First Solo Bike Ride: Chaul – Revdanda

             Rains this year had prolonged immensely. Almost till first week of November, it was raining  profusely and hence the thought of crossing western ghats to visit coastal paradise didn’t come to the mind. But as the December started thoughts of visiting Kokan again started coming to mind.

My friends were not able to come this time and hence I decided to make it a solo visit. I was fixed on having my own vehicle and not using public transport through the point of view of convenience and also my passion for driving. So I finalized on travelling by bike and hence chose a closer destination as it was my first bike trip. Chaul Revdanda was one of the destinations that I had never been to and was easily reachable on bike. As the weekends are often busy and entire Raigad district is packed with tourists from Pune and Mumbai, travelling on weekdays was the better option.

Day 1: I left home at 6:15AM and started by old Pune Mumbai highway. Had my first pit stop at Hotel Annapurna at Lonavla main road. It is a decently priced good quality pure veg restaurant and serves South Indian food. After having Mysore Masala Dosa and Pohe I left towards Khopoli. En route to Khopoli, at Rajmachi Point Khandala you can enjoy quaint view and fiery winds that push you off the valley that overlooks the expressway. 

Dukes Nose from Old Highway

Enjoying the view, I left again and then took the expressway for 5 km (which is legally allowed for two wheelers in that patch) after which I took the Khopoli exit. Once you reach the main crossroads of Khopoli you can keep moving straight for Pen and then you can reach Revdanda via Alibag. Another option is to go to Pali which is a religious place having the temple of Lord Ganesha (Ballaleshwar) which is one of the Ashtavinayakas (8 ganesha temples in Maharashtra). You reach Pali via Durshet. The road condition is poor with some road construction work going on. 

Somewhere on the Road

Amba river flows on your left with its banks offering you place for few minutes of comfort. The water is calm and clean.

Once you cross Pali, you reach a place called Wakan where you can connect NH 66 i.e. Mumbai Goa Highway. You can take left and reach Revdanda via Roha or take right and go there via Alibag. I chose to go via Alibag. Once you reach Chaul via Nagaon, you take right for Revdanda beach. One needs to pass through big market road which may give impression of commercialized town. But after the market road ends, greenery begins. 

Since I hadn’t booked any resort I started searching it there physically. I found a place called Vaishnavi Heritage resort, which had some coconut trees a hammock, a swimming pool. The resort whose compound was contiguous to the fortification of Fort Revdanda also has two big rooms with air conditioning facility. The place is more suitable for groups and families but a solo traveler can also enjoy as it is at piece from hustle of the main road. Even though resort is good, none of the caretakers was there at the resort at the night and I was alone at the resort. It might cause safety issues as we don't know the place thoroughly. They should take care of this particular point.

Vaishnavi Resort

Vaishnavi Resort

Being their only customer that day, the meal was not available and hence went to another domestically run food place called Shri Samarth Khanaval run my Mrs. Mayekar. The fish thali comprised of Surmai Fry, prawns curry, 2 chapatis and rice. Though the quantity is limited food quality and taste were awesome.  

Shri Samarth Khanaval

Post that I visited the remnants of Revdanda fort and came back to the resort.

Remains of Revdanda Fort

Korlai Fort while climbing up 

Lighthouse Parking

Temple on Korlai Fort

A farm on the way

Post that I went to the resort and had an hour of rest with book in hand (one of the perks of being in a solo trip: P). Next plan was to visit Birla Temple and Korlai Fort.

Once you touch the main road from resort, take the right turn and after crossing the bridge take left for the Birla temple or take right for Korlai fort.

Birla temple is the temple of Lord Ganesha with small idols of Shiva-Parvati, Maa Durga and Lord Sun surrounding the inner sanctum. At the entrance there are two beautiful statues of elephants carved in stone. At the end of stairs there are small idols of Lord Hanuman and Garuda. Main temple is constructed in white marble surrounding which there is lush greenery. Please note that mobile phone is not allowed at the Birla temple and for the same reason I could not visit it that day. 

Hence I went to visit Korlai fort and light house. After passing through maze of homes where all fishermen were preparing for their next trip, I saw a cement road leading to the entrance of the fort and the lighthouse. After paying nominal entry fees of Rs 20/-, I climbed up to the top of fort where you get magnificent view of the Arabian sea on one side and the creek on the other side. Much of the walls still intact there is a small temple as well as chapel on the fort as the fort was constructed by a Portuguese officer.

Lighthouse from the top

Once I climbed down the attendant directed me to the lighthouse top where the concerned operator explained me the functionality of the light house. Post that I came back to room with food parcel and went to bed early as I was tired because of the longer route that I chose.

Day 2: I woke up leisurely next day and went to Birla Temple again this time without the phone. Upon returning I went to Revdanda beach and had a stroll over there. Later on visited Mrs. Mayekar’s food place again for breakfast where I had Poha and Omlet. At around 11AM I started my journey back.

Revdanda Bridge

Retracing the route to Korlai Fort, I started coming to Pune via Kashid Beach- Murud and Roha. There are two routes to Roha from Murud. One of them is a shorter one with Roha 35km sign on it. This route to Roha is very scenic with lush greenery on both sides and condition of the road is also good except at the end where the road work is yet going on. The road is relatively lonely with hardly any vehicles passing you. You can take occasional halts to behold the scenery.

Once you reach Roha you take exit from the town and join NH 66 (Mumbai Goa Highway). On NH 66 take left from Meghana City apartments to join the Tamhini Ghat road. Condition of the road in the first half is superb with no potholes, white belts on both sides and is lonelier than the Murud – Roha road. Roadside is adorned with green farms and grazing cattle with tall Sahyadri mountains standing magnificently on their backdrop.

In the later half road condition is really poor and one needs to be extra careful in riding. Once you cross the ghat and reach Mulshi, you will join familiar patch of Paud – Pirangut - Bhugaon eventually leading to Pune via Chandani Chowk.   

Vaishnavi Heritage Resort:

Rajesh Potdar: +91 77964 72755

Owner (Name Unknown): +91 99272 90901

PS: Ensure your vehicle to be fully serviced and your tyres should be in good condition as there are long stretches of lonely roads with not much facilities around. Also Please wear helmet for your own protection.