Alibag is a coastal village in the Raigad district on mainland Maharashtra. On the same latitude as Bombay, you can sail straight across in under an hour, or you can drive there in 2 ½ to 3 hours. The Alibag region is a blend of fishing villages, beautiful beaches, green farms and misty hills, already very popular among the residents of Bombay as a weekend holiday and picnic spot.
The Alibag area also has some great sight-seeing places, like the Island Sea Forts of Murud-Janjira, Korlaiand Underi, accessible only by boat. Kashid Beach is a favourite picnic spot with its quiet and unspoilt white beaches. From strolls along the beach to wandering through warm, green forests to sunsets on the hill, Alibag gives you the peace and quiet necessary to rejuvenate your body and mind.
Getting There
ROAD
Current
The road route is currently a distance of 92 kms (2.5 hrs) from Sion via Panvel. Work on the Sion – Panvel highway (6 lanes) and Panvel – Alibag highway (4 lanes) is on in full swing and should be completed by early 2014 reducing the driving time by 30 minutes. Detailed driving directions from Panvel to Alibag are available here.
There is another route via Palm Beach Road and Chirner village which is a little shorter and where currently, the roads are in better condition.
ROAD
Planned / Expected
The project that will have the most impact on road accessibility from Mumbai to Alibag is the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), a 22 km bridge across the harbour from Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava on the mainland. However, as of now, there is no firm date for commencement of this project. Along with the proposed Karanjia to Rewas bridge, the driving distance from central Mumbai to Mandva will be just 60 kms.
Sea Transport
CATAMARAN:
The Catamaran and ferry services from Gateway of India in Mumbai to Mandva in Alibag takes 50-60 minutes. There are 25 services a day each way, and on the Mandva side a bus service runs from Mandva to Alibag Town and back, coordinating with the boat timings
SPEED BOATS:
There are about 150 speed boats operating on the Gateway of India to Mandva route. Typically, a speed boat takes about 20 minutes to do the trip. Most of the speedboats are privately owned, but quite a few of the speedboat suppliers rent out boats for the Gateway – Mandva – Gateway trip. The speedboats take from 6 to 15 people depending on the size of the boat. If you need help in hiring a speedboat, just give us a call on 022-2209-2209. We’ll be happy to help organize it for you.
FERRY:
A public ferry service also runs from Bhaucha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf) in Mumbai to Rewas at roughly 1 hour intervals throughout the day. The ferry ride takes 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The Catamaran, speed boat and ferry services are shut from 1st June to 10th September every year during the monsoon.
ROLL-ON-ROLL-OFF (RORO) FERRY SERVICE:
The Government has proposed setting up a RORO ferry service from Mumbai to Mandva which will carry passengers as well as vehicles. Planning for this is at an advanced stage.
Why Invest In Alibag?
A weekend get-away
Get away from the city to the country in just over an hour. Leave behind the Monday-to-Friday noise and frenetic pace of Bombay and immerse yourself in the quiet country-side of Alibag over the weekend to recharge your batteries. Like the social life? Take your friends with you!
Proximity
Catamarans take you from Gateway of India to Mandva in 50 minutes. In an hour or so you can leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city and find yourself gardening, strolling through the forests or putting your feet up with a nice cool drink or a refreshing cup of tea.
Investment Opportunity
At present, there is no place for Mumbai to expand except beyond the northern suburbs. The government of Maharashtra’s plans for the trans-harbour bridge linking Sewri to Nhava-Seva and the Karanjia to Rewas bridge would make the driving time from Mumbai to Alibag about one hour, making it an upmarket suburb of Bombay. Even without this infrastructure, over the last 5-10 years, property prices in Alibag have risen exponentially. Once the connectivity has been completed, one can only imagine its capacity to generate further growth in this countryside haven.
Live In A Country Environment
Already, many professionals who do not have to be in everyday contact with their customers or co-workers, have moved to the Alibag area. They come to Mumbai twice or thrice a week as and when required. Many take the morning catamaran in to town and head back in the evening.