Murud
Murud is a city in the Raigad district of Maharashtra.
Get in
By car
Situated at a distance of 50 km from Alibag. From Mumbai take the Goa highway until you reach Wadkhal, from there take the road to Alibag which will take you to Murud. The roads in this area are destroyed by monsoons every year (max rainfall in Maharashtra), so don't expect a smooth ride, instead, enjoy every pothole.
By bus
State Transport buses ply from Mumbai & Pune to Alibag, and Alibag to Murud. The MSRTC buses are still the cheapest and most undesired way of transport in this area. Some travel groups in Mumbai and Pune arrange big group tours to this area and provide better buses. But they are only on demand, not regular. Very nice.
By plane
The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 140 km.
By train
The nearest railhead is at Panvel 90 km.
By ferry
Regular ferry service between Mumbai-Rewas, Rewas is 6 km from Kihim. Ferry service available daily except during monsoons.
Get around
There is the state transport to go around to nearby places of interest like the Janjira fort. Beach is walkable from town. Otherwise there are a lot of three wheeler 'Autorickshaws'. One interesting mode of transport is the horse buggies, but they are a dying breed.
See
- Palace of Nawab. The palace was built in 1885 for administration purposes. However you can see the Palace only from outside as the palace is still owned by the descendants of the Nawab and is a private property.
- The Beach
- Janjira Fort on an island offshore near Rajpuri. Originally the fort was a small wooden structure built by a Koli chief in the late 15th century. It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals as dictated by the times. Despite their repeated attempts, the Portuguese, the British and the Marathas failed to subdue the Siddi power. Take a sailboat to the fort. It is on an island and built so that there is only one spot where the sailboat can land. When Sambhaji also failed to capture Janjira, he built another island fort, known as Kansa or Padmadurg, just 9km north of Janjira. Padmadurg was built so as to be able to bombard Murud Janjira.
- Khokri Gumbaj - old tombs
- Dutta Mandir - temple on a hilltop overlooking the town
- Ganapati temple in Nandgao
Do
- There is a very beautiful beach at Murud to spend your mornings swimming, afternoons playing cricket or whichever sport you like and evenings walking hand in hand and watch the sun set on the horizon of the Indian Ocean.
- Take a boat ride to fort Janjira and trek on the ruins.
- Take a walk around town to see interesting local population busy in their daily chores.
- Drink the coconut wine (Maadi).
- Eat fried fish.
- Kashid beach is located around 25 km from Murud featuring water sports.
Eat
Fish. The preparation in this area is really tasty, especially the fried variety.
The local restaurant called Patils Inn or Patil Khanawal is a good place to eat fish thali. The food is just amazing.
Drink
A coconut wine called Maadi is very popular here. There are a few beer bars, which are dark and smelly.
Sleep
- Sea Shell Resort, ☏ +91 2144 274306, +91 9423377247 (cell), info@seashellmurud.com. Swimming pool and sea view rooms. If you want to book a sea view room by priority then you have to tell them at the time of reservation. The rooms are very clean and neat. The room service is really good. Air-conditioned restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner facility. From US$50.
Go next
Janjira Fort at Rajapuri - The majestic sea fort which remained unconquered until the end.