Tarkarli is a picturesque fishing hamlet in the Malvan taluk of Sindhudurg in the state of Maharashtra. Snuggled between the Sahyadri mountain ranges and the Arabian Sea, Tarkarli is one of the most charming holiday destinations for the city dweller. The tranquil blue of the seas, the white soft sands of the lonely beaches bounded by fringes of tall coconut trees are a sure stress buster.

Tourists head to Tarkarli and Malvan, for the clear blue waters filled with coral reefs and exotic fishes and dolphins offer some of the finest snorkeling and scuba diving experiences. The lush hills of Amboli and the pristine white beaches of Goa are a short drive away from Tarkarli. Visit Tarkarli and let the colors and sounds of Nature enthuse you!

If you would like to visit Tarkarli, our travel and tourism guide should help you plan a great trip.

Tarkarli is an oft visited touristy place and has a good connectivity with the towns in the neighborhood. It has direct access by road, but the best way to reach the place might be by rail.

By Air:

The nearest airport is the Dabolim International Airport at Goa that serves domestic flights to many Indian cities as well as international flights. The other nearest domestic airports are at Belgaum, Kolhapur and Ratnagiri.

By Rail:

The closest rail stations at Kudal, Kankavli and Sindhudurg cater to trains on the Konkan region. You can book a cab or hop onto a bus from any of these stations to Tarkarli.

By Road:

Tourists would love a drive or a bike ride to Tarkarli which includes a trip to Malvan and Goa as well. Also, there are several buses from Mumbai, Pune and Goa that reach Malvan. From Malvan, get a local bus to Tarkarli.

Getting Around:

If you are not driving or biking to Tarkarli, you might not find plenty of local transport vehicles. But you could book a cab from Malvan or the resorts might help arrange a cab for you.

You could visit Tarkarli any time of the weather, for the beaches and the silvery blue waves look inviting all the time. But to explore the place and to treat yourself to some of the best adventures on water, choose the right months to visit. Over on Tarkarli, the best time to visit is winter.

Summer (March – May):

Summers are hot and humid, but you do have opportunities to indulge in snorkeling and scuba diving. Sunsets are great times to spend on the beaches. Pamper yourself to the delicious Alphonso mangoes.

Monsoon (June –September):

Monsoon rains are heavy, but the region does turn picture perfect and verdant. It’s off season for water sports. Monsoons are good for photography and relaxed holidays closeted in your room, watching the rains.

Winter (October – February):

Winters are real pleasant months, with clear skies and are lovely times to spend by the beaches, go on a boat ride to watch the dolphins or travel to nearby places to explore.

Scuba Diving:

What best way to explore the deeps underwater and watch the tiny denizens of the seas than scuba diving. Tarkarli offers some of the best scuba diving experiences ever.

Karli Creek and Dhamapur Lake:

These are some of the most picturesque gentle waterways near Tarkarli. Go for a boating trip across these gentle waters for a lovely sail. Check out the houseboats where you can enjoy an overnight stay in the backwaters.

Beach Camps:

Beach camping groups are the fun thing to do in Tarkarli. Go trekking, scuba diving and finally camp down for the night in the moonlit beaches.

Burnt Island:

Vengurla Rocks are an islet off Malvan which is the nesting site for a plethora of birds like the Bridled Terns and Indian Swiftlet. Check out the ancient lighthouses on the Rocks and the Bird Island. You need to get permission to visit the Burnt Island.

Birding:

The backwaters and fruit plantations, the shallow creeks in the beaches are where you would find many birdies. Tarkarli is a birder’s paradise.

Trip to Goa:

With a bounty of beaches, with their flea markets and forts and canopied with verdant vegetation, Goa that is a short drive from Tarkarli is yet another hotspot of tourism.

TAKA Art Gallery and Museum:

Take a productively creative trip to Pinguli to try your hand at creating an exquisite painting or making a puppet at the TAKA Art Gallery and Museum.

Hill Stations:

With some of the best seasons through the year, the lush green hills of Amboli about 80 km from Tarkarli is such a lovely place you might never want to miss out on.

Bus Ride to Malvan:

Malvan is one of the best places near Tarkarli where you could enjoy adventure tourism at its best, for scuba diving and snorkeling in Malvan are activities you might not want to pass over.

Aquatic Sports:

Tarkarli’s beaches promise fun both in and out of water. Enjoy come of the best aquatic moments off Tarkarli’s beaches that comprise parasailing, jet skiing or dolphin spotting.

Indulge in some of the most delectable Malvani cuisine in Tarkarli. The creeks and the seas produce some of the best seafood of Tarkarli and you get to eat some spicy fish dishes of Malvan, even while treating your taste buds to the Maharashtrian and Goan cuisine. The Malvani cuisine is a blend of coconuts and a variety of rich spices that adds magic to a plethora of lip smacking dishes like Murgh Malvani (Chicken curry), Bangda Fries (mackerel) and Mori masala (Shark curry) as well as Fish Koliwada and Kavda curry.

Check out the delicious Phanasachi Bhaji made of jackfruit spiced with chillies and Malvani masala, Kaju chi aamti (cashew curry) or Thandalachi bhakri, signing off with kaproli (fluffy pancakes with sweet sauce) Dhondas (cucumber cake) or the quintessential Malvani Malpua. Don’t miss out Solkadhi made of kokum and coconut milk and the less spicy vegetarian Konkanastha Brahmin cuisine.

You can shop for fresh Alphonso mangoes, jamun, karvanda and jackfruit, which are easily available during the summer months. Pack home mango squashes and jams, amba poli and phanas poli which are dried slabs of mangoes and jackfruit, plain, roasted and spiced cashews and more spices of the Konkan along with kokum syrup and sherbet.

Check out the art and craft items in the TAKA Art Gallery at Pinguli village where exhibitions are held and you could buy handmade wall hangings, lanterns and other ornamental stuff for home and to be gifted away as souvenirs. Beachside shacks sell a plethora of seashells and conches handcrafted into wall hangings and key chains etc.