Malvan is a small town in Sindhudurg district, the southernmost district of Maharashtra, with about 18,600 people at the 2011 census. It sits on the Konkan coast roughly 500 km south of Mumbai and not far north of the Goa border, and it still works first as a fishing port and only second as a place to visit. Boats land their catch on the town beach, the market sits a few lanes back, and the sea is never more than a short walk away.
The reason most people come is Sindhudurg Fort. Shivaji had it built on Khurte island between 1664 and 1667, and it is reached by a short ferry from Malvan jetty. Around it, the sea has been a marine sanctuary since 1987. Back on the mainland, Malvan has a rocky seafront, the beaches of Chivla and Dandi, the Rajkot Fort hill with its large new statue, and, inland, the old Dhamapur lake beside a Bhagwati temple. Tarkarli, the beach and backwater village with most of the homestays and water sports, is next door and has its own Raahzo guide. Many people base themselves there and come into Malvan for the fort and the food, while those who like a working town stay in Malvan itself.
Food is the other draw. Malvani cooking leans on coconut, kokum and a dry masala, and the fish thali, with pomfret, surmai or bangda fried or in curry, rice and sol kadhi, is the standard meal. Vegetarian plates exist but are an afterthought in most places, so vegetarians should ask ahead. Sweets such as khaja and ladoos are sold in the town's shops.
Plan around the season. From roughly November to February the weather is dry and the sea is calm enough for the ferry and boat trips. The monsoon brings more than 3,000 mm of rain in the district and sea operations, including the fort ferry, stop. For parents and older travellers Malvan is gentle: it is flat, distances are short and nothing is crowded outside holidays, though the fort has uneven stone steps, boarding a boat needs a steady step, and the narrow town lanes are poor for cars.
Before you plan
Malvan at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is the most…November to February is the most comfortable and the sea is calm; October and March are workable. June to September is monsoon with sea services suspended.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days covers the fort2 days covers the fort, town and beaches at an easy pace; 3 days adds Dhamapur lake, a temple and time at Tarkarli
- Airport
- Sindhudurg AirportSindhudurg Airport (SDW) at Chipi-Parule, about 21 km from Malvan; check which airlines currently operate scheduled flights
- Railway station
- KudalKudal (KUDL) on the Konkan Railway is the usual railhead, about 40 km away; Kankavali is a little further. Many Mumbai and Goa trains stop at Kudal.
- Getting around
- Autos and hired cars within townAutos and hired cars within town; bring or hire a car for Dhamapur, Anganewadi and the beaches, because taxis and rental bikes are limited. Town lanes are narrow and parking is scarce.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500–₹3,500 per person per day excluding the room, for meals, ferry, local transport and entry fees; varies with how much you hire a car
- Senior comfort
- Good in the town and on the beachesGood in the town and on the beaches; the fort has uneven steps and the ferry needs a steady step, so plan it for the cooler hours
- Language
- MarathiMarathi, with the Malvani dialect locally; Hindi and some English are understood at hotels and the jetty
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Malvan: January, February, November, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Malvan itinerary
One good day
1 day in Malvan
Reach Malvan jetty early for the ferry to Sindhudurg Fort, allowing about two hours on the island and a clear return time with the boatman. Back on the mainland, have a fish thali in the town and rest through the hot early afternoon. In the later afternoon, browse the market for kokum products and sweets, then walk the Rock Garden seafront or the beach at Chivla for sunset, with a look at the evening boat activity at the jetty.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Malvan
Take the first ferry you can to Sindhudurg Fort and walk the paths to the Shivaji temple and the ramparts at your own pace. Return for a Malvani thali and a rest. In the late afternoon, visit the market and the town beach at Dandi, where fishing boats are drawn up, then end at the Rock Garden for the sunset.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Malvan
Take the early ferry to the fort, explore the lanes inside and the ramparts, and plan to leave before midday. Have a fish thali in town, rest, and spend the evening at the market and the jetty.
Day-by-day plan →
