This is the ultimate guide to Beaches Near Pune and Mumbai. From this list of beaches near Pune, you can learn about the unknown black sand beaches in India, distances between Pune and these beaches near Pune, facilities available at the beach and the best time to visit them. And I promise you, you will forget your Goa trip after reading this!
Black Sand Beaches in India
The beaches in Maharashtra have black sands as opposed to the golden sands of Goa. Everywhere around Alibaug and even to the south of Alibaug, the sea is great and the sands are stunningly black. There are numerous black sand beaches in India, and most of them belong to Maharashtra. The below mentioned black sand beaches near Pune, in India are the best places for a getaway near Pune. With a bright sunny day, blue water, these black sand beaches and greenery all around what more do you need for a weekend?
Beaches near Pune within 150 km
There are no beaches near Pune within 100km. So, I am starting my list with beaches near Pune within 150 km from Pune.
Awas Beach
Awas Beach is one such abandoned beach a little farther from Alibaug. The water here is shallow and you can walk for up to 2 km with safety. The entrance to the beach can be confusing so take some help from the locals. It is lined with beautiful Suru trees which makes it very unique. There are hardly any vendors or street hawkers here. It is just you and the sea and some occasional tourist or local. If you look towards the north on a clear day you can see the queens necklace (Girgaon Chowpatty) or some of the buildings from Mumbai. The Pandava Devi Temple here is a popular sacred spot.
Pune to Awas Beach distance: 149 km or 3 hours 32 minutes
Kihim Beach
Another deserted beach near Alibaug, this one is beautiful in its own way. No there are no restaurants or food vendors or water sports facilities here. But they do have a horse-driven carriage if you want a ride. The sands are really soft and the beach is strewn with vibrant shells all around. There will be hardly anyone here on weekdays. And very few tourists on weekends. There is a beautiful cycle track around here which ends at a Jewish crematory.
Pune to Kihim Beach distance: 144 km or 3 hours 24 minutes
Khanderi and Underi Forts
These twin forts were historically used to keep an eye on the Western coast. Today they serve as a landmark for any ship approaching Mumbai Port. To reach them you can take a ferry from Thal Jetty or the remains of Khubladha Fort. You can watch the life of fishermen here at this jetty. Most of the area is used to dry the fish. Once in the ferry, you first see Underi Fort. Normal people don’t know how to reach and anchor the boat here. It is only known by the local fishermen.
The Khanderi Fort is a bit ahead from Underi. There is a lighthouse which you can trek up to. It is not easy to reach the Khanderi lighthouse, but the views are amazing. You can look out to the sea or just look back to lands. Underi Fort can be seen from here too. You have to take care as it gets very windy around here. It is advisable to get information/ guidance from the locals who live nearby. Before going to any of these island forts, make sure to take the contact of local boatsmen to come back.
At both the forts nature is at its best and its wild. There is not much to see of the forts. The ancient walls are neglected. But anyway, these two forts are worth the visit if you want a short ride in the Arabian waters and have the time.
Pune to Khanderi and Underi Forts distance: 145 km or 3 hours 31 minutes
Varsoli Beach
If you are hungry from all the bitching sorry beaching, oh you know what I mean! Then this is a good place to visit. There are also water sports available here although whether they are worth your money or not depends on the water. Sometimes the water here is very polluted due to its proximity to Mumbai or Alibaug. Still, the beach view is very beautiful and it is a good place to watch the sunset while having some tea or Maggi or some other snacks from the food stalls here.
Pune to Varsoli Beach distance: 144 km or 3 hours 27 minutes
Alibaug Beach
Alibaug is the closest beach to Pune and also the most visited beach near Pune. No beach list is complete without mentioning Alibaug! This is mainly because Pune to Alibaug distance is just 143 km. Honestly, I haven’t been able to figure out why so many tourists flock here at this particular beach. Especially, when there are a few more beautiful beaches in this very area. You just have to go 2 or 3 km ahead. But Alibaug has its own charm. Alibaug is known for the best beach resorts near Pune. They all require prior bookings.
Pune to Alibaug Beach distance: 143 km or 3 hours 23 minutes.
Together We Can – Make sure to carry your trash to the bins and clear up the beach if possible.
