The sea, sand and nariyal paani…. Review on Kihim Beach, Alibaug

The sea, sand and nariyal paani… An economic getaway from Mumbai is the beach of Kihim. White sand, fairly clean beach, friendly locals...What more can you ask for a day’s trip? Kihim lies on the Marve - Gorai- Manori stretch. You can get there either by fastening your seat belts or by getting a little more adventurous-take the ferry ride from Gateway of India. This is exactly what a few friends and I decided to do. We reached Gateway of India at 7.45 am to catch the 8am ferry. The ferry ride takes about 45min-60min to reach Mandwa beach. From here either take the local bus to the MTDC Tent Resort, or bargain hard with the ‘tuktuks’, the local three wheelers for a drop off! This journey takes about 35-45min to reach the ever-peaceful MTDC Tent Resort!

Now the reason it is peaceful, is because besides the tents, white sands, sea gulls and majestic waves you will not spot a thing! A perfect way to relax. Now the moment we landed, we satiated our appetite with buffet breakfast— non-vegetarian and vegetarian. A mix of omlettes and puri bhaji! Post a sumptuous breakfast we changed into our shorts to hit the warm welcoming sea with the sun blazing over our heads. To avoid the sunstroke and sunburn, make sure you carry your caps, hats and soak yourself in sunscreen lotion. We stayed in the water for about 3 hours sipping nariyal paani and then finally hit back to the beach for a few drinks and snacks! Sipping iced beverages, snacking on some nachos under a beach umbrella is probably the most deserving way to wrap up your weekend. Tempted han?

Well this is how tempting the sea looked even in the peak afternoon hours. So a few of us decided to give in to this temptation and dive in, this time with our frisbee and floats! The hungry ones decided to wash up and get ready for the tempting lunch buffet about to be served. The lunch was a good spread of non-vegetarian and vegetarian with a choice of desserts. Now post a challenging appetite, a good swim what could we ask for but an afternoon siesta in the tent! The tents are equipped with basic necessities- a large bed depending on the number of people sharing it, a small cupboard and a standing fan. Use the general washrooms for all your needs or else…the surrounding bushesJ By the time we got up, we were served tea / coffee and then set out to head back by around 5.30pm via a bus arranged by the resort to Mandwa.

None of us were keen to head back. However the temptation to stay back could not govern the thought of my boss’s face on a Monday morning! So we boarded the bus, reached Mandwa and thereafter the ferry to reach Gateway by 8pm. The total damage to our pockets for a day’s trip was only Rs.500 per head inclusive of ferry fair, food and the bus ride! On the ferry ride back to Gateway Of India, it is advised to carry a light jacket as the sea can be quite choppy and the strong wind can cause you to catch a chill especially during the pre monsoon and winter months! Of course the ideal time to visit MTDC Tent Resort at Kihim would be November-April. You can also visit the resort during the rains, but then the ferry ride is terminated. The only other option would be to drive down! So for an adventurous stay in a tent on the seashore, remember its Kihim.

Bon Voyage!!