Malvan (Marathi: मालवण) (also written as Malwan), a small town in Sindhudurg District, is located at the southernmost district of Maharashtra. It is a culturally and historically important town in Sindhudurg District. Malvan taluka consists of villages like- Achra, Aangnechi wadi, Khalchi Devli, Pankhol, Jamdul, Juva, and Sarjekot. The historical Sindhudurg fort, which occupies a vast area, is a major tourist attraction. Fishing is a main occupation here and the staple diet of the people of this region is fish curry and rice. The people of Malvan are very hardworking and friendly, and ensure that they keep their small town neat, in spite of it being a tourist destination.
Malvan is known for its large variety of mangoes especially Alphonso and Cashew. It is also known for sweets such as Malvani Ladoos and Khaja (Made from gram flour and coated with jaggery).
An important cultural element of this area is Malvani Dashavtar, which is a drama-play based on mythological stories. There are many tourist places in Malvan. Locals and foreigners both throng to this place. Salt was produced in large quantities in the Malvan region which made the salt producers to use the term ‘Mahalavan’ to describe this region. “Maha” meaning great, and “lavan” meaning plantation (or salt).
By road
Malvan is around 514 km away from Mumbai, and around 140 kms from Ratnagiri. While traveling from Mumbai or Goa, take the NH-17 till Kasaal and then take you can State Transport bus or Rickshaw for approximately 35 kms ride to Malvan.
Frequent state transport commute between Kudal and Malvan making it easier to reach your destination.
For tourists coming from Pune, the best option is to take an M.S.R.T.C (Maharashtra State Transport) bus. The Bus Timing are: –
- 7:00 am (Express bus)
- 8:00 pm (Semi- luxury bus) daily from Pune.
(Note: MRSTC does not have a Vovlo bus from Pune to Malvan).
Another option is The Kadamba Transport Corporation buses which depart daily from Pune to Goa. Disembark at Kasal and take a bus to Malwan. The timings are:
- Luxury (Non-AC) 6:30pm (Pune – Madgaon)
- Volvo (AC) 7:30pm (Pune-Panaji).
There are plenty of buses heading to Goa from Pune via Kasal. In case of an unavailability of buses from Pune, you can reach Kolhapur by any MSRTC or KSRTC bus. Kolhapur is the mid-point for the buses heading towards Konkan, Goa. Buses arriving from Pune, Solapur, Sangli and Bijapur must go via Kolhapur for entering Konkan.
For tourists coming for the first time, please note that some buses from Pune and Kolhapur indice the same boards of Savantwadi or Panaji but travel through different routes.
(NOTE- Some enter into Konkan/Goa via Gadhinglaj – Ajara – Amboli route.
Avoid these buses for coming to Malvan.)
Take buses going either via Radhanagari – Phonda – Kankavali – Kasal or Gaganbawada -Talere – Kankavali – Kasal. Then take the bus to Malvan form Kasal.
By rail
The closest railway station is at Kudal / Kankawali and daily trains ply between Mumbai to Kudal. Frequent state transport commute between Kudal and Malvan making it easier to reach your destination.
By air
The closest Airport is at Dabolim in Goa.
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