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Maharashtra

Velas (Turtle Village)

Olive ridley hatchlings released on a Konkan village beach

OffbeatWildlifeBeach

Best time to visit Velas (Turtle Village)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: February to March
  • Shoulder: April and October to January, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May to September

Planning a specific month? FebruaryMarch

Velas (Turtle Village) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Jan is calm and empty, the nesting has already happened but the hatchlings have not emerged yet.

Summer March to May Prime time

March into early April is the peak release window; by May it is 35 C, sticky, and the season is done.

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Jun-Sep the beach is battered by surf, the homestays shut and the last unmetalled stretch in turns to mud.

Autumn October to November Shoulder

Oct-Nov is pleasant and near-deserted, good for the Bankot fort walk but with no turtles to be seen.

What Velas (Turtle Village) is actually like

Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra homestays, a mattress on the floor and thali meals; families, birders, volunteers

Things to do in Velas

The local places worth your time in and around Velas, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Velas Beach

    Beach · 1 km out

    Grey-sand bay with the fenced turtle hatchery; releases are at dawn from late February to April, stay behind the rope.

  • Bankot Fort

    Fort · 6 km out

    Small hilltop fort over the mouth of the Savitri; open, free and shadeless, best an hour before sunset.

  • Harihareshwar

    Temple · 18 km out

    Shiva town across the Bagmandla ferry with a rock pradakshina round the headland; check ferry timings before you set out.

  • Kelshi

    Village · 22 km out

    Konkan village of the Mahalaxmi temple and the Yakub Baba dargah with a wide empty beach; the road in is very narrow.

  • Anjarle

    Temple · 33 km out

    Kadyavarcha Ganpati sits on a cliff above the creek and an empty beach; the bridge saves the old ferry, no bus after dark.

Getting to Velas (Turtle Village)

Khed railhead 70 km or Mangaon 87 km, then ST bus via Bankot; book a Velas homestay before you travel

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
15 m
State
Maharashtra
Coordinates
17.9609, 73.0345

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Velas (Turtle Village)?

February to March is peak season in Velas (Turtle Village). April and October to January is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May to September. Dec-Jan is calm and empty, the nesting has already happened but the hatchlings have not emerged yet.

How many days do you need in Velas (Turtle Village)?

2 days is the usual stay. Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra homestays, a mattress on the floor and thali meals; families, birders, volunteers.

How do you get to Velas (Turtle Village)?

Khed railhead 70 km or Mangaon 87 km, then ST bus via Bankot; book a Velas homestay before you travel. Practical ways in: road.

Is Velas (Turtle Village) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Velas (Turtle Village)?

Feb/Mar: Velas turtle festival, hatchling releases at dawn and dusk. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Velas?

Velas Beach, Bankot Fort, Harihareshwar, Kelshi and Anjarle. Grey-sand bay with the fenced turtle hatchery; releases are at dawn from late February to April, stay behind the rope.

Nearby, and where to go next

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