I have come to know about Alibag from one of the travel magazines I was reading the other day. What is interesting is that it has a fort as well as a beach at the same place. I have never seen a fort at a beach and so wanted to ask whether it is worth going.
Yes it is definitely worth going. It is very close to Mumbai so travelling there won't be a problem. And yes there is a fort which is about a mile away from the beach. During the low tide the fort is accessible by foot, but when the high tide comes in the fort gets submerged in water. This fort was of extreme strategic importance due to this feature. The beaches are also good and clean and there are many water sports available. There is another fort named as Janjira fort which is accessible only by ferry.
I had heard about Alibag where there is a each as well as fort, but I did not know that was close to Mumbai. Can anyone tell me history related to this place, for example who constructed this fort, how long has the place existed in history etc.
Hello, @Voyager! Welcome to the forum! Alibag is also known by the name of Alibaug. It is a coastal town in the Raigad District of Maharashtra. It is located about 100 kms to the South of Mumbai. It is a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai because of its close proximity. I think it's definitely worth a visit, especially for people wanting to get some break away from the hustle and the bustle of the city. If you'd like to experience some water adventure, Alibag is the closest location in Mumbai for beaches. All you need to do is ride a ferry from the Gateway of India and you're well on your way to Alibag. Aside from the famous Alibag Beach along with the Kolaba Fort, there are many more attractions in Alibag. There are other forts, beaches, temples and even a museum to explore. To give you an overview, here are the best tourist attractions in Alibag: Forts Kolaba Fort - This is about 2 kms away from the shores of Alibag. Shivaji Maharaja strengthened the fort in 1662 and it became one of his chief naval stations. It is the so-called seaside fort as it's located in Alibag Beach. Its astonishing feature is that it has a freshwater well despite being near the sea. During low tide, you can reach the fort by foot as it's on the middle of the water. But during high tide, you'd need to ride a boat to reach it. There's also a temple inside the fort built by Raghoji Angre, called the Siddhivinayak Temple. Revdanda Aagarkot Fort - This is about 17 kms away from Alibag. The fort is located on the mouth of the Kundalika River. Part of the town of Revdanda is inside the fort. It was built by Portuguese Capt. Soj in 1524 but it was captured by the Marathas during the year 1806. Undheri Fort - This is about 9 kms away from Alibag. This fort was built by the Siddhi Qasam during the year of 1680. It is one of the few sea forts in the region. Other conquerors of the fort are the: Peshwas, Angres and British. You need to hire a boat to take you to the fort, which is in ruins now. Janjira Fort - This is about 3 kms away from the town of Murud, which is about 50 kms from Alibag. The walls of the fort are about 40 feet in height. This fort has never been conquered because of its unique location, which is in the island of Janjira. It also has 19 towers and many turrets, with cannons as well, many of which still remain intact. It is believed that a Koli chief built the fort in the 15th Century but it's a smaller structure back then. It was then captured by Pir Khan and Malik Ambar, although it's the latter who strengthened the walls of the fort. From then on, the fort was never conquered from the Siddhis. Khanderi Fort - This is the sister fort of Undheri. However, the Khanderi Fort was under Shivaji's control unlike the Undheri Fort which was under the Siddhis. Most of the fort is still intact today but the most recent structure here was the lighthouse built by the British during the year 1867. It is a restricted area and you need permission to access it. Inside, there are some cannons, a tomb of Daud Pir and a musical stone. Korlai Fort - This is a fortification along the Revdanda Creek built by the Portuguese in the year 1521. At its time, the fort was one of the strongest ones in the region. The Portuguese chose to destroy the fort because they have no more men to guard it. Sagargad Fort - This fort is believed to have been conquered by Shivaji after defeating Adil Shah during the year 1660 AD. You can find the Mahishasurmardini Temple just outside the fort. Also, the Dodhane Waterfall is also just outside the fort. It's also in the main city centre of Alibag so it can easily be reached. Beaches Akshi Beach - This beach is about 5 kms from Alibag proper. It is also very near the Alibag Beach and the Kolaba Fort, that you can view them from here. Not many tourists visit the beach, making it one of the cleanest and most serene beaches in the region. Kashid Beach - This one is a bit further at about 30 kms from Alibag. The main features of this beach are its white sands and turquoise waters. There are many resorts and guest houses around Kashid as well so staying here isn't a problem. The restaurants and shacks also serve delicious seafood dishes. The waves in the beach are very high and suitable for surfing. Murud Beach - This is one of the farthest beaches in Alibag at about 54 kms away. However, this is also one of the cleanest and most relaxing beaches in the area. It has powdery white sands and clear blue waters. There's also a temple nearby dedicated to Dattatreya. Nagaon Beach - This is about 9 kms away from Alibag. This beach is best known for its water sports activities which not a lot of beaches in Alibag offer. There are also numerous resorts and home stays around the beach. Alibag Beach - This is just 2 kms from the centre of Alibag. This beach is famous for its black sands and clean waters. This is also the beach where the Kolaba Fort is located. It's best visited during sunset or sunrise as the views amidst the beach is stunning. Kihim Beach - Kihim is a town in Alibag. The beach of Kihim was once a birdwatcher's paradise. Nowadays, you can still spot a few exotic birds here as well as butterflies. Versoli Beach - This beach is about 3 kms away from the city proper of Alibag. This is a popular beach destination for water sports enthusiasts. The shores are a bit rocky though and you can find Casuarina groves all around it. Temples Jai Bhavani Temple - This temple is dedicated to the Goddess Bhavani. The Goddess Bhavani is the source of energy and power of nature. The presiding deity's idol in the temple has eight hands. One of the hands holds the head of the demon Mahishasura and the other hands holds weapons. Kanakeshwar Devasthan Temple - This temple is located on the village of Mapgaon, about 12 kms from Alibag. To reach the temple, you'd have to climb about 750 flights of stairs. The temple was built in 1764 with the typical Hoysala style of architecture. It's an ancient temple dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The Hanuman Temple is also located within this temple. Someshwar Temple - This is located in the Akshi Beach. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Shiva, known as well as Someshwar. It was built by the Satvahana Rulers. And the most beautiful attraction of the temple is its unique and intricate carvings on its walls and front door. Museum/Observatory Karmarkar Museum - This is about 18 kms from Alibaug. Here you can find the sculptures of Mr. Nanasaheb Karmarkar. There are about 150 structures here. The entry rate is just Rs. 5 per person. Magnetic Observatory - This was built in 1904, located along the Alibag Beach. It has two buildings: the first one has magnetometers that record changes occurring in the geo-magnetic fields and the second one has precise recording instruments, which give data about geo magnetic storms caused by solar storms. So as you can see, there are many places that you can visit in Alibag. If you like historical places, then it's a must to visit Alibag and its forts. Or if you want to relax, then go to Alibag and enjoy its beaches. I hope this helps. Have fun!
