Down
South
Chasing Sunsets across Konkan
The best part about staying in Mumbai, is a 8 hours run on the bike would take you to one of the most scenic beaches across entire India. From virgin beaches in Ganpati Phule & Ratnagiri, to private island in Karwar, serene beaches of Goa and Gokarna to my very home second home Kumta, I have a phenomenal time exploring Vitamin Sea in the entire Konkan. Every year I would be looking forward to the winters so that I could escape the city and ride down south. Most the trips have been a random thought of simply sitting by the beach and grabbing a beer and that’s what provoked to turn the keys and ride on. The best part of these rides have been numerous routes at offer to reach down to these places, the old Mumbai – Goa route, running parallel to the sea, to taking the ghat sections of Amboli and Chorla ghats to the scenic ride through wildlife reserves of Dandelli and Belgaum.
Baad beach in Kumta has been one of my absolute favourite places. I have all sorts of emotions attached with the place. Well first being, its my second home, Naveer’s hometown. I remember not going to my home during college vacations and instead heading to Kumta. Mostly it remains empty with only a few locals visiting the beach as it remains secluded from most of the tourists spots. We used to run at beach for as far as we could, interact with the local fisherman and make plans around owning a piece of land next to the beach and make a small gateway home. I moved to a lot of places but I never stopped coming back to Kumta every year. I just kept looking for excuses to meet Naveer and keep visiting him. Every now and then we would be in a lookout to explore for a secret hideout place to call it a private island and then simply set out camp there. We would spend endless hours sitting by the beach quietly observing the fishermen returning from the sea as the sun sets.
There are plenty of nearby places to explore, the crystalline rock structures of Yana, Kayaking in Divgi, Jog falls in Shivmoga, taking the speed boat to Gokarna, Shiva statue in Murdeshwar and the list goes on.
If I ever get to call a place hidden paradise then this is it, Cintacor Island in Karawr. Its a private island off the Karwar coast. From infinity pool, to hanging spa on the cliff to jungle trails watching migratory birds and a century old watch-tower, the island has got a lot to offer. Its a perfect setup to take sometime off and simply unwind yourself from all the chaos. The place is managed by the Little Earth Group, who take utmost care of the guests with impeccable hospitality.
Watching the sun set from the infinity pool has been the highlight of the trip. You dive into the pool and get out at the edge watching the fishing boats returning back to the shore, its simply magical. One can meditate in the auditorium which is located at the cliff. The views are simply breath-taking.
