Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Remebering the Konkan journey

Six years ago, I traveled off beat in Konkans. Those days I was studying Management in the IIT Bombay and took some time out during the winter vacation and started the journey without any inkling as to where I will be going… it continues to be my most favourite memory, one I cherish and relish the most. I will re-do it once again, this time with my son.

There were two rules which I had set for myself…one, I would not be using any Public transport – either Railways or MSRTC buses and will rely on the way the local people travel- in boats, hitch-hiking, walking and using shared taxis and two that I will not start with any pre-decided destination and would just reach a place and decide the next destination… based on the opinion of the local population….Then there was another resolution that I did not very strictly adhere to and it was that I will try to stick to the sea shore and come what may, I would not go hinterlands (this was challenging as the Konkan has a lot of creeks and there may or may not be a readily available mode of crossing the creek).

Sadly I was not able to maintain a perfect log of my entire journey and I have some diminishing memories about a lot of things… now that I have started maintaining a blog… I am planning to recollect it all and write a travelogue…

The starting point, of course will be writing down the entire route…

Thankfully I have been able to recollect most of it…

Mumbai

Rewas Jetty

Mandwa (night stay)

Kihim

Alibaug (night stay)

Chaul

Revdanda

Korlai

Kashid (night stay)

Nandgaon

Murud Janjira

Rajpuri (night stay)

Dighi

Borlai

Srivardhan

Harihareshwar (night stay)

Bankot

Anjarle

Harnai

Dapoli (night stay)

Dabhol

Vedlur

Anjanvale

Guhagar (2 nights stay)

Velneshwar

Hedvi

Jaigad (night stay)

Malgund

Ganpatipule

Bandarphule

Ratnagiri (night stay)

Bhatye

Pawas

Purnagad

Musakazi Bandar

Jaitapur (night stay)

Vijaydurg

Devgad

Kunkeshwar

Wayangani

Malvan –Sindhudurg (night stay)

Walawal

Kudal (night stay)

Sawantwadi

Danoli

Amboli (2 night stay)

After this I ended my Konkan journey and went to Londa, Belgaum and then into Karnataka. So in all it was a 15 day journey and one of the most wonderful journeys I have ever taken….wonderful experiences and memories…. I will definitely write a travelogue on the same

5 comments:

Subrat said...

PG, Now I realize what I missed...(Subrat)

Pondering Vagabond said...

Dont worry India is full of such places....I have explored just the West Coast....what about doing the same with the East coast...with you

Subrat said...

Shall definitely do it when you come back in Feb. Will also include the KBK...

Anonymous said...

Hi !

I was planning on going to Jaigad with my family.
Do you have any info on where we can stay in Jaigad, costing etc and any other useful details

Thanks
[archanalimaye@gmail.com]

Pondering Vagabond said...

Hi,
First and foremost thanks for visiting my blog.

I went to Jaigad in 2001 December... therefore my information can be slightly dated ....

I stayed in a government rest house in the Jaigad fort itself... and paid just 50 rs for staying in a very sapcious and well furnished room... I believe it was a PWD rest house and is open for public... I went there without any booking and without any contact and was able to get it without any problem... the chowkidar arranged food for me charging 100 rs a day... so it was altogether 150 rs a day (full board)

Things might be the same or may have changed... but staying in the guest house was magical experience ...imagine spending a night in a dilapidated fort that houses nothing but you... and perhaps a chowkidar...

the fort itself is nice... and worth exploring... nearby is a lighthouse that is run by a mechanical system, worth seeing if you are interested in such stuff... and the area around is a lovely walk...

Of course the rider is that you get a room in the rest house... the town is becoming increasingly touristy and I keep on hearing about Jaigad as a toursit haunt... still if you dont get anything... you may chose to stay in Ganpatipule... or Malgund (in Malgund there are a few families that offer room or rent for guest, charging anything between 200-500 rs... though I do not have any readily available contact for them. In worst case you may like to stay in Jaigad town itself... but soembody told me that it is not a nice place to stay with family... so check before you decide to stay there... however the rest house is perfectly safe... being a government run property...

I am sending this as a mail to you in case you dont get back to this site again

Regards