“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
This quote literally became the inspiration for my recent trip to Varsoli beach in Alibaug, a popular weekend gateway near Mumbai. I was working non-stop for the last 8 months and I needed a good break. Therefore, I decided to go on a weekend trip and live the life of Jack Sparrow (not literally). I and my two friends planned everything within two days and we executed the mission. We bought tickets for a ferry ride from Mumbai to Alibaug and started our trip on Saturday morning from Gateway of India.
Alibaug or Alibag (अलीबाग in Hindi) is accessible by road and sea. We decided to take the sea route (obviously, Jack Sparrow hint) and reached Gateway Of India. There was a long queue of couples, families, students, and solo travelers to board the ferry. We bought tickets on the spot (INR 120 – to and from) and boarded the ferry to Mandwa jetty, the final destination of our sea ride.
We took the upper deck and it happened to be a good decision. As the ferry starts moving slowly, you get mesmerized by the wider view of Mumbai city. You can see the iconic Gateway of India and Taj Mahal Palace hotel waving at you saying, “Have a nice trip, Fellas!”. I couldn’t resist myself clicking at least hundred photos of this beautiful cityscape. One of the most interesting highlights of this ferry ride is seagulls as they become your travel companion.
Pro Tip: Bring some snacks with you to feed seagulls. They love it and keep flying closer to you in groups. Sometimes, they even pick the food directly from your palm. You need to build that trust with them. CUTE SEABIRDS!!
Arabian sea breeze kept talking to me silently while I enjoyed watching speed boats, huge ships, and marines. I reached the front corner of the ferry and stood there to enjoy my slow but blissful journey. The ferry takes one hour to reach Mandwa Jetty from Gateway of India.
Tip: Create your favorite travel playlist for this trip as you will need it when cool sea vibes hit you. Also, do not forget to bring sunglasses, sun-cream, and a hat/cap. The sunlight can be harsh for your eyes and skin during late morning and afternoon.
Once I reached Mandwa, I started the road journey with my friends. We boarded our assigned bus from Mandwa, and it took us 15-20 minutes to reach Varsoli town (the bus ride cost was included with our ferry ticket). The same route also takes you to other nearby tourist destinations like Nagaon beach, Kihim beach, Kashid beach, Murud beach to name a few.
I really enjoyed my ferry ride from Mumbai to Alibaug. Hence, I created a short video about my experience. Watch it here:
PS: The ferry services are not available during monsoon season.