Quick Guide Harnai-Murud, Maharashtra

 Fast facts

State Maharashtra 
Distance 277 km S of Mumbai  
When to go April to June (because of the summer holidays) 
Tourist Office MTDC Collector&rsquos Office, Jaystambh, Ratnagiri
Tel 02352-221508
STD code 02358

Getting there
Rail Nearest railhead Khed Railway Station
Road Route from Mumbai - The drive is straight down NH17 via Kolad, Mahad and Poladpur. At Bharne Naka, take a right towards Khed town and onwards to Dapoli. Harnai is just 17 km further down after Dapoli.

Their proximity to each other has earned them the tag of &lsquotwin beaches&rsquo but there&rsquos little that Harnai and Murud have in common. While Harnai is chaotic and crowded, Murud is just the opposite. There&rsquos solitude here, and the quiet shore is the very antithesis of Harnai, where the urgency of fish auctions draw throngs of people each day. Indeed, even on days when the overcast sky is the colour of a clamshell, Harnai&rsquos fisherfolk are out in the sea, trawling its waters for fish, and later sell their catch on the shore. The buyers also turn up in full force, in autos, cycles, snazzy cars or on foot. The colorful cacophony at Harnai leaves you unprepared for the serene beauty of Murud Beach. The sky at sunset forms the perfect backdrop for a walk along a winding road that cuts through the beach. Stay at the beach till the moon slowly climbs up and casts its silvery reflection on the waters. 

Things to see and do
There&rsquos very little by way of activity at the beaches here. The Harnai Beach, primarily a fishing dock, isn&rsquot a good place for swimming. Murud Beach is relatively safer, and offers enough privacy to opt for beachwear. Nevertheless, avoid venturing too far out as it&rsquos fairly isolated. Therefore, it&rsquos best to explore Anjarle in the morning, enjoy a swim at Murud, and then head to Harnai for a fish auction in the evening. To experience a lovely sunset, you can also drive out to Karde.

Harnai
There are hills on one side of the beach, a mosque in the backdrop and Harnai Bunder on the adjacent side. In the evenings one can see boats anchored near the bunder, many colourful flags fluttering atop them. The fish auctions are, held daily between 5.00 and 7.00pm, are undoubtedly the main attraction for people here. On weekends, the beach comes alive with hawkers.

Harnai Bunder, or Suvarnadurg Fort as it is also referred to, is Harnai&rsquos forbidden territory. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the fort is apparently home to wild animals, and locals try to keep visitors from exploring inside. Considering the intensity with which they dissuade you, you are better off staying out. About a kilometre from Harnai, on a hill, are the Durgadevi Temple and the Siddhi Vinayak Ganapati Temple, revered by locals. 

Murud (4 km)
The palm-fringed beach of Murud is just what the doctor ordered. The clear, calm waters of the sea meet the black sands dotted with crab holes on a long stretch of beach. You&rsquoll have to walk a lot during low tide to reach the waves, but then it&rsquos worth it the sea at Murud is ideal for swimming. A few operators conduct adventure activities such as jet-ski rides, banana rides and, parasailing here.

Anjarle (15 km)
As you move about 4 km along the coast from Harnai, passing Paj Pandari Beach en route, you will come across a small jetty. For a minimal fare, you can cross the Jog Creek and reach Anjarle on a precariously balanced boat. The creek&rsquos narrow stream of water is murky, so don&rsquot attempt to swim across. On a weekday you might have to shell out the fare for five more people to cross over. If returning late, inform the boatman in advance, or you will have to spend the night in Anjarle. A bridge on the far right can be used if going by road, but that means travelling an additional 10 km. The black sands of Anjarle Beach are mixed with gravel and dotted with shells.

Where to stay

On Murud Beach
Lotus Beach Resort (Tel 02358-234582, 234828 Tariff INR 4,000-6000 www.lotusresortmurud.com), located on Murud Beach is a joint venture with MTDC, and a great option. There are cottages, rooms and bamboo tents. Silver Sand Beach Resort (Tel 234501, Cell 09226404740 Tariff INR 2,100-5,600 www.beachresortsilversand.com) at Karve Pakhadi in Murud has colourful cottages, some beach facing. Hammocks complete the relaxing ambience.  Dreamland Inn (Tel 234730, 234871 Tariff INR 1,800-3,000 www.dreamlandinn.com), near Durga Temple, is also one of the better options here. Swapnadeep Beach Resort (Cell 09223289152/55 Tariff INR 1,450-4,000 www.swapnadeepbeachresort.com) is another popular choice with bungalows, cottages and dorms.

Besides these, the following establishments offer a budget stay Surabhi Beach Resort (Tel 234556 Tariff INR 850-1,000 www.index.surabhibeachresort.com), Abhiruchi (Cell 09271753147 Tariff INR 1,200-1,500 www.index.abhiruchibeachresort.com) on Murud Beach, and Saniya Sea Resort (Cell 09270061125 Tariff INR 1,000-2,200 www.saniyasearesort.com) in Khalchi Pakhadi.

On Karde Beach
Sea Face Beach Resort (Cell 07798720941 Tariff INR 1,200-2,000 www.seafaceresort.in) is the best option in the area, situated across the road from the sea. Whistling Palms Beach Resort (Tel 234659, Cell 09272451972 Tariff INR 2,200-8,600 www.thepalms.co.in) is a luxurious property right on the beach. Surali Sagar (Cell 09224295773, 09820054082 Tariff INR 1,800-3,500 www.surali.com) on the beach has both rooms and cottages. They arrange boating and paragliding. Hotel Kinara (Tel 234633 Tariff INR 1,500-2,500 www.hotelkinara.com), has sea-facing cottages. It is basic but well kept. Sagar Hill Beach Resort (Mumbai Tel 022-24214102, Cell 09323899189 Tariff INR 750-2,200 www.sagarhillresort.com) is another beachside property located where Karde Beach begins, but is not recommended. Hotel Sagar Sawali (Tel 234947 Tariff INR 1,700-3,000sagarsawali.com) is right on the beach. Savour lip-smacking Konkani at its restaurant.

Where to eat
Although there are plenty of resorts in the vicinity, it&rsquos necessary to place your order in advance. There are a few places that do take walk-in orders. Lotus Resort&rsquos Wadi Restaurant serves Indian, Chinese, Konkani, South Indian and Punjabi meals. &nbspprawn curry, which has a typical Konkani flavour. Sagar Dhara Restaurant on Murud Beach, behind the Durgadevi Temple, is the only eating joint open till midnight, serving vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis. Their pomfret thali is popular. The seating arrangement is in a large verandah with a mango tree in the middle. Hotel Laxmi in Harnai offers seafood and local dishes. Annapurna, a small restaurant on Murud Beach, also serves decent Malvani and Konkani food.