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Dahanu is a quiet coastal village in Maharashtra's Palghar district, approximately 134 km from Mumbai. It is well-known for its tranquil beaches, traditional Parsi homes, and chikoo orchards. Indeed, chikoo grown in the Dahanu-Gholvad region has been declared a Geographical Indication (GI). Dahanu-Gholvad, noted for its huge Chikoo orchards and gorgeous Casuarina-lined beaches, is more than a tourist destination; it is also a cultural gem. This region, home to the legendary Warli tribe and its globally celebrated paintings, pulsates with traditional rhythms and a strong connection to the land.
In February, head here to experience a unique Chikoo Festival that will showcase the fruit in myriad ways. It is being organised by the Rural Entrepreneurship Welfare Foundation (REWF), which is deeply rooted in the rich soil of culture, history, and traditions.
REWF (Rural Entrepreneurship Welfare Foundation) has successfully conducted the two-day cultural carnival at Bordi Beach, near Dahanu, for the past 8 years. It is a festival where you can experience tribal art, local cuisine, adventure sports, shopping, and much more. The festival is a non-profit effort that has served as a platform for aspiring local businesses, artists, and the region's agro-based sector. It is an event in which people from surrounding cities such as Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, and Surat gather to discover the hitherto unknown aspects of North Konkan tourism.
The festival will feature a variety of activities, including beach paragliding, agro farm tours (including visits to local chikoo-based food processing units), a food festival centred on local cuisine, a cycling event, art and craft workshops (including opportunities to learn about Warli painting), local folk dance performances, live music performances by local artists, and more. Visitors can go trekking during the day and stargaze at night.
A wide variety of chikoo products will be sold during the two-day festival. Apart from chikoo ice creams and kulfis, you can sample items like dried chikoo chips and chikoo powder, which you can use in milkshakes and ice creams. The interest shown by visitors in earlier festivals has encouraged local women to start investing in small-scale industries such as drying chikoo to cater to orders year-round. During the festival, you can also tour a chikoo farm where you can watch and take part in chikoo plucking, washing, grading the fruits, and more.
The surrounding countryside is a trekkers’ paradise—you can visit the Bahrot Caves, Mahalaxmi, Gambhirgadh, and Asherigadh. There are instances of built heritage, such as the Dahanu Fort and temples. Visit the Hiranyakeshwar Temple nestling within verdant hills. Adjacent to the temple is a deep cavern from where emerges the Hiranyakeshi River. An uphill trek takes you to Mahadevgad where the panoramic view of the mist-covered countryside is stunning.
Dahanu is home to people from diverse communities such as the fisherfolk of Dhakti Dahanu, the Kolis, Mitnas, Mangelas, toddy tappers, basket weavers, potters, Warli painters, and horticulturists. Read more about the area here.
If you are into birdwatching, hit up Dahanu Cree where the abundant and diverse phytoplankton attracts a variety of birds, both resident and migratory.
Situated in Palghar district, Bordi is just a stone's throw away from the Gujarat border, and merely 150 km from Mumbai city. A quaint and cosy beach town, it is the perfect place to step away from the urban conundrum and simply unwind. Bordi is not your regular weekend getaway spot. Historically, it has been a Parsi settlement, with a lot of refined and highly educated Parsi families staying here in harmony with the local, indigenous Maharashtrians for over a century. Within the village, you will find a lot of old, decrepit houses and some immaculately maintained heritage properties.
What: Chikoo Festibval 2024
Where: Bordi Beach,near Dahanu
When: February 10-11, 2024, 10am-10pm
Getting There: The nearest major airport to Dahanu is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Mumbai, around 135 km away. The nearest railway station is Dahanu Road and Gholvad.
