Amboli is a small village in the southern

Konkan Division Konkan division is one of the six administrative divisions of Maharashtra state in India. It comprises the central portions of the Konkani region, excluding Goa and Damaon, which were absorbed into Maharashtra owing to the States Reorganisat ...

Sindhudurg district Sindhudurg district (Marathi pronunciation: in̪d̪ʱud̪uɾɡə is an administrative district of the Konkan division in India, which was carved out of the erstwhile Ratnagiri district. The district headquarters are located at Oros. The d ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

state,

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

. Amboli

Ghat Ghat (), a term used in the Indian subcontinent, to refer to the series of steps leading down to a body of water or wharf, such as a bathing or cremation place along the banks of a river or pond, the Ghats in Varanasi, Dhobi Ghat or the Aap ...

lies at an altitude of approximately above sea level and is the last

hill resort A hill station is a touristic town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The English term was originally used mostly in colonial Asia, but also in Africa (albeit rarely), for towns founded by European colonialists as ref ...

before ending in the coastal plains of

Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

state. Amboli lies in the Western Ghats of peninsular India, one of the world's "Ecological Hotspots" and it abounds in unusual flora and fauna. However, as in the other parts of the Sahaydri Hills, denudation of the forest cover and unregulated government-assisted development are gradually ruining a once-pristine environment. Historically, Amboli village came into being as one of the staging posts along the road from

Vengurla Vengurla is a town in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, India just north of Goa. It is surrounded by a semicircular range of hills with lush green foliage mainly of cashew, mango, coconut, and different kinds of berry trees. The hills of Dabh ...

port to the city of

Belgaum Belgaum (Kannada ISO 15919, ISO: ''Bēḷagāma'', ), officially known as Belagavi (also Belgaon), is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located near its northern western border in the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters ...

, which was extensively used by the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

to supply their garrisons in south and central India. The source of the

Hiranyakeshi river The Hiranyakeshi river is a left-bank tributary of the Ghataprabha River originating in the Western Ghats in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra. Etymology The river derives its name from the Sri Hiranyakeshi temple. The temple is built o ...

lies in the hills around Amboli village and farmers cultivate rice in it. An ancient

Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

temple (called Hiranyakeshwar) sits at the cave where the water emerges. The main attraction for tourists is the incredibly-high rainfall (7 m average, per year) and the numerous waterfalls and mist during the

monsoons A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

. Legend has it that there are 108 Shiva temples in and around Amboli, of which only a dozen have been uncovered, one as recently as 2005. Amboli is also known for sending large number of youngsters to serve Indian Army. In Amboli, it is hard to find a house which doesn't have at least one person who is serving in Indian Army or has served Indian Army. Shahid Soldier Pandurang Mahadev Gawade was also from Amboli, who attained martyrdom while fighting five Lashkar terrorists at Drug Mulla village in Kashmir's Kupwara district on May 22, 2016, was posthumously awarded Shaurya Chakra on the eve of 68th Republic Day. Additionally, the interesting fact of the village is that many men had also served for British army in the pre-independence era.

Transport

Amboli is well connected by road to the surrounding cities of

Kolhapur Kolhapur () is a city on the banks of the Panchganga River in the southern part of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Kolhapur is one of the most significant cities in South Maharashtra and has been a hub of historical, religious, and cultural a ...

(),

, and

Panjim Panaji (; , , )also known as Panjim, is the capital of the Indian state of Goa and the headquarters of North Goa district. Previously, it was the territorial capital of the former Portuguese India. It lies on the banks of the Mandovi river est ...

() by road.The nearest airport is

Belgaum Airport Belgaum Airport , also known as Belagavi Airport, is a domestic airport serving Belgaum, Karnataka. The current integrated terminal building was inaugurated by the then Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju on 14 September 2017. Ne ...

Accommodation

There are a few hotels at Amboli. Most of them provide hot water baths and have facilities like restaurant, room service and cab services.

