Malvan is a small beach town in Sindhudurg district, the southermost district of Maharashtra. At a distance of not more than 100 kms from Goa, Malvan is as good as the Goa minus the commercialization. So when I decided to head down south on my motorbike trip across India, a fried of mine said he would join me until Malvan for a couple of days and then head back home while I continued further south.

Since my bike had just been through major overhauling, the mechanics had suggested me not to cross the 40kmph mark so as to not put too much pressure on the engine and hence I had to leave a day earlier than my friend to cover the 550 km distance from Mumbai to Malvan.  The ride of the first day was pretty very hot, uneventful and tiring and add to the the speed limit took a toll on my body. I had started at 5 in the morning and 12 hours later I managed to cover only 300kms. However and hour long break a this spot completely refreshed me and I ended up clocking another 50 odd kms.

A refreshing sight!

I had decided to not take up a room in  hotel or lodge but set up a camp and a family in the village was kind enough to let me pitch my tent next to their home. It was the first time I was setting up my newly purchased tent and despite the falling levels of light in the evening I managed to accomplish the task.

My first camp and my 'Beauty in Red' alongside

I managed to reach Malvan by afternoon of day 2 and my friend turnedup later in the evening. Both us desperately wanted to have a beer and we went late into the night downing one bottle after another in a shady bar on the Malvan town beach. Needless to say we woke up with a heavy head the next afternoon. the Angnewadi festival was being celebrated in a village 20 kms away and we decided to pay a visit. It was colourful festival and fair outside setu selling everything from fresh fruits to fake flowers et al.

Up for sale

However despite the sights and smells that this fair had to offer, the best thing was the taste of this Kokam sarbat. A perfect thirst quencher and seemed like a good cure for the head throbbing hangover as well.

Kokam Sharbat

The evening was then spent at Devbaug beach one of the many beaches near Malvan. The Karli river meets the Arabian sea at this beach and although the Tarkarli beach to the north is more famous among the tourists, its Devbaug beach that is more pristine.

Where the river meets the sea

The next day was our last day in Malvan as the day after my friend and I would be parting ways - he going back home and I going further south. We spent most of the morning deciding what to do but never got to conclusions and decided to just pick up our bikes and head into villages nearby. But we hit the beach which was 5 minute walk from our room before that.

The Beach!

Despite the afternoon heat we were enjoying ourselves with the landscapes like these giving us company.

What a sight!

A friend called up knowing that we were in his native place and although he was not around he asked us to go see his parents and his native home which was closeby. We lost our way to his home but ended up on a beach which came in front of our eyes from nowhere.

Nivti Beach was what its called!

It was a beautiful one with a small hill at one of its corner and completely devoid of any tourists. And the sand was one of the most free flowing sands I have ever seen.

The view from the small hill

After spending some more time at the beach we found our way to the friend’s place . A nice little house with the village road up front and a orchard of mangoes, cashew on rest of the sides. His extended family was present and we spent the evening walking the orchards and followed by a fantastic  food prepared by his mother. Freshly caught prawns friend in typical malvani fashion for starters, fried fish. fish curry and chicken curry for the main course. But before that that we had a a jam session with his uncles each of them and us singing  one super hit old bollywood songs after the other.

A walk among the woods

All in all it was a fantastic way to spend a weekend as well a to begin my trip after a break of couple of weeks after returning from Gujarat. I would want to do this trip once again. May be this monsoon..who knows..

Last updated by Venkat Ganesh at June 14, 2021.