhoji’s 1730 campaign against the English in which he triumphed and brought the enemy captain along with him to the Kulaba Fort.
Located 120 kilometers from Mumbai, Alibag shares a common trait with Panchgani in being the hearth of a number of reputed and quality educational institutions that mostly started in past or antiquity. Apart from the development of some recent industrial sites tourism industry is the bread and butter of Alibag. The industries in the town include – Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers, JSW steel of Dholvi, JSV steel at Salav, Gas Authority of India, HP LPG and Reliance Petrochemicals.
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Alibag Beach: Prime and among one of the most popular beaches, Alibag is always flocked by the visitors because of its clean coastline. The flat stretches of the beach are very apt or long evening and morning strolls. The water comes from all sides in form of tides and one has to paddle through the water to walk. The beach offers a very clear view of the Kolaba Fort.
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Kolaba Fort: Captured and strengthen by Shivaji Maharaj, the garrison fort was the headquarters of Maratha Army and its naval station and is at walking distance from the beach during the low tide. Kanhoji Angre launched and won many a raid against British and Portuguese from this fort. The fort has two main gateways and walls as high as 25 feet hewn with animals and bird carvings. Though a seaside structure, the fort is full of drinkable sweet water wells. On the northern wing are stationed two canons probably assembled in England, and like many other Hindu forts this bastion also houses many temples and shrines inside its walls including a Siddhivinayak Temple and Dargah of Haji Kamaluddin Shah, temples of Mahishasura and Goddess Padmavati.
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Siddheshwar Mandir: 4 kilometers from Highway near the village of Khandale lies this magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is difficult to decide which is more rewarding, the temple itself or the route to the temple, a drive on a small track, amidst the hillocks; en route one can cite the remnants of Sagargad fort. Any which way the place is worth visiting at least one.
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Kihim Beach: 12 kilometers from north of Alibag this beach is marked for its scenic beauty and rows and rows of coconut palm plantation. Being in close proximity of Mumbai, having a charm of its own which makes it on the map with some of the finest beaches in the world this seashore has been a location of many a Bollywood blockbusters. Also, the dense wood on the coastline are abode to a variety of rare species of birds, plants and butterflies.
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Akshi Beach: 6 kilometers from Alibag, Akshi beach is distinct for its white sand, crystal clear water and a clean coastline marked with Suru trees. The sea here is ideal for a swim as the water level is flat till quite a distance and perhaps for this reason alone the beach has frequent visits fro various media houses to shoot advertisements, TV serials etc.
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Nagaon Beach: 10 kilometers away from Alibag, this beach is noted for its thick coconut and betel nut groves. One of the cleanest, this beach is also the most popular and frequented in terms of number of tourists that throng its shores. Water table here also is reclining making it suitable for swimming and other water sports which are aplenty here. A ten minutes’ walk from this village leads one right to Akshi beach.
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Varsoli Beach: Site of major naval base, Varsoli beach is one kilometer away from the main town on the outskirts. A lesser known and frequented by few, this beach is remarkable for having crystal clear water and white sands. In the vicinity is a small satellite village, Varsoli village, replenished with exhaustive farms of coconut and casuarine.
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Khanderi & Undheri Islands: Just a few kilometers ahead of Alibag are these two famous islands with two famous forts. Khanderi the heavily fortified 17th century bastion was famously under the control of Shivaji as his sea observation post to keep an eye on enemies particularly Siddis, who were the lords of rivaling Undheri Fort. Khanderi fort is build alongside the two small hills on the island. The highlight of the fort is 1837 build lighthouse which is still very much is use and a rocky cliffy which produces and resonates a shrieking metallic sound when struck. The fort houses a Shiva Temple and a temple dedicated to Vetal, one can also spot some cannons there. Underi Fort is highlighted for the presence of a cave [with carvings on its walls] in the close proximity. Cannons can also be spotted in this burg, along with a secret chamber which was used to confine prisoners and captives in the antiquity. It is however not easy to visit these ports or islands as they are under the jurisdiction of Indian Navy and require special permits from port authorities are to be reached.
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Magen Avot Synagogue: Shlomo Salem a travelling Jewish preacher from Cochin was shipwrecked and rescued in Alibag by a Bene Israel, later on he decided to stay here and consecrate his life to the promotion of his religion here. Under the drive he opened many synagogues [Jewish religious and community houses] in Alibag [Magen Avot] and its surroundings including one in Mumbai and Revdanda and Panvel. The synagogue became a major epicenter of religious, social and communal life for Jews.
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City Shopping
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Raigadi Bazaar
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Noor Bazaar
Places of Worship:
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Hingulja Mandir
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Datta Mandir
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Balaji Temple
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Uma Maheshwar Temple
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Kanhoji Angre Samadhi
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Vikram Vinayaka Temple
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Shitladevi Temple
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Kanakeshwar Temple
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Siddheshwar Mandir
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Sri Paleshwar
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Sri Hanuman Mandir
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Sri Balram Krishna
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Shiv Mandir
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Sati Kamaladevi Mandir
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Sri Ram Ganesh Temple
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Nagoba Mandir
Places of Entertainment:
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By Air – Nearest serving Airport to Alibag is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, 140 kilometers away
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By Railway – Nearest railway station in Pen railway station at a distance of 24 kilometers
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By Road – Alibag is connected to the rest of the nation via National Highway no. NH17 which is a Mumbai-Goa highway
(+91) 8743000333
(+91) 8527562562
