Tarkarli

 

Tarkarli Beach - North Side

Tarkarli is a fine, quintessential beach just 6 km south of Malvan. It is not marked on Google Maps. You may find Malvan on G’maps. If you do, just look south, about 6km and the beach there is the one.

Tarkarli Beach - South Side

The beach itself is quite a refreshing change, for a Mumbaikar at least. Clean, white and empty. The waters, even in the height of the monsoon, are pleasant. The surface is actually undulating, so you will find a piece of area where waves are rolling from both sides – shore and the sea. When it does, it causes one nice collision.

 

Waves from both sides

Across the waters, one can see the historic Sindhudurg fort, one of the most important sea forts of Shivaji and the Marathas.

There is an MTDC set up out there along with home-stays in almost every village house (and very well maintained houses at that). The MTDC place is made up cottages in the Konkani style. 

 

MTDC Tarkarli: Konkani Cottage, just Rs. 1000 per night

 

For more photos (on my Picasa)

The Tarkarli Beach

MTDC Tarkarli

Getting there:

Train: The nearest railway station is Kudal, about 40-45 kms. Takes an hour or so by auto.

Drive: If you are driving all the way, from NH17, you have to turn in at Kasaal towards Malvan.  From Malvan, there is a lane going south parallel to the sea. 

Bus: There are direct state transport buses to Malvan from Mumbai. You can also take buses going to Savantvadi, get down at Kasal on NH17 and you can take autos and the like to Tarkarli.

Personally my recommendation is the train. Unless you would rather drive (it is quite a distance from Mumbai).

Food and Drink:

Booze is available at Malvan, not at Tarkarli. So either you buy stuff and bring it to Tarkarli or you will have to pay the guys at the MTDC some extra so that they go and get it for you.

For those who enjoy Malvani cuisine – sea food, chicken, etc. – you are where it originated from. It’s like eating Lucknavi biryani & kababs in Lucknow. Veggies also have food available but will have to settle for standard Punjabi style cooking – paneer and stuff.

Besides the beach

Besides the beach, there is the Sindhudurg fort. We could not go to see it as it is closed during the monsoons. To go to Sindhudurg, you have to go to Malvan.

Apart from that, enjoy a weekend in a quiet, unobtrusive Konkani village.

Amenities

Credit cards don’t work here. You need cash. There is an SBI ATM in Malvan. 

Bottled water is available, MTDC being a public sector company has proper brands, not some local stuff.