The entire Konkan coast is dotted with such undiscovered treasures. Like the Jaigad fort, a stone’s throw away from Ganpatipule. The highlight of this fort is its lighthouse which does not have any electric supply.
In fact, the lighthouse is a gigantic kerosene lamp! Every evening, the lighthouse keepers pump the kerosene and slowly release it to the mantle at the top behind the huge array of lenses for the light to the shine. The lenses turn by a clockwork arrangement that has tot be wound regularly throughout the night for it to turn and cast its beam out to sea.
Tasty mangoes and a beach that’s ripe for exploration. In spite of being a fishing village with a wonderful natural harbour, Devgad is known more for its alphonso mangoes. It has a post-Shivaji era fortress and a lighthouse. However the main attraction of Devgad is its beautiful beach even though reaching it takes a bit of effort. The road that leads up to the beach is rather nondescript. It goes through the small town, through a bazaar clinging on to a steep slope, past the parked fishing trawlers, turns left and after a short drive brings you to the beach. A brightly coloured temple lies to the left and the road continues to the Southern entrance of the fort and lighthouse.
The view from the ramparts of the fort is quite magnificent in the evenings. Especially, when it is overcast. The sky changes from orange to crimson to maroon to purple and finally to jet black in a matter of few hours just before the sunset. The waves crashing on the rocks below provide the required sound effects to this spectacle. When you make a trip to Devgad beach (near Kunkeshwar) on a full moon nigh you will notice a miracle of nature. Try kicking the sand as the wave recedes, it will seem like sparklers are emanating from the sand and water, almost like stardust on the beach. This is due to a peculiar phenomenon of phosphorescence in the water which makes the surf glow in the tank.
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