Dive Agar - worthy contender for the title of God’s Own Country.It was a great place to visit at a perfect time [26th Dec - 28th Dec 08]. Dive Agar in the last few days was worth every penny spent in reaching that place [ though I must say even though the ’Ghats’ were scenic but after a while I had had enough of the winding path]. I was glad I wasn’t driving this time but enjoying the view instead. Surprisingly, the 156 km stretch from Pune to Dive Agar seemed farther and easily takes up close to 5 hours of driving non-stop. All the hotels seem to have been booked to capacity which was evident from the fact that it was really difficult to get lunch/dinner at known places like Suhas Bapat’s, owning to the heavy tourist flow from all around the place. However, we could still have the beaches all to ourselves with a fair amount of distance from the next group enjoying the beach as well.
The cleanliness of the beach was a welcome change for someone who has at least once visited the beaches of Mumbai only to longingly look at the waters from far away without even feeling a distant urge to dip a toe in them.The path-way leading to the beach was my favorite part of the trip from the resort to the beach. Red brick and sand-layered path covered by tall coconut and beetle-nut trees on both sides seemed the perfect setting for an idle time for the beach. The walk was rejuvenated the mind even before you actually hit the beach. The sea itself was fairly calm [observed at morning, early noon and evenings].The Swarna-Ganesh temple was a astonishing given the enormity [in size] of the discovery of the idol in gold. The visit to thee prakat-sthan was also exciting but apprarently hardly draws visitors. My advise would be at least make a quick visit there to ’feel’ what you just saw at the temple in pure gold.I planned to visit Harihareshwar and Srivardhan as well during my stay but dropped the plan owning to the poor road-quality and the thought of giving Dive Agar the due credit it deserved by spending all my time there itself. And I didn’t regret my decision it at all!Last but not the least, the people.
I think I havent met a more decent Maharashtrian community so far in Maharashtra in terms politeness and manners off interacting with outsiders. While every place in India is out to loot the tourists of the few rupees and whole lot of good memories, this place had people who make you remember it for all the good reasons. With flower vendors almost requesting [not forcing, hounding, begging etc.] you to buy flowers from them to ladies/girls serving food in the resort who would always have a smile irrespective of the crowd they were serving.3 cheers for that!