Kolaba Fort
Very close to the Alibaug beach is the Kolaba Fort, also called Alibaug Fort sometimes. You can walk over to the fort from the beach if it is the low tide. But in case of high tide, you must take a ferry to the fort. Not much is left inside the fort which was at one point of time, the centre of Indian military operations due to its strategic positioning. Still, if you are into photography or want Instagram worthy photos then you should consider visiting it. Also, just for history lovers, there is the old mortar structure and at several places ancient carvings inside the fort. This fort is a large place with a temple and a Darga inside. Several people have houses here and they take care of the area. Another notable feature is the freshwater well inside the Fort despite it being in the sea.
Pune to Kolaba Fort distance: 144 km or 3 hours 31 minutes
Akshi Beach
Akshi Beach is a little farther from Alibaug Beach. It is less populated and there are no water sports here. Only sometimes they may provide a boating facility. There is drinking water available at a temple which is near here. But it is wise to carry own food and water. There are not many facilities but a clear coast to watch the waves. Akshi beach is the best place for birdwatching. You can watch many migratory shorebirds in winter here.
Pune to Akshi Beach distance: 149 km or 3 hour 36 minutes
Raiwadi Beach
Raiwadi is a flat beach land of around four kilometres between Akshi Beach and Nagaon Beach. This beach is just next to Akshi Beach and almost a part of Akshi beach. It’s best to go farther. Also, this is a fishing area. If you reach early, you may get to watch fishermen at work. They have those brightly painted little boats which they use here for fishing. If you don’t have the guts to see the fishermen’s catch (a lot of dead fish) then maybe visit around sunset.
Pune to Raiwadi Beach distance: 148 km or 3 hours 34 minutes
Beaches near Pune within 200 km
The beaches near Pune which I am about to mention below are definitely promising but a little farther from Pune. Most of them require 4 to 6 hours to reach. It would be best to plan a two-day weekend trip near Pune at these Black Sand Beaches in India. This will give you more time to explore around here and you can cover more of these divine spots. So now lets straightaway dive in!
Mandwa Beach
This is an amazing beach with long walks along the sea guaranteed. Mandwa Beach also has a jetty which can take you to Mumbai or bring you here from Gateway of India of Mumbai by a ferry. There are various facilities for watersports available here. In fact, this is the nearest beach to Pune if you are seeking decent sea water sports. (Yes, Tarkarli is great but it’s a long way from Pune) There is a great facility for washrooms and seaside restaurants. This beach in Maharashtra has Black Sands, but it is not that cushiony. So if you wish to play some seaside cricket or a ball game this is the beach you were looking for.
Pune to Mandwa Beach distance: 152 km or 3 hours 35 minutes
Sasawane Beach
This is one of the undiscovered beaches near Pune, close to Alibaug. This beach is known for the flawless sunset as it faces to the west completely. Moreover, the wet black sands act as a mirror during the sunset. There are no more words to describe this unique and perfect nature’s paradise. This Black sands beach near Pune, India is the best place to watch a quiet sunset.
Pune to Sasawane Beach distance: 151 km 3 hours 34 minutes
Nagaon Beach
This is another well known and more-visited beach after Alibaug. This one is crowded during the weekends. The view is great with Kolaba Fort on one side and Korlai Fort on another. You can also see the Korlai Lighthouse and Fort in the distance from here. Camel and horse rides are available at the beach.
Pune to Nagaon Beach distance: 151 km or 3 hours 39 minutes
Together We Can – Make sure to carry your trash to the bins and clear up the beaches if possible.
Revdanda Beach and Fort
This beach is a hot spot for photographers and especially wedding photographers. And this is for all the right reasons! There is an old fort here at Revdanda. The ancient walls with typical old stone surround the Revdanda village area. The walls also open out to the sea. The beach is gorgeous with the black sands. The sea, green hills, the fort wall and the old arch form together form a beautiful background for the shoots. The village is clean and tiny. Good homemade food is available near the fort area. The Fort is not in a great situation but there are some ancient inscriptions in Roman at the gate.
The local people may come demanding money from you to take photos here. The locals are a bit weird towards the tourists so you have to be a bit cautious. But the beach is beautiful. No one really knows about it but the place is getting a little traction nowadays due to social media.
Pune to Revdanda Beach distance: 158 km or 3 hours 53 minutes.
Korlai Beach
Korlai is one calm and quiet beach hidden away in a corner. The beach has many different types of shells and corals, that are interesting to see. The Korlai Fort and Lighthouse are nearby and together form an interesting landscape. There are even benches facing the sea. The Korlai beach has grey sands and black rocks. The sands and rocks together form the best place for seascape photography. There are very few tourists here. The road is a bit difficult to reach by car.
