Tarkarli
Maharashtra Β· Konkan Coast Β· 5m
India's clearest coastal waters β scuba diving, Sindhudurg Fort, and Konkan at its purest
Why Special
Tarkarli has the clearest water on India's west coast β visibility up to 20 feet, making it one of the few places on the mainland where scuba diving and snorkelling are worthwhile. The 17th-century Sindhudurg Fort sits on an island just offshore (Shivaji built it). The Karli River backwaters are perfect for kayaking. Devbaag confluence β where the river meets the sea β is stunning.
Infrastructure Reality
Network Coverage
Decent signal in Tarkarli and Malvan. Patchy at remote beaches.
Medical & Emergency
Hospital: Sub-district Hospital Malvan (8km). Sindhudurg District Hospital Oras (50km) (8 km)
Ambulance: 108
Police: Malvan Police Station (8km)
Getting There
Kudal β 30km (45min). Goa β 120km (3hrs). Mumbai β 510km (10hrs)
Roads: Coastal road from Kudal is decent. Single lane in parts.
Public transport: Kudal Railway Station (Konkan Railway). Auto/taxi to Tarkarli.
Fuel & Stay
Fuel: Malvan town (8km)
Stay: βΉ500β6,000/night
40+ options (homestay, MTDC huts, tent, guesthouse)
Emergency: Homestays usually have spare rooms. MTDC huts book out in peak season.
Helpline: 100
The stay decisions worth flagging in Tarkarli.
Tarkarli is Maharashtra's only scuba diving destination β a pristine 8-km white-sand coast in Sindhudurg district, 550 km from Mumbai. Stay scene is dominated by MTDC Tarkarli Resort on the sand, with private beach resorts clustered 1-2 km inland. Combine with Malvan (12 km) for Malvani seafood. Peak season Oct-Feb; monsoon (Jun-Sep) closes most water sports.
MTDC Tarkarli Resort is the default on-beach option at state-tourism pricing β no real luxury upgrade exists on Tarkarli sand. Private resorts (Sagar Kinara, Tarkarli Beach Resort) are 1-2 km back from the water. The trade-off: MTDC for beach-front location at basic quality, private for better rooms but farther walk.
MTDC Tarkarli Resort
Direct beachfront β unpretentious bungalows and cottages, each with front porch for sunset watching. Private dolphin safaris and kayaking arranged through the resort desk. The Malvani food at the restaurant is the hidden selling point β many visitors come just for that.
No value pick here that's worth the flag. See alternatives below.
No location pick here that's worth the flag. See alternatives below.
No x-factor pick here that's worth the flag. See alternatives below.
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Daily Budget Reality
Budget
βΉ1,500Mid-range
βΉ4,000Luxury
βΉ8,100π‘ Scuba diving βΉ1500-3500/dive. Snorkelling βΉ500-800. Fort boat βΉ200. MTDC homestays are excellent value.
Crowd Intelligence
Best days: Any
Peak season books out β reserve MTDC huts or homestays early. Water clarity best November-February.
Food & Dining
Cuisine: Malvani fish curry, bangda fry, surmai, prawns, sol kadhi, kombdi vade, solachi kadhi
Athithi Bamboo restaurant in Malvan. Every homestay serves home-cooked Malvani meals β often the best food.
How to Reach
Meet the Locals
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