The day We started our journey from the meetup start location, Matoshri niwas, with a delicious authentic Konkani style breakfast Ghavane and coconut chutney.
Simple, traditional, and absolutely delicious. It truly felt like tasting the soul of the region.
Before heading to our destination, we picked up some watermelons from a local shop en route.
As the traveler van arrived, the fun began We enjoyed the scenic coastal route, admired the beautiful views, and played antakshari along the way.
Our heritage walk led us to the beautiful Kadyavarcha Ganapati Temple.
It was heartwarming to see accessibility arrangements like wheelchairs available for those who need them.
The peaceful surroundings and spiritual aura made it a serene experience. We clicked lots of pictures, explored the area, and some members even contributed by updating small businesses around the temple and supporting local vendors by purchasing their products.
a small yet meaningful step toward empowering the community.
There is a lake nearby that is home to many turtles.
From the lake, a pathway leads down to witness the sacred footprints of Lord Ganesha.
The view from there is simply beautiful.
Some of us also visited the older Ganpati temple located a little downhill. The short walking trail added charm to the visit, and the templeтАЩs beauty and tranquility left us in awe. We enjoyed prasad laddus and shared quiet moments of gratitude. Nearby, a small school reminded many of us of our childhood days and yes, we couldnтАЩt resist playing around for a bit
Those little moments of joy made the experience even more special.
Our next stop was the Anjarle Lighthouse
to admire the landscape and scenic sea views from above. We stopped at the edge, where the place offers an amazing view of the sea and coastline.
The panoramic scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and we captured countless memories in photographs.
Unfortunately, the lighthouse itself was under maintenance, and we couldnтАЩt go inside. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was looking forward to it but sometimes, the journey and the view matter just as much as the destination.
Our food crawl continued at Hotel Jagdish, where we enjoyed both veg and non-veg thalis.
From wholesome meals to tasting unique local flavors, we truly indulged.
We headed towards Kanakdurg Fort, a lesser known yet historically significant coastal fort. From here, we were treated to a stunning view of the majestic Suvarnadurga Fort standing proudly in the Arabian Sea.
Suvarnadurga Fort, is a historic sea fort located off the coast near Harnai. It was originally built during the Shilahara dynasty and later strengthened by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century. The fort later became a major naval base under the leadership of Kanhoji Angre, the famous Maratha naval commander, who used it as a strategic defense point against European powers like the Portuguese and the British.
Surrounded entirely by the sea, Suvarnadurga stands as a powerful reminder of the Maratha naval strength and maritime history. Seeing it from Kanakdurga, with waves crashing around its walls, felt like witnessing history frozen in time.
After a short rest, we walked towards Murud Beach to catch the sunset. No meetup is complete without chai.
Watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon, sipping tea by the shore, and feeling the sand beneath our feet it was pure bliss. Some members enjoyed a banana ride, while others created sand art masterpieces. Laughter echoed along the beach as the sky turned shades of orange and pink. It was the perfect way to close the day.
One of the most special highlights of this meetup is that it was noticed and featured in a Ratnagiri Times newspaper, with a dedicated column covering our journey.
Seeing our efforts, our community spirit, and our celebration of heritage being recognized in print is truly beautiful and deeply meaningful for all of us.
It reminds us that when we come together with a purpose to explore, support local businesses, preserve heritage, and create memories, it leaves an impact beyond just our group.
A special thank you to @YatraBaba , who traveled over 1500+ kilometers from Delhi to be part of this meetup; your dedication truly means a lot to us.
To our Pune team @NERKARAMIT , @AjitThite , @abhishekpatk, @ShubhamWaman who drove all the way by car and reached early, and to our Mumbai team @Shrut19 tai, @MayuriKubal , @SayliWalve, @Rohan10 , @sanku_m08 who faced train delays yet stayed flexible and positive your cooperation and spirit made this event seamless and joyful.
To everyone who joined, supported, contributed, and celebrated with us thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your presence is what makes these meetups so meaningful.
Stay tuned for the next parts of this journey to be published soon.
Until then, thank you for being part of the Konkan Meetup
Missed you @Ketan_Kangankar @Sagarkanherkar @Supriyadevkar @Raj_Tayade @Rushikesh_joshi @DurgaK03 @MohanG @Nidhish_Jaju @Shubhu1
You have nailed it from Excel (sheet) to Execution 
The destinations, the homestay, the yummy Ghavane, the van rides amidst scenic beauty of Konkan, the serenity, vitamin Sea, sand and the beach, the thoughtful and personalized gifts, the indeed candid company of our fellow Local Guides truly made this trip special and one for the trip down the memory laneтАж Thank you for giving us unforgettable experiences, our celebrity moment (featured in Ratnagiri Times 
star-struck indeed) and the warm hospitalityтАж Needless to say, proud of you anyway 
for amazing meet up 
All arrangements, including stay, travel, and food, were amazing!
