Korlai Beach, Alibaug Overview

Korlai Beach is one of the hidden gems of Mumbai. Situated at a little distance from the town of Alibaug, the main beach is located in the small fisher village of Korlai. Contrary to the usual sand beaches of Maharashtra, this one full of green-yellow weeds, pink oxalis flowers and grassy meadows during the rainy season. In the heated summers and extreme winters, however, the beach becomes deserted and rocky without the velvet cover. The village is inhabited by fisherfolks and hence, the beach is mostly used for trade and commercial purposes.

Korlai beach has little tourism as it is not known to many, which in turn makes it an ideal weekend getaway spot. Besides the gorgeous sweeping views of the blue sea on one side and the emerald grassy hues on the other, the beach also boasts of an age old fort and a lighthouse. The village in the vicinity has an old world charm with tiny colorful homes and narrow lanes. Not far from the village is an old church which has currently been shut down but now is used for vintage photography and exploration. All in all, the beach is a perfect place to spend a day with friends, family or just by yourself.

Best Time To Visit Korlai Beach

The climate at the beach during the summer season is extremely humid. The plants also wither off giving the place a dry, barren look. But with coming of monsoon and early winters, the lands swell up with green grass and colorful flowers. Hence the best time to visit the beach is between the months of November and February when the weather is pleasant.

Tips For Visiting Korlai Beach

1. If you are travelling in local transport, keep a check on the time. Otherwise it is hard to find a seat in the bus for the return journey from Korlai due to the rush.
2. Remember to carry your own food and water as it might be difficult to get some on the beach.

What to Explore

Korlai Fort

Constructed in 1521 by the Portuguese, the Korlai Fort is also known as Castle Curfew or El Moro. It was built after seeking prior permission from the Sultan of Ahmednagar. The fort offers sweeping views of the Revdanda creek at the back and panoramic vistas of the blue Arabian Sea in the front. It has a flight of stairs leading to the top which gives away an ethereal view of the landscape. The fort is mostly in ruins but it gives a vintage charm and is best suited for portrait and landscape photography. A little on the north is a group of rocky boulders. You can just sit here and get lost in the enchanted scenery and the ocean view.

Lighthouse

Not far from the fort is the lighthouse. It is only open for a few hours during the day. The lighthouse was built in 1955 to navigate ships. You can climb up here to gain an insight into naval navigation systems.

Church

An age old church is also situated close to the fort and the lighthouse. It has been abandoned now but local authorities tell us that this church was operational till 1728. People still visit this church to click pictures and have a look at this beautiful heritage property.

How To Reach Korlai Beach

Korlai can be reached from Alibaug. To reach Alibaug from Mumbai, you can either take a ferry from Gateway of India to Mandwa. From Mandwa, you can take a bus to Alibaug. The ticket fare may vary between INR 90- INR 150 for a single adult. Or you can take a State Transport bus from Thane, Panvel, Kalyan or Pune to reach Alibaug.
Once in Alibaug, you will have to take a bus going towards Murud and get down at Korlai.