Road trip to and around Diveagar in monsoon

4.5-hour drive away from always buzzing Mumbai can take you to Diveagar - a picturesque and peaceful haven for a Mumbaikar's soul. The highlight of this road trip was sitting on a cliff at night under countless stars, listening to the sound the waves (what a welcome change from continuous honking), watching fireflies and having a heart-to-heart conversation.

South of Diveagar: 



Kondvili beach

Kondvili beach

North of Diveagar:




Practical info: 
Where to stay: we stayed at Exotica Beach Resort, Diveagar (MTDC), which was OK, but overpriced for the quality. We saw quite a few Inns/small resorts in Diveagar at much lower rates, so going there and looking for a place to stay is an option.
Where to eat: Food at Exotica Beach Resort restaurant was OK, but do try fish thali at a khanaval - simple but delicious and so fresh fish! Do call in the morning to place an order.
Beach: Diveagar beach itself is somewhat commercialized, but there are so many virgin looking beaches for you to explore either going south or north from Diveagar, like Kondvili beach 13 km south of Diveagar.

Green Bee-eater

Mudumalai Elephant camp, Tamil Nadu

Marari beach in Kerala

Little known Marari beach is just around 14 km away from sleepy Alleppey in Kerala. It was a nice contrast after exploring the backwaters. Relaxing in the shade of palm trees and taking in the tranquility of this white sand beach...

On a houseboat in Kerala

Drifting in a houseboat through quiet canals of Alleppey lined with coconut trees world away from clamour of everyday India.

Road-trip to Diveagar

Nagaon beach (Alibaug, Maharashtra) in the rains

Nagaon beach is known for its white & black sand.

Kundalika river in the morning

Kundalika river (at Kolad just around 140 km from Mumbai) is fed by a few dams when the dams release excess water at specific times in the morning and in the evening. Hence, it is a popular place for white water rafting - what fun! And for the rest of the time, it is calm and languorous.

Remembering monsoon

ILIFA Reef @ Maldives

What I used to go to see in a ZOO...

It's not just vehicles using the roads and not just tourists hanging out at historic sites in India! While I get to see only cows and goats on the roads of megacity -- Mumbai, Jaipur was way more exciting. Like a little kid I was screaming in excitement "Peacock! Peacock!" And then, of course, there are camels and elephants everywhere and after while you even stop noticing monkeys -- so many of them :o) We could not believe that our safari guide in Jaisalmer said that he had never seen a monkey, but then, we didn't see one there in a desert as well... Here is the fauna of Jaipur :o)

Desert

On a camel safari in Jaisalmer...

Bumblebee

Bumblebee doesn't know it cannot fly...

Kamshet - far away from Diwali madness

Sunrise

Bhimashankar

Sunset @ Blue Mormon Resort

Sunrise trekking in the forest

Path to Bhimashankar Temple




Ayurvedic medicine

Pedda - milk based sweet - being made

Green season @ Matheran