Murud-Janjira

Introduction

Murud is a village in Raigad district which is around 165 kilometres from Mumbai and around 50 kilometres from Alibaug, another popular weekend gateway for the people living in Mumbai.

Murud has a beautiful coastline dotted with coconut and betel nut trees. However Murud is more famous by the presence of a Fort which is built around 3 kilometres from the coast and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea from all sides. Its walls are battered on all sides by the sea waves but still the fort has stood ground for centuries. This fort known as Murud-Janjira was built in 15th century and is the only fort on the west coast of India that remained undefeated despite several attack by the Dutch, British and the Maratha rulers.

Sights and Activities

Entrance to the Murud Janjira Fort, near Mumbai

© runah

The palace of the Nawab and the Janjira caves are also worth visiting. Just a few miles away are two quiet and uncrowded beaches, Nandgaon and Kashid. Nandgaon is also famous for the temple of Hindu God Ganpati

Weather

Traditional ferry, Murud-Janjira, India

© runah

Murud has a bearable climate round the year. Summers are hot (March to May) while the winter season (November to February) experiences moderate temperature. Rainfall is heavy from June to September and usually the catamaran/speed services are closed during this time. The best time to visit Murud 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 Murud is Mumbai which is around 165 kilometres away. Mumbai has a big international airport and is well connected by both domestic as well as international flights.

By Train

The nearest railhead is at Roha on the Konkan railway route, which in turn is connected to other towns of India. Indian Railways operates the rail network in India.

By Bus

State Transport buses link Murud to Mumbai and the other nearby towns of Maharashtra like Pune, Satara, etc.

By Boat

The most convenient and fun filled way to reach Murud 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 Murud. PNP catamarans, Maladar Catamarans and Ajantha launches are the three major companies operating catamarans/launches on this route. The 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

Murud is quite small and can be done on foot if you stick to the town limits. Taxis and auto rickshaws can be hired at reasonable rates for excursions to the nearby beaches. It often helps to pre-fix the rates beforehand.

Sleep

A large number of expensive hotels and resorts have come up in Murud. Recently with a Government initiative Bed and Breakfast scheme has been implemented and home stay is 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.

Internet

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.