Trekking and Photography: 2008

(History)
There is not much history available about these places except that Harihareshwar is the place of temple of Shri Harihareshwar which is “Kul-Daivat” of “Peshwa” and there is birthplace of “First Bajirao” (one of the Peshwas) very close (about 5 Kms) to “Shrivardhan”. You can see some old temples at all these places and the beach at these places is just awesome as it is still untouched by flood of humans.

(Reach there)
These places are about 200 Kms from Pune and the tour can be completed in one day very easily. If extended to one more day, one can visit “Murud-Janjira” also which very famous sea fort. It would be better to go by a hired/owned car as there could be many spots in tour that one can not resist to stop and watch. If you are leaving from Pune, Plan the trip in sequence of Pune-Harihareshwar-Sheivardhan-Dive Aagar (and Murud-Janjira for 2 day trip)-Pune. I would suggest, leave very early in the morning (about 3-4 AM) so that you can reach the destination before sun raises too high and you can have best view from Tamhani Ghat also. The route is quite simple as follows – Pune - Chandani Chauk - Paud - Mulshi - Dongarwadi - Tamhini Ghat (here you can have a break and catch some pictures as it might be foggy climate all around) – Vile (turn left from here) - Nijampur – Mangaon (it is NH-17) - Lonere Phata (after Mangaon ST Stand, go about 500 meter towards Mahad, you will reach Lonere Phata, here, turn right to go on SH-97 for Mhasala) - Goregaon – Mhasala (turn right to come on SH-98) - Arathi Road Junction (from this junction, you can either go to Harihareshwar or to Shrivardhan. I would suggest, go to Harihareshwar first as these places are in one line and Shrivardhan is in middle so you would then move upside.) – Harihareshwar. Watch and read the sign boards installed on road throughout the tour as they help to find the destination a lot.

(Harihareshwar and sightseeing)
Harihareshwar is known as Kashi of Southern India. The hill near the seashore at Harihareshwar is also known as 'Harihar' or 'Pushpadri'. Once you reach Harihareshwar, anybody can guide you to show the way towards Harihareshwar Temple. Park the vehicle and get yourself ready for feast of Konkan. I would say, have some sun skin lotion so that tanning can be avoided. The temple and beach are standing face to face. Take the blessings from Kal-Bhairav, Harihareshwar, Hanuman and Ganesh idols as these all temples are in one campus only. You can see the strange shape of Shiv-Pind here, the wooden work on the polls of temple is just amazing and Dipmal is also quite different than the usual one. Before going to beach, its better to review your plan for the day and order the breakfast or lunch in any hotel or home. Note that you can get good sea food both in hotels and homes too; there are many families who run this as their business. The water in the beach of Harihareshwar is not safe for swimming and playing too. Plan the day, order the meal and go to the rocks around beach. You can see some strange shapes formed naturally on this rock, the rock is huge and spread in huge area, you can walk along on it and enjoy the scene. There is nothing other than this group of temples and a beach in Harihareshwar. I would suggest, just an hour and half is sufficient for this place.

(Shrivardhan and sightseeing)
Shrivardhan is 18 Kms from Harihareshwar towards Mumbai/Dive Aagar. A curvy but simple road would take you here in about half hour. This is a Tahasil/Taluka place in Raigad district. The city is small but very cool and calm in the lap of nature. You can visit Somjai/Sonjai Temple and another Shiv Temple here. You can again ask anybody for the way to go to these temples and beach. Also ask the localites about the way to go to Dive Aagar in advance, so that you can take the road from beach itself. The beach is real blasting place, totally untouched by outer world, its clean and long one. One can not resist but go in the water and have some great time with friends and family. It is a C shaped long beach. There is also boat service between Harihareshwar and Shrivardhan so one can get this experience also. After this beach you can visit the birthplace of “First Bajirao” which is 5 Kms from Shrivardhan.

(Dive Aagar and sightseeing)
The best way to go to Dive Aagar from Shrivardhan runs along the seashore and one would never want to miss this opportunity, so even if you go to birthplace of first Bajirao, come back to Shrivardhan and take this road too go to Dive Aagar. There would be some small towns coming in the way. There is no need to ask anybody about the direction and turn for destination as it’s a single road without any subways and all. In an hour you would reach the Dive Aagar. While you enter the city, you will see the Suvarna Ganesh Temple and Kedareshwar Temple (these temples have their stories, ask it to the local peoples so that the secret is not out here only). After this, you can reach the beach. It is about 6 Kms long beach and the cleanness around the beach keeps our mouth open. On the other end of beach, there is Rupnarayan/Sundarnarayan Temple which is a best piece of designing. The idol is the best example of sculpture. The four hands of the idol along with their accessories Shankh (Shell), Chakra (Wheel), Gada (Weapon), Padma (Lotus) are carved in such a manner that when seen in clockwise direction, it shows 24 different appearances of Lord Vishnu. The long beach continues at the back side of this temple.

(Come back)
While coming back to Pune, one has to come to Mhasala (ask somebody from Dive Aagar as there are few right-left turns while going to Mhasala from Dive Aagar), then to Mangaon and so on as per earlier route (but in reverse order and directions). See to it that you have some companion while coming back via Tamhani Ghat in night because it is said that, It could not be so safe traveling alone through this Ghat (we had few more cars around us and found some two wheelers too, so I am not sure about this but lets be cautious) I am posting some of the pictures taken by me when I visited these places in October 2008.