The winters are one of the pleasant times to visit the Konkan region. Esp. after whole year of the busy city life and running after the trains it is the most awaited time for a break.
We a group of 6(Kesh, Bindu, Mahipal, Santosh, Mahi and Santosh’s baby Simmi-(a 2 yr old sweet baby) along with My wife Mona and me) decided to explore Dapoli. All bags were packed Kesh & Mahipal with there family were coming from pune and me wid my wife from Mumbai.
We had first decided to go on bike, but eventually the plan failed and we decided to go by train instead. We had booked our tickets from IRCTC website for Mandovi Express which leaves Panvel at 8:15am and reaches Khed at 11:30am. And the gang from Pune had taken the ST bus at 6:30am and would reach Khed around 12:30 noon.
All went according to the plan we had reached on 8th December timely. Had to take a Auto to the ST bus stop some 5 kms from the station and was charged Rs. 20. As we had reached early we decided to find more about the place. We headed for a local bakery called the Anupam Bakery and the man was kind enough to provide us the rates to hire a car to the resort we had booked was around 1000 bucks. And let me tell you It was just too expensive and sheer waste of money. So we chose to go to Dapoli by ST bus itself. In a hours time we reached saving 900 Rs in hand. But from there had to take Auto rickshaw to Saniya Sea Resort which is on the border of Karde and Murud.
In no time we reached our destination, The place was absolute ‘Awesome’. It was surely a small place with just 5 rooms but was the ultimate place for family. In actual sense, A home away from home. Amidst the natural beauty surrounded by animals like: cats, dogs and monkeys and one could ever hear the birds call. The stream flowing across it was absolutely superb.
We were greeted by the lady owner, Aunty is what we called her. The kind of treatment we were given by her not only won our heart but even the heart of little Simmi, She called her Maa and crept into her house whenever she got a chance.
The Setting of the Resort was so that, we could see the sea from our windows as well as be in the Mangroves. The first day we had spent the whole evening in the sea and later had a lip smacking dinner. Homely food which was reasonably charged.
9th was my wife’s Birthday… I felt really proud of giving her this trip which surely she would treasure forever. We began the day walking hand in hand on the beautiful virgin beach and watching the Sun rise through the palms and the coconut tree… The setting was so that it arose William Wordsworth from within. Highly romantic!
Aunty had arranged for a jeep and we went sight seeing first too Anjarle Ganpati Temple:9 kms from Murud across the Creek on the foot hills of Anjarle Stands tall white ganesh temple with mind boggling surrounding and what better start could I gift my wife on the special day. While returning we stayed back at Anjarle beach and let me tell its really a pleasure to witness such serene sight… literally bathing of soul in purity and serenity.
We next headed to Harnai and from there took a fisherman’s boat to The Swarndurga fort and to catch a glimpse of the most friendly fish Dolphin and let me add every view was worth every paise spent… The Swarndurg told the tale of past glory and actually made u awestruck as to build that fort that time on that Island must have been a real pain in the neck.
Our driver took us to a local restaurant and as we were dead hungry literraly gobbled everything and after such a heavy lunch decided not to go to dabhol but to go to murud beach and the girls got a chance to try their hand at bullock cart and had the ride to the resort and we lazily followed them.
The evening was even better, after a dip in the sea and the tasty dinner made by Aunty utterly delicious with the extra sprinkle of mothers love. She arranged for a camp fire in the grooves and all of us sat lazily humming our favourite songs.
We had to leave on the 10th auto was again arranged by aunty… with a heavy heart we did leavebut planning to drop in very soon.
If you are looking for a Weekend getaway or a 2/3 days outing having one extra holiday with the weekend. This place is where you ought to be… An ideal alternative for those of you wanting to spend your Christmas holidays from the noisy crowd and humdrum. But Saniya is not the place for bachelors who plan to drink this is more of the family place.
Lastly, I would conclude with a tip that is try a resort with no reviews its better than the one with bad reviews… we did the same and found this beautiful place. Hope my post helps you deciding on your trip.