“Trailing the nautical miles between Mumbai to Mandwa”
Mumbai is a fast-paced city where trains, traffic and crowded locations dominate. First time tourists, exploring Mumbai may get overwhelmed and baffled at the erratic rhythm of the city. While a typical Google search pulls out popular tourist destinations, what often doesn’t show up are places that surround the city’s coastal outskirts and make for superb day drips.
Administration wise Mumbai is included in the Konkan division of the State of Maharashtra. Most of the non-urban Konkan region is a collection of little villages and small towns touched by the Arabian Sea on the West side and ornamented with rivers, forests, mountains and coconut trees internally. If Mumbai is on one’s travel itinerary, then it’s worth visiting the coastal tourist spots like Mandwa, Kihim, Alibag and Murud-Janjira, which are just a couple of hours away from Mumbai.
M2M Ro-Pax ferry at Mumbai’s Bhau Cha Dakka terminal
Miles Between Mumbai to Mandwa – Reaching Mandwa
Mandwa is a coastal village that is just nine nautical miles away from Mumbai, which is a mere 16 kilometers. As there is no direct roadway, it used to be that one had to drive 113 kilometres and travel four hours to go between the two cities. But now because of the M2M Ro-Pax Ferry Services to Mandwa from Mumbai, the time has been cut to just one hour.
The boarding location of the Ro-Pax ferry service is Bhau cha Dhakka (Ferry Wharf) in South Mumbai. The Ro-Pax vessel can accommodate 500 passengers and 145 vehicles (bus, car, bikes, scooters and cycles) at a time. It is also pet friendly and has a dedicated pet area on board.
Ticket rates vary based on seating choice. Skoda Automobiles Ltd. has sponsored the seating zones thus Skoda Kushaq Zone seats are currently priced Rs. 420 (INR) and Skoda Superb Lounge seats are priced Rs. 1550 (INR). There is yet another Skoda Octavia Deck, which in monsoon season is open to all passengers, where the Starboard Bar serves drinks.
Photo Courtesy: M2M Ferry Services Ltd
Onboard M2M
Since it’s a one-hour journey between Mumbai and Mandwa, tourists travelling onboard M2M ferry have lot to experience in less time. My recent experience over the M2M ferries created fresh memories of the seagulls flying in the backdrop of a clear blue skies, huge cargo ships and fast speed boats passing by. But what I love the most is the view of the coastal skyline of Mumbai fading in the horizon. The journey is a treat for going on a date overlooking the sea. Bicycle riders will also enjoy exploring the quiet villages around Mandwa. If one is travelling during sunset hours then the setting sun over the Mumbai skies sculpts a beautiful memory.
After alighting at the Mandwa Harbour, tourists have the choice to explore the village of Mandwa itself or go further to popular tourist spots like Kihim, Alibag or Murud-Janjira. There is a list of places and activities to explore in these regions such as museum, forts, temples, beaches and dining spots, all to give tourists a glimpse of the history, culture and mindfulness that lies immediately beyond the Mumbai coast.
Watching the seagulls and cargo ships passing by onboard M2M ferry
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BeSeeingYou In: Mumbai
Good To Know: Off Mumbai’s coastline, the beautiful countryside offers a quick getaway for locals and tourists to make half or full day excursions
Wow! Factor: Thanks to the M2M Ro-Pax ferry service, a trip from Mumbai to Mandwa now only takes one hour (it used to take four)
Tips:
- Reach the RoPax terminal at least an hour prior to scheduled time. The management is very strict about punctuality
- As of now, Electric vehicles are not allowed
- M2M ferry service runs only three trips per day from both terminals so plan your journey accordingly
Author Bio: Shraddha C Sankulkar
