Located just 120 kms from Mumbai, a drive along the picturesque Sahyadri Mountain range and crisp coastal air will take you to Dahanu and Bordi, what one may consider as a small, sleepy coastal town on the shores of the Arabian Sea.

Dahanu is located 65 km north of Virar on the Western Railway line of Mumbai Suburban Railway. It can be reached from the National Highway NH-8, 20 km off from Charoti Naka.

Westward flowing rivers and rivulets emerging from gentle slopes, traversing through thick forests will greet you as you approach Dahanu. There is little chance of you losing the way if you follow the smell of Chikoo orchards. The beaches are very quiet and clean, where the sand is blackish and sticky, and very much in its natural form. It is controlled by the Maharashtra Woods Preservation Department, which is why its natural landscape has been left untouched. The beauty of the place lies in the quiet sea beach, and the surrounding casuarinas and chikoo orchards. Infact, the best way to capture the scenic beauty of the place is to drive down from Dahanu to Bordi, 17kms of it. It also happens to be a safe beach, where the water does not rise above the waist for at least half a kilometre.

The city

The name “Dahanu Gaon” originates from the word “Dhenu Gram” meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu has become a major commercial and industrial town in the Thane district. It is well known for the chickoo fruit and accounts for over 50% of India’s chickoo production. Rubber balloons, rice mills and manufactured goods, are major manufacturing products which are produced in Dahanu. There is also a 500-MW power plant that supplies electricity to Mumbai

The Beach

It is a quiet and clean beach, where the sand is blackish and sticky, and very much in its natural form. It is controlled by the Maharashtra Woods Preservation Department, which is why its natural landscape has been left untouched. The beauty of the place lies in the quiet sea beach, and the surrounding casuarinas and chikoo orchards. Infact, the best way to capture the scenic beauty of the place is to drive down from Dahanu to Bordi. It also happens to be a safe beach, where the water does not rise above the waist for at least half a kilometre.

Sightseeing

Santoshi Mata Mandir and the Mahalakshmi Temple are the popular temples in the area. Drop in at the famous Vrindavan Studios, where some of historical tele-serials were shot. You could visit the town of Dahanu, either on your way back or on your way to Bordi. See the nearby Bharot Caves and the various other Jain and Hindu Temples there. Udwada, near Dahanu, has the beautiful temple, The Mecca of Zoroastrians, housing the very revered fire said to have been kept alive for a thousand years or so.

For a Pleasant stay at Dahanu, I would recommend Hotel Pearline on Dahanu Beach.

Vajreshwari.. is a place real close by, an approx of 60 kms from Mumbai. I’ve been there a couple of times with my friends and its a really good place to go, specially if you want dat out-of-mumbai feel in the air but still don’t wanna travel too much. Accommodation is really cheap too, you can book bungalows with swimming pools out there for as cheap as Rs. 2500 a day or you can just crash at one of the many resorts that are out there. Both have their own fun into it.

Located at the foot of the Mandakini Mountain, Vajreshwari is a village tucked along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway on NH 8, in Thane District, Maharashtra. Believed to have formed as a result of the volcanic eruption, Vajreshwari is famous for the Vajreshwari Temple which was built by Chimaji Appa after the Marathas conquered the Bassein Fort in 1739.
The natural hot water springs at Akloli are a must bathe for Vajreshwari devi devotees. The famous hot water springs here have high sulfur content and is believed to cure many skin ailments. The Hot Springs, stretching about 7 km in the bed of the River Tansa, are mainly situated at Akloli, Vajreshwari, Ganeshpuri & Satvalli (33 km) The temperature of the water in the springs ranges from 43 deg.C to 49 deg.C. At the hot springs in Vajreshwari one can enjoy hot springs baths in exclusive and closed baths called “Kothawalla Baths”. At the Akloli hot springs, there are provisions for long tubs & showers. Siddhapeeth Ashram, established by Swami Muktanand is quite near to the springs. The scenic view of the small Tansa River from the hillock gives a charming effect. Ganeshpuri, famous for the Guru Ashram, is in the neighborhood of Vajreshwari. Nityanand Ashram and Gurudev Ashram are ideal for sojourn.

Kolad is someplace i have been visiting every monsoon for the past four years and am absolutely in love with this sanctuary. Its one place where anyone and everyone will fall in love with. Once am there and checked in at the farm I’ve done my bookings with,its just time for my camera and me. I usually make camp at Sai Farm, find the folks out there very homely plus the pricing out there is very comfortable on my pocket.I usually pay Rs.450 for a day (including all meals) and about Rs.1100 for an overnight there. The farm is just on the banks of the Kundalika river and about 15mins of trekking to the waterfalls. Trekking in the rains and kayaking are my favorite activities out there.Another place called Doctors farm is just next door to it..

Kolad is a village, in Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is located  in the southern direction from Panvel to Goa on NH 17 connecting Nagothane – Kolad – Mangaon. It lies on the banks of River Kundalika.

You could also approach the same via Mumbai Pune Express Highway – Pay toll and take left at Khapoli exit. Head through the over bridge towards PALI. Pass through SH 96 – pali famous for its Ganpati temple. Towards Bhira you drive on to SH 60 which towards the right leads to KOLAD.

Places out there.

- Resorts in the wilderness near and around the river and dams (Bhira dam, popularly known as Tata Power house dam & Dholwal Dam, a high utility Dam for irrigation purposes of the surrounding regions).
- Ghosala fort situated in between the Revdanda and Salav creeks.
- Kundalika river river rafting and camping throughout the year.
- A small village Kuda, famous for the Buddhist caves, is placed at the fabulous Janjeera hills near Kolad at a height of 150 to 200 feet above the sea level.
- Situated in the backdrop of the majestic Sahyadris, the beautiful Sutarwadi Lake in Kolad is a bird watchers delight.
- Tamhini ghat waterfalls, also known as Valse, are a pretty attractive tourist destination near to Kolad
- Water falls on state highway 60 towards Pune in the rains.
- Adventure sports Rafting, Rappling, Jungle camping, kayaking, Para sail, Aeromodeling & all kind of outdoor activities.

The monsoon season forms one of the best times to visit Kolad. This is because during this time, the entire place seems to be covered in the shade of mint green, with its locales presenting a very pristine and beautiful sight. Infact, during the months of August and September, the weather is also at its best – being neither warm nor cold. It is that time of the year when the cascading waterfalls flow with ice cold water. In the winters, the misty surroundings add to its splendor.Apart from its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, Kolad is also known for its rich and varies fauna,waterfalls and the famous Kundalika river.
Adventure lovers, especially trekkers and hikers, will find Kolad a blessing. The unending expanse of rolling hills & fields provides them with the perfect opportunity of undertaking long treks. Whether they want to go uphill, scaling the peaks of the hill, or downhill, exploring the intricate jungle paths, they wouldn’t get disappointed here.
So, if you want to escape from the exasperating hubbub of city life, Kolad is just the place for you. It is well connected with the cities like Pune and Mumbai and you will hardly face any difficulty in reaching here. As far as accommodation is concerned there are many resorts and farms like Sai Farm and Doctors Farm where accommodation is easily available,bookings here need to be in advance though.

Definitely going there this year too. Feel free to join me