The Konkan coast of Maharashtra doesn’t get the love it deserves. Maybe that’s down to the fact that it’s right next to that one other state that’s famous for its beaches and its seafood, which people flock to by the thousands throughout the year. And maybe that’s for the best, because it means, should you want to go on a road trip, you can have the Maharashtrian coast – with its own incredible beaches and seafood – all to yourself. There’s just so much to enjoy here too. There’s the sand and the surf, good enough to rival anything else the west coast can offer. There are the Alphonso mangoes – world famous, by the way. And you can’t call yourself a foodie if you haven’t sampled the rather unique Malvani cuisine native to the region. Oh, and there’s one more thing...
Sand-kissed
The roads. You could potentially visit any stretch along Maharashtra’s coast, and chances are you’ll be treated to breathtaking views and sinuous stretches of tarmac punctuated by quaint little villages. But I’m interested in just one very specific section today. It’s just under 30km long and snakes its way between the towns of Ganpatipule and Ratnagiri. It’s got variety too; one moment I’ve got the sea breeze in my hair and the sound of crashing waves in my ears, and the next moment my olfactory sensors are being assaulted by the odour of fresh chlorophyll as I careen up one of the many small ghat sections. It’s got bends galore, dips and crests and even a few straights – challenging, unpredictable and fun, just brilliant! And all this in a place not too far from either Mumbai, Pune or Goa. Who would’ve thought! But as you might be able to tell from the pictures, this isn’t what you’d call sunbathing season. There are big, grey clouds rolling in and out with the waves, and the precipitation levels are unpredictable at best. The results are mixed – the foliage shines a brighter hue of green than what you usually see in these parts, but some small patches of road aren’t quite as smooth and grippy as they are in the summer.
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