There is the Korlai village adjoining to the beach. Life here is perfectly slow and the only occupation is fishing. There are no hotels here, but you can ask the locals for homemade food. And if you enquire you may find some secluded homestays to unwind. All along the beach, you can see the fisherwomen drying their fish. The people here speak in an interesting Portuguese dialect.
Pune to Korlai Beach distance: 164 km or 4 hours
Korlai Fort and Lighthouse
Korlai Fort was at one time described as the most magnificent fortress as strong as any other in the world. It was built to guard the bay and prevent anyone’s passage inland. The entrance from inland was guarded by a great ditch accessible only by a drawbridge. Today much of the fort is ruined, but it is a great viewing point to watch the area around. There are inscriptions in Portuguese at some places on the walls. There is a lighthouse which makes the visit more interesting.
The trek up to the fort and lighthouse is easy from the west side ie. from the seaside. It will take just 10-20 minutes of a walk, with the most amazing views of the sea below. This is one of my favourites from beaches near Pune and a must-visit when you are beaching near Alibaug. And if you want to see a real lighthouse near Pune you must visit Korlai beach and fort.
Pune to Korlai Fort and Lighthouse: 163 km or 4 hours
Tarabandar Beach
This a rocky beach with almost no one around. It is very near to the main road, like almost adjoining the main road. It is not safe for swimming, due to the rocks. But you can just grab your drink and sit for hours on a rock and enjoy the breeze in your hair. During low tide, it is very enjoyable. You can go hunting for beautiful and unique seashells. But take care because the resident of the shell may not like it. He may come out and bite you!
Pune to Tarabandar Beach distance: 166 km or 4 hours.
Kashid Beach
Another best beach for water sports and swimming. They also provide fresh water to clear up after swimming in the salty waters. From banana boats, horse rides to jet skis and parasailing they have it all. Many tourists visit the beach. Some shops have added swings facing the beach for free for relaxing. This is a totally commercialised beach. There are many restaurants you can have food and a variety of fish. These activities and shops do not run in case of some weather warnings, so make sure to check before you go.
Pune to Kashid Beach distance: 172 km or 4 hours 16 minutes
Nandgaon Beach
This is one of the cleanest beaches near Pune with darkest black sands. Very few people visit it as it is stashed between two famous beaches Murud Beach and Kashid Beach. This beach is truly the best Black Sands beach of India. The water here is very clean but the black sands may fool you. The waters look dark, the beach looks dark and everything is black around. Don’t have any negative thoughts in your head here, just enjoy the black and dark atmosphere. The beach has a gentle slope and is completely safe.
Pune to Nandgaon Beach distance: 180 km or 4 hours 30 minutes
Murud Beach
Murud Beach is for the ones who love building sandcastles. The sand here is a bit muddy and it forms perfect mortar for you castles. Apart from that, the beach is also a spot from where you take a ferry to the Janjira Fort and Padmadurg Fort. The beach is small yet a clean beautiful paradise. It also boasts activities like horse riding and horse cart rides along the beach. Another thing is you will find many seaside restaurants here. And they serve many unique dishes in seafood.
Pune to Murud Beach distance: 181 km or 4 hours 40 minutes.
Janjira Fort
Janjira Fort is the best, well maintained and largest fort on an island near Murud Beach. It is well worth the visit if you are in this area. This was that one fort that couldn’t be captured by the Portuguese, Britishers and even the Marathas! Despite several attempts, the fort remained undefeated. When Shivaji Maharaj and even Sambaji couldn’t capture the fort, Sambaji built another fort near Janjira. He named it Padmadurg. More on that in next point.
The inside construction is no longer there today. But the views! Such a magnificent view of the salty waters all around. The boatsmen take you to the fort for nominal charges. Inside the fort are astonishingly fresh and sweet water wells. There are three to four walls to the fort around the seaside. These were made because if in any event, the sea came in, there would be at least the inner walls to protect them. There are numerous cannons all around the walls. These are made up of special metal which does not heat up even in the hottest summer sun. All in all a great place to visit and you can take a guide if you need one.
Pune to Janjira Fort distance: 181 km or 4 hours 42 minutes
Padmadurg Fort
Padmadurg is another fort very near to Janjira. This is also an island fort and was built by Maratha king Sambhaji. From this fort, you have the views of the entire sea and also the Janjira Fort and the Murud coastline. Again a boatman can take you here. This fort also has some cannons with wheels and some other interesting historical artefacts. The fort is not as big as Janjira but is a great place to visit. It is also called as Kasa Fort as it was built on the sea rock called Kasa. The fort requires taking permission from the Customs/ Navy for a visit.
