Varsoli is a coastal village located on the western coast of India in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. Not known to too many tourists hence it is the best place for relaxation. The place is surrounded by beautiful cottages and resorts.

Districts/ Region :

Raigad district, Maharashtra, India.

History :

Varsoli is in the Raigad district in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. The place is famous for its clean and sandy beaches. Varsoli serves as a naval base for the Indian Army. The base was set up by Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre when he served as the Naval chief under the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th Century. The base is used to date by the Indian Navy due to its strategic location.

Geography :

Varsoli is a coastal place situated near the mouth of the Khadtal river in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It has lush green toppings of casuarina and coconut trees on the Sahyadri mountains on one side and the beautiful blue Arabian Sea on the other. It is located 96 KM to the south of Mumbai and 169 KM to the west of Pune.

Weather/Climate :

The prominent weather in the region is  rainfall, the Konkan belt experiences High Rainfall (ranges around 250 mm to 4500 mm), and the climate remains Humid and warm. The temperature reaches up to 30 degrees Celsius during this season.

Summers are hot and humid, and the temperature touches 40 degrees Celsius.

Winters have a comparatively milder climate (around 28 degrees Celsius), and the weather remains Cool and Dry

Things to do :

Varsoli is getting popular for water sport activities such as parasailing, banana boat rides, motorboat rides, jet-skiing, surfing etc.

The place is famous for camping as well as fishing.

Horses, camels and buggies are also available for joyrides on the beach.

Nearest tourist place :

One can plan to visit the following tourist places along with Varsoli

Alibaug: Located 3 KM to the southeast of Varsoli. It is popularly known as ‘Mini Goa’, due to all the activities related to water sports and its culture.
Murud Janjira Fort: The fort is from the 17th century and it is off the coast of Murud into the sea. It is an architectural marvel situated 50 KM away. This fort is on an oval-shaped rock. The fort has 19 rounded bastions.
Phansad bird sanctuary: Located 44.7 KM away from Varsoli via Revdanda-Murud road. It has rich flora and fauna. It is home to more than 700 different types of plants and an exceptional range of birds, butterflies, moths, snakes and mammal species.
Revdanda beach and fort: Situated 19.9 KM  south of Varsoli, this place is famous for its Portuguese fort and beach.
Korlai Fort: Situated 25.8 KM south of Varsoli beach. It was one of the largest forts constructed by the Portuguese that could accommodate 7000 horses. Korlai Fort is yet another architectural marvel, like most other forts based in the Konkan region, and deserves a visit for its stunning visuals and of historic importance
Kolaba fort: Situated in the Arabian sea surrounded by water from all sides, this 300 plus-year-old fort is one of the popular tourist attractions. The Kolaba Fort was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s last construction and was completed almost on the eve of his death in April 1680. It attained importance under the Angres and was the main base of the Maratha navy.

How to travel to tourist place by Rail, Air, Road (train, flight, bus) with distance and required time :

Varsoli is accessible by road, rail as well as waterways. It is connected to  NH66, Mumbai Goa Highway. State transport, buses and cabs are available from Mumbai to Varsoli. The ferry is also available from Gateway of India to Mandwa, from Mandwa local cars are available for Varsoli.

Nearest Airport: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport Mumbai 109 KM (3hr 4 mins)

Nearest Railway Station: Pen 31 KM (58min)

Special food speciality and hotel :

Being on the coastal part of Maharashtra, seafood is the speciality here. However, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations and is connected to Mumbai, the restaurants here serve a variety of cuisine.

Accommodation facilities nearby & Hotel/ Hospital/Post Office/Police station :

Numerous hotels and resorts are available in Varsoli.

Civil Hospital is in Alibaug.

Alibaug head post office is 2 KM away from Varsoli.

Nearest Police Station is located at a distance  of 3.4 KM away from the Varsoli.

MTDC Resort nearby details :

MTDC’s holiday home is available in Varsoli.

Visiting Rule and Time, Best month to visit :

The place is accessible throughout the year. The best time to visit is from October to March since the plentiful rainfall lasts from June to October, and the summers are hot and humid. Tourists should check the timings of high as well as low tides before entering into the sea. High tides during the monsoon season could be dangerous hence should be avoided.

Language spoken in area :

English, Hindi, Marathi, Urdu