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Alibaug is the weekend escape most Mumbaikars think of first. It is about 95 km from Mumbai by road, but the easier way is across the harbour by catamaran or the RoRo ferry to Mandwa, so you can leave in the morning and be sitting on a beach by lunch. Within 30 to 40 km of the town you get quiet beaches, sea forts you can walk to, Portuguese ruins and a hill temple.
I have done Alibaug by ferry, by RoRo with the bike and even camping on the beach for New Year’s Eve, so here are the 10 places I think are worth your time, plus one bonus spot at the end.
1. Alibaug Beach
Photo: Naveenjain431, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
This is the main beach right in town and the one everybody lands up at first. The best part is the view of Kolaba Fort sitting in the sea just off the shore. Note that on a Sunday it gets as crowded as Juhu, so if you want a calm beach, treat this one as a quick stop and move on to the quieter beaches up north or down the Revdanda road.
I had a really good Agri-style mutton meal in town, so stay back for dinner before you leave. For the location, click here.
2. Kolaba Fort
Photo: Chirag Upadhyay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kolaba Fort is the reason Alibaug beach is famous. It is a sea fort a short distance from the shore and a protected monument under the ASI, with temples, a water tank and old structures inside. The fun part is that at low tide you can simply walk across the sand to the fort, and when the water is up there is a boat service from the beach.
The tide changes every day, so check the tide timings before you go and ask the locals on the beach when it is safe to walk back, because you don’t want to get stuck when the water comes in. For the location, click here.
3. Kihim Beach
Photo: Amey_A, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Kihim is about 12 km north of Alibaug via Chondhi and is one of the prettiest beaches in the area. The beach is backed by woods, and the district tourism page mentions it for its flowers, butterflies and birds, so nature lovers will enjoy walking around here early in the morning. For the location, click here.
4. Nagaon Beach
Nagaon is about 7 km from Alibaug on the Revdanda road and is the beach for water sports, camping and beach shacks. I camped here on New Year’s Eve and it was a lot of fun, with barbecue at night, fireworks and fishermen pulling in their nets in the morning. The downside is that the music around the camps can get really loud, so if you want to sleep early pick a camp away from the main stretch.
Do try a fish thali or prawns at one of the local places here, it was one of the best parts of the trip for me. For the location, click here.
5. Kanakeshwar Temple
Photo: Dinesh Valke, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
If you want a break from beaches, head to Kanakeshwar, an old Shiva temple on a hill about 10 to 12 km from Alibaug via Mapgaon village. You have to climb more than 700 steps to reach the top, so go early in the morning before the sun gets harsh and carry water. The climate on top is cooler than the coast and the forest around it makes the climb pleasant. For the location, click here
6. Revdanda Fort and Beach
Photo: Pradeep717, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Revdanda is about 17 km from Alibaug at the mouth of the Kundalika river, and the Portuguese fort here was completed in 1524. The fun part is that the main coastal road south of Alibaug actually passes right through the fort, and the long sea-facing walls run along the beach, so you can walk on the sand with the old fort walls beside you.
I also saw the skeleton of a baby blue whale from 2003 kept at a private farmhouse near Revdanda, and entry was free when I went. For the location, click here.
7. Korlai Fort
Korlai Fort sits on a narrow hill across the creek from Revdanda and was built by the Portuguese in 1521. The village below is famous because people here still speak a Portuguese creole, which you won’t find anywhere else around Mumbai. There is also a lighthouse at the end of the hill.
Be ready for a lot of walking on the fort, and the trail can be steep and bushy in places, so wear proper shoes. When I first went, the fort and lighthouse were closed because of Covid, but I found hidden steps down towards the lighthouse, and on my second visit there was a lot of walking on the fort itself. For the location, click here.
8. Kashid Beach
Kashid is about 30 km from Alibaug and around 125 km from Mumbai. It has a long stretch of beach of around 3 km, it is considered safe for swimming and it is usually less crowded than the Alibaug beaches.
The shacks were packed when I had lunch here, so go early or be ready to wait. My first visit was just after a cyclone, with dead fish on the sand and rain that had us sitting in a shack, so don’t judge it by bad weather. For the location, click here.
9. Sarjekot Fort
Photo: Pratish Khedekar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Sarjekot is a small fort right next to Kolaba Fort, so small that it is often called the eighteenth bastion of Kolaba. It has five bastions, thick stone walls and a well inside, and it was once joined to Kolaba by a stone causeway which has now crumbled and partly goes under water at high tide. Like Kolaba, it is a protected monument.
