Konkan Coast

The Konkan Coast is the strip of India's west coast that lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It runs about 720 kilometres through coastal Maharashtra, Goa and the north of coastal Karnataka, cut by short rivers, creeks and estuaries.

Travellers come for the beaches of Alibaug, Kashid, Diveagar, Ganpatipule, Tarkarli and Vengurla, and for sea forts such as Murud-Janjira and Sindhudurg. There are the temples of Harihareshwar and Ganpatipule, the fishing villages of Malvan and much more. Konkan food is built on coconut, kokum and the day's catch, and Ratnagiri and Devgad grow the Alphonso mango. Olive ridley turtles hatch on the beach at Velas. Ganeshotsav, Shimga, Narali Purnima and many more festivals fill the calendar.

The best time to visit the Konkan Coast is October to March. The Alphonso season runs from April to May, and the monsoon, from June to September, brings heavy rain and closes many sea forts. The Konkan Railway, opened in 1998, runs the length of the coast.

Pollen Dots plans customised journeys anywhere along the Konkan Coast, with local hosts, homestays and guides. Browse the journeys and stories below, or write to us to plan a journey around what you want to see.