Pune to Padmadurg Fort distance: 182 km or 4 hours 34 minutes
Adgaon Beach
Adgaon Beach is a wonderful unknown beach, alongside the Adgaon village. The village is a perfect one. There are waterfalls and little ponds all around in the rainy or post rainy season. You can get homemade food here with local delicacies which is the best ever. Don’t expect luxury hotels here, but you can find a homestay. There is no network here and this the best place for a digital detox! Come here to find your inner peace. The villagers are very kind towards the outsiders and fishing is the main occupation. The beach is stunning again with black sands and the most peaceful one.
Pune to Adgaon Beach distance: 163 km or 5 hours 7 minutes
Diveagar Beach
This is one of the well known and well-commercialized beaches near Pune. The sands are black and the water is clear. There are various locals providing homestay options along with local homecooked food. Apart from the lovely beach, this village has a temple of Lord Ganesha. There is a huge gold idol of Lord Ganesha here, and it has an interesting story that the locals tell you. It so happened that one of the locals when farming, hit a box in the mud on his land. When he removed the box out and opened it there was this beautiful gold idol of Lord Ganesha which is centuries old. Today it is in their temple and you can visit it.
Pune to Diveagar Beach distance: 159 km or 5 hours
Aaravi Beach
This is one of the most beautiful beaches near Pune close to Shriwardhan. You can visit Diveagar, Shriwardhan, Aaravi, Kondvil, Pebbles and Harihareshwar Beach all in one day. All are close together around the Diveagar Road. Aaravi is a non-commercial beach and you can follow the signs along the road to it. Not many people visit it which makes the place complete heaven.
Pune to Aaravi Beach distance: 162 km or 5 hours 7 minutes
Kondvil Beach
This is one of the stunning black sands beaches near Pune, with the gently curved seashore, with some rocks and a backdrop of trees. There is a road alongside the beach, so if you want a beach drive then this is the place. It is like your very own private beach and there will be no one around. This is that kind of place where you have to keep your phones aside and be a part of nature.
Pune to Kondvil Beach distance: 163 km or 5 hours 11 minutes
Pebbles Beach
Pebbles Beach is just what the name says. If you want to collect various coloured stones to remind you of the holiday then this is the place. There are pebbles strewn all over and trees that provide shade. The best place for photography and spending some time alone. You can make the best figurines out of the stone on the beach. This is one of the best beaches near Pune in the area which is the cleanest.
Pune to Pebbles Beach distance: 165 km or 5 hours 41 minutes
Shrivardhan Beach
Shrivardhan is one of the most stunning beaches near Pune with black/ grey sands beach near Pune. There are various homestay options and they also provide food. You have to try the local dishes the Modaks and Solkadi here. Take a stroll with the locals around their farms called ‘Madi’. These farms are full of coconuts, mangos, bananas and jackfruits. Some people even plant some of the spices among these huge trees. Needless to say, you have to ask for some fresh coconut water drink and make sure to buy the mangoes and jackfruits if you visit in summer.
Pune to Shrivardhan Beach distance: 159 km or 5 hours
Harihareshwar Beach and Temple
Harihareshwar is that beach which has the most surreal landscape. Straight up its is the rockiest among all the beaches near Pune. The sea here is very wild. There is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva here. The pradakshina route around the temple is extremely scenic and goes out towards the sea. There is a narrow road that passes through a valley towards the beach.
Near the temple, there are some rocky parts with black rocks. These rocks have various patterns carved out by the salty water of the sea. There are black crabs in various crevices. You can go here only during the low tide, as during the high tide the sea fills up everything. Ask the locals and take safety measures. There is a large foot here near the sea in these rocks, which you can see during low tide. It is believed that this is God’s foot stamped in the stone here.
The sandy part of the beach is very small. But you will experience the true wilderness at the rocky parts. You should shop for pickles made from raw mango, jackfruit and such other stuff at the local markets here.
Pune to Harihareshwar Beach distance: 170 km or 5 hours 16 minutes
Velas Beach
This beach in India is famous for the Olive Ridley turtle festival. During the months of summer from Feb to May little turtles come out from their shells and make their way towards the sea. This beach is indeed a great sight at that time, as thousands of turtles make their way into the sea. This is something you have to witness. After ensuring the safety of the turtles, the villagers celebrate the turtle festival every year. The beach is opened up only during the turtle festival. Please don’t spoil the beauty of the place and ruin the natural habitat of the Olive Ridley turtles found here.
