I decided to troop off on a short solo coastal holiday – sort of a “work from coast” if you please, since work at this time was light anyway.
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Coastal holiday in Dapoli and Murud | A Photoblog
First and foremost, wish everyone here a very happy new year! Delighted to end 2024 and kick off 2025 with a travelog report of all things. … so here goes. My wife had planned an 8 day vacation from 26th Dec to 2nd Jan taking my son along with her siblings and their kids. December end we usually have folks working from home if needed – something I’ve been generally open to encourage with my team as well.
I decided to troop off on a short solo coastal holiday – sort of a “work from coast” if you please, since work at this time was light anyway. The idea wasn’t to drive a lot really. It was to plonk myself in two destinations over 5 nights and 5 – 6 days and just take it easy. Work to the extent needed and tool about locally as time permits, just soak in the destination, read some books, browse … whatever to unwind. To end the calendar year with some “ME” time to sort of reset myself for 2025.
With that in mind, I booked myself into two places – the first at a lovely property called Saffronstays Athaang at Dapoli and the second at what seemed a decent’ish place called Safffronstays Little Paradise.
Part One: Dapoli
Left from Mumbai around 9 am for Dapoli on December 26th. The route taken was Atal Setu, NH 66, and then cut out just after Mangaon. Despite stopping only for pictures on some occasions (no long break for food, petrol or coffee), it took me a solid 5 hrs 15 mins to reach my destination. While the diversions on NH 66 ensured the pace of progress was at best moderate, the principal culprit was a massive traffic jam between Indapur and Mangaon. The other aspect is that out of the total journey of 220 odd kms, post Mangaon, the last 85 kms of the journey is very heavily laced with twisties and has some sections of slow bad roads (nothing too nasty but just requires slow and careful progress).
I took along my Brompton as well for good measure in the hope that I could do some local sightseeing on the bicycle. Great decision as I could get some nice scenic cycling time too while I was here.
And we’re off. Here’s the customary starting pic from most of my journey blogs.
Cheeky click just for this caption. The original plan was to come here on the big GS. But some last minute gremlin on the bike meant making this a drive in the Mercedes instead. That’s the sum total of “Motorrad” that made it Dapoli and Murud for this time at least.
A tastefully done Thar sighted on the JNPT route …
… and a badass looking RJ plate Hilux sighted later on closer to Mangaon on NH66. Modded for Overlanding. 
I’m really not a fan of NH 66 TBH. Roads range from lovely smooth sections to massive diversions, to these terrible snarls. 
The section between Indapur and Mangaon was the worst – I must have spent at least 30 – 40 mins just in the Mangaon section, that being the point when one turns right to exit NH 66 and be greeted by nice empty inner B roads that cut to the coast.
After the shit show that is NH 66, the inner B roads of smooth flowing tarmac were truly welcome. A few really bad sections but not for long. Great roads for most part and I had some serious fun around the twisties too. Sadly, can’t share some of the Meta videos I took on the forum since I can only upload pics. 
Open highway, great music … 
… and the occasional sight like this. This is what driving trips are about for me.
Spots like these beg for a halt for some pictures. 
Finally reached my place of stay, more than 5 hrs since I left, by around 2.15 pm or so. 
Checked in and went straight for some lunch at their restaurant. 
Decided to take a short drive out again back towards the bridge and a bit beyond. 
Standard SOP … sight sunset, stop for pic.
On the return, visited Villa 270 which is very close by to check it out. Here’s a pic of the view from that property. 
Saffronstay Athaang from a distance. There is a visible signage in the evening, which the lower resolution of the picture hasn’t captured. 
Nothing to light up one’s spirits like premium parking for your ride. 
Day 2 of “work from coast”. Got to love a day that starts with views like these. You can literally see the fishermen’s boats passing by right in front of your eyes.
I decided to head out on my Brompton to try and catch the early morning sun. Rode through this little village road here …. 
… to reach this bridge for a view of the rising sun. 
Came back to Athaang only to head out to Harnai Bandar to see the famous fish market there. It was a mere 4 kms away so decided to cycle down again, putting the Rayban Meta to good use for on the fly videos and pics.
That island like thing in the horizon is Suvarnadurga Fort. 
More peaks on the way. 
Some sights from this large fish market. If you’re having a fish thali anywhere around this area, chances are its fresh catch procured from this very market. The Brommie gets a lot of bemused stares, understandably. One of the more confident ones took a pic. I jokingly said, I’m taking his pic in return. We exchanged a few pleasantries and moved on.
Couldn’t resist lining up the Brommie for a picture here. 
On the way back, stopped and briefly explored Goa Fortress at Harnai. 
Meta at work again.
I had to head out to Dapoli to refuel – took this more scenic Dapoli bypass to get there. 
On the way back, stopped at Ojanup for a fish thali. Had come highly recommended from some of the foodie groups that I’m part of.
Susegad life doesn’t have to be in Goa alone. A thali with a view … not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
Full disclosure … the place is REALLY simple. But it’s the simple places that are some of the best. This place is completely family run, like many of the other Khanavals that are dotted around the Konkan tourist hubs.
This shot is taken just a little beyond another Saffronstay property, called Villa 270. Lovely views from there as well since it sits higher up.
And another shot under the holiday season lighting.
Dinner at Athaang was a nice simple and typical konkan fare comprising taandla chi bhakri (rice bhakri) with yellow dal, thecha (sort of like a condiment) and bharleli waangi (stuffed brinjal) with some surmai fry fish to top it off.
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