A small, idyllic town on the narrow strip of the Arabian Sea, at the southern tip of Mumbai, Alibagh or Alibaug, is fringed with tall coconut trees and golden sandy beaches lapped by the ocean. Apart from the quaint village houses, it also has farm houses of Mumbai's affluent folk.
Nearly 300 years old, Alibaug was founded in the 17th century by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre, a naval chief of Shivaji's kingdom. The Marathas made Alibagh a Taluka in 1852 and named it Shribag. Because Alibaug was not connected to the mainland by road at that time, the only way to get here was through the sea from Revas, Dharmtar or Mankule. However the construction of the Dharamtar Creek opened its doors to a wider public, connecting it to metros like Mumbai.
A weekend getaway and a popular business centre today, Alibaug is frequented by affluent Mumbaiites, mostly to enjoy the beauty of the sea. The town and its surrounding villages are the historic hinterland of the Bene Israeli Jews, who migrated to west Maharashtra in the 19th century from nearby Indian cities and parts of modern Pakistan.
The Kulaba Fort is the prime attraction of Alibaug. Encircled by the sea, it is best visited within an hour of the low tide and unless you leave before the high tide, you will be stranded there for the next 5-6 hours. The other places worth visiting here include Magnetic Observatory, Kanhoji Angre Samadhi, Vikram Vinakyak temple, various small churches and synagogues, and the tower of St. Barbara.
The sandy stretches of the nine beaches here are ideal for long walks and sunbathing. Some of the more popular beaches include Akshi, Revdanda, Kihim and Nandgaon. A little away from Alibaug is the Janjira Fort (about 4 km from Murud). Although in ruins now, it is interesting to know that there were people actually live in this fort till 1971.
Food is very local here with most of the restaurants serving 'thalis' with some lip smacking sea fish like pomphret and surmai.
Tourism Info:
Principal Secretary (Tourism)
Govt. of Maharashtra Mantralaya
Mumbai - 400 032
Tel: 022-22025301
Director Tourism & Managing Director
Maharashtra Tourism Dev. Corp. (MTDC)
Express Towers, 9th Floor Nariman Point,
Mumbai - 400021
Tel: 022-22023472 |
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