Until my recent trip, I never realised beaches give me lot of calmness. Being a nature traveller, calmness peace is, much looked in travel. With these both attainment at the end of the trip, I don’t see travel turns fruitful. So far mountains, peaks, lakes, lush green would take my breath away, this was the first time, seeing waters stole my breath away. The view of the waters, from my hotel window room, with me almost gazing at it for hours only during my return journey, I decided to add beaches in my nature list, though it exsist in nature already.
Beaches are landform, body of water with loose particles made out of rock, sand, gravel and pebbles. They are usually found by lakes, large rivers although seashore is the apt name. Beaches belong to coastal area, where wave, erosion coastal dunes, exsist because of, extreme weather conditions. Most of the beaches are Sandy, though there are a few with rocks. Here is a list of popular beaches, I visited in India.
JUHU BEACH-Located in Mumbai, surrounded by Versova, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle and Ichar, Arabian Sea water here is amazing. We visited after sunset to taste street food. This beach was called as, Juvem by Portuguese that inhabitants of this beach water were Koli people. The belief was, Mahatma Gandhi used to visit this beach and walk. This beach stretches up to 6kms long. Sunset is a major attraction besides, taking a swim, sea photography and water sorts. Panipuris were so yummy that I remember eating plate after plate.
VISHAKAPATNAM- The only beach that put the love, I had for waters. Located in Andhra Pradesh, headquarters of Eastern naval command, the waters of Bay of Bengal, will steal your breath away. The soothing waves, coupled with cool air is no doubt a sight and a place to enjoy. From my hotel, I had a full view of sunrise, and visited the beach in the night hearing the water splash the rocks. Swimming, try water sports at Dolphins nose light house and enjoy the churmur chaat.
GANAPATHIPHULE- Located in the town of Chiplun Maharashtra state this town was named after Lord Ganapathi. The history says Lord Ganesha is Swayambhu here, that he is called as Paschin Dwarpalak. My first look of Ganapathilphule I named it as “Kerala of Maharashtra”. The white sand, sun kissed, water hitting the coastline surrounded by coconut trees, lush greenery, when sultry air hit me. I couldn’t help naming so. Jai bad fort, swamyambhu Ganapathi temple, malgund, velneshsar are places to visit. Being a coastal area, fish curry, kokam curry,sabudana kichadi are popular to taste. From Mumbai it is 375km away, but we travelled from pune.
KANYAKUMARI- Popularly called a “Lands end” one of the popular tourist destination of Tamilnadu, where three oceans meet- Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean. This town is 20kms away from Nagercoil. This town was named after, Goddess Kanyakumari. She was to marry Lord shiva, who didn’t turn up for the wedding, that she stayed unmarried. Thirparappu falls, Vivekananda rock memorial, Kumari Amman temple, wax museum, vattakottai fort, sanguthurai beach, sunset point are places to visit. South Indian platter, is popular all over this place.
GOA - It was also known as, Goman Chala, sindapur, sandabur, popular for lovely beaches located on the western ghats, that history of Goa starts from Acheulian occupation. It was ruled by, Maurya empire, whereby much years laters, Portuguese settled in this state. Goa is listed under world heritage listed architecture. Calangute beach, Aguada fort, butterfly beach, chapora fort, divar island, dudhsagar falls, palolim beach are popular spots. Goan food, Portuguese food are popular here.
MANGALORE- Located between Arabian Sea and western ghats, 352km away from Bangalore this city was named after, mangaladevi who followed, vajrayana Buddhism. It was known as mangalapuram, mangalapura, mangalore and now as mangaluru. Maurya empire were the first rulers, then vijayanagaras ruled for years. Panambur beach, kudroli temple, kadri park, Tannirbhari beach, mangalore port, mangaladevi temple, Sakleshpur are places to visit. Mangalorian fish curry, is a tasty dish, when you can find Goan, Portuguese cuisine too.
CHENNAI- Located in Tamilnadu Bay of Bengal, the coastline is one of the longest in this world. This beach is full of sand, that attracts more than a lakh visitors. Governor of Madras, Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant named this beach as Madras Marina in the year 1884. The sand in this beaches is very soft that even if you build a sand castle wind will allow it to wither away. Being the capital city of Tamilnadu, called as one of the India’s health capital, used by pallavas this beach is a major attraction, in this city. Museum, Guindy park, Valluvar Kotak, semmozhi pongs, planatorium, light house are places to visit.
My favourite beach is marina located in my hometown which used to be, my regular hangout spot, from school days. I loved Ganapathiphule beach, for the mesmerising nature and vishakapatnam beach for the calm waters. Sitting on the sands, watching the waves crash the sand, looking at far away ships who move slowly and as sunset, I would say I had an encounter with the divine.
