The Pradakshina Marg around Harihareshwar Temple

Harihareshwar, also known as Devghar (House of God) or Dakshin Kashi (Kasi of South India), is a small temple town on the Konkan coast. It is not only a popular pilgrimage destination, but also popular for its beaches and the famous pradakshina marg around the temple. Themost popular place to stay at Harihareshwar is the MTDC Hotel, but the beach next to the hotel is rocky and not good for having fun. In fact, the harihareshwar beach is itself not recommended for swimmers as there are strong currents close to the coast and the general public are advised against swimming. We stayed at Diveagar and drove over, a short wonderful drive on the coastal road for around 30 mins.

How to go to Harihareshwar from Pune: Harihareshwar is around 190 kms from Pune. Irrespective of whether you are staying at Diveagar or Shrivardhan or harihareshwar itself, the easiest route to take would be through Tamhini Ghats, then Mangaon on the goa highway, then the road to Mhasala (it is called as Masla and not as masala as we were referring to, when asking for directions!) and then onwards to Diveagar (turn right at a fork) or Harihareshwar (turn left). The stretch from the goa highway down to the coast is also a ghat section and pretty remote. So avoid a late night trip on that.


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I had heard a lot about the pradakshina marg and was more interested in that rather than the temple. So, the religious/tired among us decided to stay back at the temple and the rest went on this tour around the temple. The steps start right behind the temple. Check with anyone around the temple about the conditions of the tide as it is quite dangerous to go on this train during high tide. The trail starts off with around 60 steps – 60 long steps and then you have to climb down around 140 narrow steps (a beautiful cut in the cliffs) down to the sea.

We were there at the wrong time of the day, just after noon and hence it was not good both in terms of energy as well as good photography. Otherwise, the 60 steps are not much of a hassle and they offer great views of the harihareshwar beach. The coastal rock formation just at the bottom of the stairs are amazing. We had to pull ourselves out of the place ( as we had a long drive back to Pune) , otherwise we would have spent the entire evening monkeying around on the rocks. Also, my research about the pradakshina marg was incomplete. I thought that it would be from within the temple and photography would not be permitted. So, i left my SLR back in the car and took along a compact camera, which doesnt work that well in such conditions.

As you go around the cliffs, you see lot of interesting sea caves. The waves were quite strong and the splashing of the waves against the rocks was wonderful to look at. I definitely want to go back in the monsoons and see how bad/beautiful the conditions are here. The whole Pradakshina should take around 30 mins with minimal stops and comes back in front of the temple on the beach. If you do visit the temple, don’t forget to go on this trail

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18 Responses

  1. Rajaram S says:

    replied on email. Diveagar has lot of stay options.

  2. Shampa Kundu says:

    Hi Rajaram, i saw ur blog while searching for diveagar beach. I am planning to go there. can u tell me if 2 days trip to diveagar-shrivardhan-harihareshwar is sufficient? Also previously i visited Kashid beach and food is a big problem there because u can’t get it easily. There is no proper hotel there. How is the situation here? Another, if i go there in the middle of March, how is the weather? Plz suggest. Thanks.

  3. Deepak Karhadkar says:

    Dear Rajaram S,

    We have visited Diveagar-Srvardhan-Hariharshwar-Pali on 25-26-27 Jan13.
    The trip was very exciting and relaxing too. All the places were full of tourist like us, mainly from Pune. We enjoyed very well and had a great fun with family.

    Thanks & Regards,
    Deepak Karhadkar

  4. Deepak Karhadkar says:

    Dear Rajaram S,

    As per my plan we started for our ‘3’ day trip to Diveagar-Srivardhan-Harihareshwar

    We started on 25 Jan-13 around 01.15pm from Mumbai. We reach comfortably in Diveagar at 06.30 pm. unfortunately wecould not catchup the sunset that evening. Total Distance is 205 kms.

    The small ghat road between Mangaon to Mhasala is very beautiful and we enjoyed the beauty of Ghat. As we climb down the ghat the nature was getting more and more beautiful than earlier.

    We first got fresh and went to famous Ganapati Temple for darshan.
    Though the famous golden idol is not there but you feel really Kam & Cool.
    The villagers have decided to rebuilt the old temple and after completion they will again prepare the new same idol there in a ‘2’ years time. This is as commented by the local villager.

    We have already made the room reservations, so there was no problem to stay at Diveagar. But a little difficulty in getting the dinner, as all the eating places were fully booked and you need to inform them before 04.00 pm on that day.
    We have not done that. We tried at Bapat’s place, but they could not help.
    we go to a nearby place at Mr. Kelkars house. Mr. Kelkar welcomed us and also made arrangements for the dinner. The food quality was very good and reasonable. We are very thankful of him for that, other wise there must a problem for the dinner at that nite.

    Next morning we went on beach. It is very clean, white and beautiful.

    We then proceed for Srivardhan at 11.30 am which is just ’18’ kms away. The rad is really very well and completely near the sea sore. We luckily got the place to leave inn. Just for Rs. 800/- a day. Post lunch, we visited Harihareshwar, which is 22 kms from srivardhan. On that day it was very crowded in the morning till post lunch. All the people came here in the morning and after darshan they went to srivardhan or Diveagar to stay. we reached there at 03.30 pm at this time the crowd was less. We got the Darshan in 30 minutes. Rember you have to take darshan of Lord Kalbhairav first, then main Harihareshwar darshan. We then went to pradakshina marg, which is more exicting. We spend full evening there and back to srivadhan to stay.
    It is advisable to visit after lunch to avoid crowd and enjoy the sunset.

    Next day we went on the beaches and roam there. Then we visited famous Somjaidevi temple & Peshve Mandir, the birth place of Peshva, Srimant Balaji Vishwanath Peshva. In the evening we roam in the market.

    Next day on the way back we visited Pali, dist. Sudhagad and had the Ganapati Darshan. We reach Mumbai at 06.45 pm in the evening.

    I f any body needs the details of places above can mail me at “deepakmk968@gmail.com” I will happy to help.

  5. Rajaram S says:

    Thanks Deepak. I have done the same set 2 times, just been lazy to post abt it.

  6. Deepak Karhadkar says:

    Dear Rajaram S.,

    Thank you very much for the full coverage for the places around. They are very helpfull for the new travelers like me to plan the family trip. Last August 12, i planned and went to Kass plateu & Sajjangad. Your article help a lot in planning.
    This time I am planing to go to Diveagar-Srvardhan-Hariharshwar on 25-26-27 Jan13. Will Update you later. ( I Stay in Mumbai and have Maruti-Estilo )

    Thanks & Regards
    Deepak Karhadkar

  7. Rajaram S says:

    not too strenuous, but may take a while as the downward steps are narrow and a bit broken, so have to be extra careful

  8. Anjali says:

    after seeing fotos, i feel it will be a strenous climb with a small kid, what was your experience?

  9. Ramya says:

    Hi,

    Which is the best time to visit this place? I am planning to visit in the next couple of weeks may be by mid september 2012…will it be pleasant or hot there?

    Thanks for sharing the wonderful information.

    Ramya

  10. Abhijit says:

    Hi,
    First of all this is really really an interesting info and they way you put it across makes it more amazing. I visited shrivardhan and Harihareshwar 1 week back. amazing place it is. Enjoyed every min of the journey.

    best of luck for future exploration …..

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