When one thinks of blue ocean water and white sands in India, the first thing that comes to mind is Lakshadweep or the Andaman islands. And while they live up to every postcard, travelling to either of these islands might require you to save up for a while. With a minimum all inclusive cost of 40,000 INR for a 4 day tour, that could seem expensive. However if you insist on the charm of blue ocean water, and are low on cash, an interesting alternative is Ganpatiphule and Ganeshghule beaches along the coast of Maharashtra near Ratnagiri.

Most of us living on the coast are used to seeing grey or brown water, so this is a refreshing change. So if you’re looking for a quiet lazy weekend, then this should be on your list of places to visit. The distance between these two beaches is approximately 50 kms. And while Ganpatiphule is an already well established tourist spot with several hotels to choose from, Ganeshghule has just one hotel – the Blue Ocean Pearl on the beach. You will find a few in the nearby town called Pawas.  So if you choose Ganeshghule, make sure you arrange for whole day transport as it is a bit cut off from the rest of the city. Mobile signals are weak can be weak to almost nonexistent, irrespective of your service provider.

How to get there….

There are two options to getting here. Trains ply frequently from Pune, Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra and Goa as well. Train bookings as always need to be done well in advance. Although other stations might be closer, it’s best you get off at Ratnagiri Station, here you’ll find many cabs that’ll take you to Ganpatiphule or Ganeshghule beach. The ride to either of these beaches could take upto an hour. Book a hotel in advance as weekends are their busiest time and last minute accommodation might force you to run around. The other alternative is to drive down. From Mumbai it takes approximately 8 – 10 hours with 2-3 stops. Leave early morning at 4:30 am and follow the  NH 17 (Bombay – Goa highway) to Ratnagiri. There could be traffic on the highways especially over the weekends, so if it is possible to leave earlier, do so. Click Next page for continue read article

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