Alibaug

Introduction

Hammock on Kashid beach near Mumbai

© runah

Alibaug is a small yet beautiful town situated along the west coast of India. This town is part of the Raigad district and is one of the most popular weekend gateways for people living in Mumbai. Most of the rich and famous people of Mumbai have a bungalow/farmhouse in Alibaug where they come to relax on holidays/weekends.

Sights

• Alibaug beach is the main beach of the town and the Kolaba fort is visible from here.
• Kihim beach is an isolated beach located around 12 kilometres from Alibaug. Kihim beach is famous for the dense cover of trees specially the coconut trees. Fully furnished tents are available on the beach to make the day even more relaxing and refreshing.
• Mandwa is located some 20 kilometres from Alibaug. It is also the place where the Catamarans/speed boats land and depart to/from Mumbai
• Kashid beach is situated around 30 kilometres from Alibaug. It is a clean beach and has “Hammocks’ all around the beach where people can lie down and relax.
• Murud-Janjira is located around 50 kilometres from Alibaug and has a beach and a fort situated right in the middle of the sea.
  

  Beach near Murud-janjira, india

  © runah

• Kolaba fort is situated in the sea at a distance of 1-2 kilometres from the beach. The fort can be easily reached by foot during the low tide while at other times ferry and a horse drawn carriage is used to transport people to and from the fort.

Weather

Alibaug has a good climate round the year. Summers are hot (March to May) while the winter season (November to February) experiences moderate temperature.ith Rainfall is heavy from June to September and usually the catamaran/speed services are closed during this time. The best time to visit Alibaug is during the winter season (Nov-Feb) when the temperature is moderate and there is hardly any rain.

Getting There

By Plane

The nearest airport to Alibaug is Mumbai which is around 110 kilometres away. Mumbai has a big international airport and is well connected to important cities in India and around the world. Pune is another airport which is around 140 kilometres from Alibaug.

By Train

Alibaug is directly linked to the rail network. The nearest railhead is at Pen around 30 kilometres away and Panvel around 60 kilometres away. Indian Railways operates the rail network in India.

By Bus

State Transport buses link Alibaug to Mumbai and the other nearby towns of Maharashtra. Recently private luxury buses have started operating on the Mumbai-Alibaug route.

By Boat

The best way to reach Aliabug from Mumbai is via the sea route. Speed boats and catamarans are available from the Gateway of India in Mumbai to the Mandwa jetty and from there bus service is available to Alibaug. PNP catamarans, Maladar Catamarans and Ajantha launches are the three major companies operating catamarans/launches on this route. They usually have their own bus service and carry the passengers from the Mandwa Jetty to Alibaug. The complete fare including the catamaran and bus service is around U$2-3 one way and tickets are available at the respective company’s booking office at Gateway of India and Mandwa.

Getting Around

Alibaug is small and can be done on foot if you stick to the city limits. For excursions to the nearby beaches, taxis and auto rickshaws can be hired at reasonable rates.

Sleep

A large number of hotels and resorts have come up in Alibaug. Recently with a Government initiative Bed and Breakfast scheme has been implemented and home stay are arranged to allow tourists to get a feel of the local culture and cuisine. More details on such Government approved home stays can be found at MTDC.

Upscale

You can use the form below to search for availability (Travellerspoint receives a commission for bookings made through the form)

Internet

Cyber cafes are available and rates for surfing are usually around U$1 per hour. STD/ISD booths for making domestic and international calls can easily be found in all corners of Alibaug

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

India Post is the national postal service of India, and on their website you find details about prices to send postcards, letters and parcels, both domestically and internationally. For most postcards to send internationally, it is better to visit the post office before writing on the card as you may need quite a few stamps. Parcels must be taken to a tailor, he will then sew it up in white linen. Make sure he seals it with red wax, otherwise the post office may refuse to send it or try to get you to pay them to do it. Sewing up a parcel should only cost 50rs to 200rs. In general, post offices are open from 10:00am to 1:00pm and 1:30pm to 4:30pm in most bigger towns and cities, though there are regional variations and some might keep longer hours or be open during (part of) the weekend as well. Ask around.