Pune to Velas Beach distance: 194 km or 5 hours 48 minutes
Kelshi Beach and Sand Dune
This is the most bizarre beach of all the beaches near Pune that will remind you of the power nature has. The sand dune at this place shows the aftermath of the oldest tsunami at the place. There is a huge sand dune here. Although the dune is eroded and collapsed in the sea, almost half of it is still present. In the sand, you can find old utensils and earthen pots. There is an old well which is full of sand and seashells. There are no facilities here whatsoever. But the Kelshi village is closeby. You can get homemade food with local flavours here. The beach is very clean and cool with mango, banana and coconut trees around.
Pune to Kelshi Beach distance: 193 km or 5 hours 53 minutes
Bonus: Harnai Beach, Fort and Lighthouse
This beach is a paradise for people who prefer seafood. There is a variety of seafood and all at exceptionally low prices. You can also visit the Harnai Fort too. The Harnai Fort is inside the sea. It takes 15-20 minutes to reach and a boatsman will take you. It is small but it also has a lighthouse. You can go here at the time of sunset when the sun will be low and you can enjoy the views from the top. There are no stay facilities here.
These are some of the unknown black sand beaches near Pune, India. If you know some more comment below to tell me! If you are a local at one of these beaches near Pune make sure to drop a comment about your home place. Also, connect with me on Instagram – I am constantly posting about new places near Pune.
Pune to Harnai Beach distance: 211 km or 6 hours
Plan Your trip
Best time to visit beaches near Pune
The best time to visit beaches near Pune in Maharashtra is winters ie Nov to Feb. In summers the heat and humidity get intense. But if you are up for it then you can surely give a try. In rainy seasons nature is beautiful but wild. It can be dangerous to venture out in the sea as raging storms make it unsafe. The winters in this tropical climate are mild, gentle and lovely. The boatsmen, activities, excursions and hotels at these beaches near Pune operate best in winters.
Average Temperatures are as follows:
- Summer (Mar-May): 30°C to 40°C
- Monsoon (Jun-Sept): 20°C to 30°C
- Winter(Oct-Feb): 10°C to 30°C
Read till the end to know about a beach that you must visit in summers ie Feb to May and why to visit it!
Budget for the trip to beaches near Pune
Depending on how you spend your money, the cost of one person travelling to beaches near Pune is ₹ 4,000 – ₹ 5,000 per day ie $60 – $70 per day. This includes transport, daily meals and accomodation. If you join some travel group then the cost will go up for that particular trip. A trip of one week for one person will cost from ₹25,000 – ₹30,000 ie. $ 350 – $ 430.
Transport: How to reach Beaches Near Pune?
If you are driving to these places it is around 3 to 4 hours of a scenic drive through the Western Ghats of Maharashtra. This means that you can complete the beach trip in one day itself. It would be best to start early in the morning from Pune to beat the traffic on the road, especially on the weekends.
If you are using public transport, you have to first come to Mumbai or Pune. Then take a shared cab or a bus to Alibaug. Then take a rickshaw from there to any of these beaches. Beware of the fares and make sure to bargain them. Although I have mentioned about public transport, the availability highly depends on the local events. It is best to have your own vehicle. If you love biking then you can have the best ride here.
FAQs
Awas Beach, Kihim Beach, Khanderi and Underi Forts, Varsoli Beach, Alibaug Beach, Kolaba Fort, Akshi Beach, Raiwadi Beach.
Mandwa Beach, Sasawane Beach, Nagaon Beach, Revdanda Beach and Fort, Korlai Beach, Korlai Fort and Lighthouse, Tarabandar Beach, Kashid Beach, Nandgaon Beach, Murud Beach, Janjira Fort, Padmadurg Fort, Adgaon Beach, Diveagar Beach, Aaravi Beach, Kondvil Beach, Pebbles Beach, Shrivardhan Beach, Harihareshwar Beach and Temple, Velas Beach, Kelshi Beach and Sand Dune.
Winter – Nov to Feb.
There are no beaches near Pune within 100 km. The nearest beach is 143 km away from Pune – Alibaug.
There are no beaches near Pune within 50 km. The nearest beach is 143 km away from Pune – Alibaug.
₹4,000 to ₹ 20,000 per day ($60-$300) depending on how much luxury you require.
Pune City Travel Guide
If you are from Pune or visiting Pune, check my Pune Travel Guide here.
