We drove down to Harihareshwar (hareshwar)which took around 5.00 hrs from Vashi. It is greatly calmimg experience on the nerves...roads are moderately good, traffic is minimal and the weather was lovely. Make it a point to go around Sept-Feb. The weather being mild it is all the more enjoyable.
WE stayed at the Konkan Hut of MTDC. It is pretty clean and well designed. The place is good for groups to go in. The beach is nearby but you have to climb down a small slope and then down some stony steps to reach the beach. The beach has black sand which some may find dirty...but I assure you it is much cleaner than most beaches. It is a great pleasure to wake up at dawn and go and watch the fishermen put up nets and catch fish.
The harihareshwar temple is very famous ..called the Dakhshin Kashi you mush visit it. The most amazing part of this place is hidden behind the temple. There are steps upwards with a board marked ’’ PARIKRAMA’’. Dont miss it. you need to climb up and go down a steep fleet of stone stairs down to the sea...a cove is formed with amazing rock formation. The view out here is also amazing. Vast expanse of sea and the rocks. you can walk over the rocks which are platform like and go right around to the temple again.
The temple is very near to the MTDC resort. A point to note: we have proper fish curry rice at a small outlet called Rajesh near the temple. There are other shops which offer traditional food ..these are mostly residential places which cater to the tourists. foodat MTDC is expensive. Make sure you visit Bagmandala and take a ferry from there to Bankot village..it is a fishing village (very different from the one in the film ’’Bobby’’ or ’’Sagar’’!!). Wait for the ferry. It comes every 45-50 mins. somestimes an hr. It is just a fivemin ride across the sea. We bought fish from Bankot and gave it to a person near the temple to cook and serve. they take around Rs. 60 per kg of material to cook. We got a whole basket of crabs at Rs.30! It is very cheap at the village.
There is also a very good beach on the way to Srivardhan which is 18 kms away form Harihareshwar. Kondivli beach is als overy beautiful but bathing is not an option there as there is no accomodation nearby.
Some temples like Divya Ghar, Peshwa Smarak, Somdevi temple are also good to go around.
It is good relaxing trip for 3-4 days.