You reach it the same way as Kolaba, by walking across from Alibaug beach at low tide, so just add it to your Kolaba visit. The gate faces the sea and not the shore, and the stones near the entrance can be loose and slippery, so watch your step and keep an eye on the tide. For the location, click here.
10. Rajkot Fort Ruins, Chaul
Most people think the fort at Chaul is Revdanda, but Chaul had its own fort called Rajkot, about 16 km from Alibaug, and it is a protected monument today. Very little of it is left, mainly the ramparts along the creek, a ruined arched building and an old stone mosque on arches facing the creek, which has an inscription saying it was built by Burhan Nizam Shah in the 16th century.
Take a bus or rickshaw to Chaulnaka, start at the Rameshwar temple and then take the road towards Agrav village, where the remains begin and an ASI board marks the rampart. Most of the land around the fort is privately owned, so be respectful of the people living there, and ask locals about the old mosque or the remains since few know the fort by name. Club it with Revdanda since they are right next to each other. For the location, click here.
Bonus location: Ramdarne Fort
If you still have time after these 10, here is one more for fort lovers.
Ramdarne is a small hill fort near Alibaug, most likely used as a lookout, and very few people even know it exists. The base village is Vaishet, about 6 to 7 km from Alibaug, and ST buses and rickshaws go there. From the stone quarry near Simon Colony it is roughly half an hour to 45 minutes on foot to the small hamlet of Ramdarne Pada, and the full walk from Vaishet to the fort takes around 2 to 2.5 hours.
The trail to the Ramdarneshwar temple on top of the hill is well used, but beyond the temple there is no clear path to the fort, so take a local guide from the hamlet. Ask for Ramdarneshwar temple and not the fort, because most locals don’t know it by that name. From the top you get wide views over the sea and the Kanakeshwar hills, and at the fort you will find bastions and rock-cut water tanks. For the location, click here.
How to reach Alibaug
By Ferry
The most popular way is the catamaran from the Gateway of India to Mandwa, run by operators like PNP, Maldar and Ajanta. Your ticket includes the bus from Mandwa jetty to Alibaug town. Note that these boats usually stop during the monsoon.
If you are taking your car or bike, the M2M RoRo runs from Ferry Wharf at Bhaucha Dhakka to Mandwa all year, including the monsoon. Book your vehicle online in advance, reach the terminal early and carry some food, because on my Sunday evening return the boat was overbooked and we almost didn’t get on.
By Road
Alibaug is about 95 km from Mumbai by road via Panvel and Pen. If you are in a car you can also use the Atal Setu, but two-wheelers are not allowed on it, so bikers will have to take the regular route.
By Train and Air
The nearest railway station is Pen, about 30 km away. The nearest airport is Mumbai, about 103 km away.
Best time to visit Alibaug
The months after the monsoon and the winter are the best time to visit, when the ferries are running and the weather is pleasant for walking to Kolaba and climbing Kanakeshwar. The monsoon makes everything green, but the catamarans stop and the sea gets rough, so you will have to take the RoRo or the road.
FAQ
- How many days are enough for Alibaug?
Two days are enough to cover all 10 places comfortably, and a third day lets you add the bonus trek to Ramdarne Fort. With just one day, stick to Alibaug beach, Kolaba Fort with Sarjekot, and Nagaon or Kihim.
- Can we walk to Kolaba Fort?
Yes, at low tide you can walk across from Alibaug beach. Check the tide timings first and ask the locals, and take the boat when the water is high.
- Which beach in Alibaug is best for swimming?
Kashid is considered safe for swimming and is less crowded. Avoid going in when the sea is rough.
- Can we camp at Alibaug?
Yes, Nagaon has plenty of beach camps, especially around New Year. Pick one away from the main stretch if you don’t want loud music all night.
- Are there other forts near Alibaug apart from Kolaba?
Yes, Sarjekot is right next to Kolaba, Revdanda and Korlai are on the way to Kashid, and Ramdarne and Rajkot at Chaul are good offbeat options for fort lovers.
- Can I take my bike to Alibaug by ferry?
Yes, the RoRo to Mandwa carries cars and two-wheelers. Book online in advance, especially for the Sunday return.
Final Thoughts
Alibaug is one of the easiest getaways from Mumbai, and these 10 places show there is a lot more than the main beach. My pick would be Kolaba at low tide, Korlai for the walk and Kashid for the beach. If you want to keep going down the coast, check my Konkan bike trip itinerary, and for more ideas see my places near Mumbai. Tell me in the comments which is your favourite place in Alibaug and if I missed any.
I plan the route. I don’t book the ferry, the stay, or the tickets. A custom plan is ₹200 per travel day. Fill the trip form, pay online, and I’ll send you the plan.