Local transport

The only local transport is motorised three-wheeler

rickshaws Rickshaw originally denoted a pulled rickshaw, which is a two- or three-wheeled cart generally pulled by one person carrying one passenger. The first known use of the term was in 1879. Over time, cycle rickshaws (also known as pedicabs or tri ...

and a couple of private taxis.

Tourist attractions

There are in total 8 places that are listed by

Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation commonly abbreviated as MTDC, is a body of the Government of Maharashtra responsible for development of tourism in the Indian state of Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western pen ...

(MTDC). Amboli Waterfall, Hiranyakeshi(Shiv Mandir and ancient cave), Kavalesat (Reverse waterfall point), Amboli Forest (Rich with flora and fauna), Ganesh Kond(waterway/river), and the entire area is full of greenery and beautiful sceneries. People at the village are highly dependent on farming for daily livelihood, as a results, entire village is surrounded by rice plantation during the rainy season. People are very simple and helpful. Similarly, Amboli has several hotels and resorts but it is preferable to stay with locals and try local cuisine.

Natural Wonders

Sunset Point is a popular viewpoint in Amboli. It offers mesmerising views of the sun setting over the lush green valleys and hills of the Western Ghats. The point is located about 1 km from the Amboli Bus Stand towards Sawantwadi.

Nearest cities

Sawantwadi Sawantwadi is a city located in Sawantwadi taluka, Sawantwadi Taluka, in the state of Maharashtra in Konkan region which is in the mid-western coast of India. It is a prominent town in the vicinity of Moti Lake and is well known for its woo ...

— *

Kudal Kudal is a census town in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra, India. It is situated on River Karli in southwest Maharashtara. Kudal is the fourth largest town in Sindhudurg after Sawantwadi, Malvan and Kankavli. As of 2011, the population is 16, ...

— *

— via the Gadhinglaj–Sankeshwar main road *

Sangli Sangli (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Sāṁgalī''; ) is a metropolitan town and the headquarters of Sangli District in Maharashtra, in south-western India. It has earned the nickname "Turmeric City of India" for being the hub of the Asia's largest produ ...

— via the Gadhinglaj–Chikodi–Miraj *

— * Ajara — *

Chandgad Chandgad is a small city and tehsil headquarters of Chandgad taluka, of Kolhapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Citizens of Chandgad are reliant on the larger cities Belgaum and Gadhinglaj for their major needs. Demographics T ...

— *

Gadhinglaj Gadhinglaj ( �əɖᵊɦiŋɡləd͡z is a city in India in the Kolhapur district in the southwest corner of the state of Maharashtra, India. It is located on the banks of the river Hiranyakeshi. It is the Taluka (Tehsil) headquarters of G ...

—

Nearest railway stations

* Sawantwadi Road railway station — * Kudal railway station — *

Pernem railway station Pernem railway station (Station code: PERN) is a railway station in North Goa district of Goa state. It is part of the Konkan Railway, in the town of Pernem in the North Goa district of Goa State and is under Karwar railway division of Konkan ...

— * Belagavi railway station — * Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus — *

Sangli railway station Sangli railway station is a major railway station serving the city of Sangli in Maharashtra, India. It is classified as a Class A station within the Pune Railway Division of the Central Railway Zone under Indian Railways. Location and infrastr ...

— * Miraj Junction railway station — *

Madgaon Junction railway station Madgaon Junction Railway Station (station code: MAO) is a railway junction and major station on the Indian Railways network, specifically on the South Western Railway line to Vasco da Gama, Goa and the Konkan Railway, in Madgaon, Goa, India. T ...

— Tourists coming from

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

, Goa,

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

and trains on the Konkan railway can reach Amboli from Sawantwadi railway station. There are buses from

Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is a state-owned public road transport corporation company in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka. It serves routes to 31 districts and as wel ...

and

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation abbreviated as (MSRTC, or simply ST), is the state-run bus service of Maharashtra, India, which serves routes to towns and cities within Maharashtra as well as to its adjoining states. It also of ...

that travel frequently between

and Sawantwadi via Amboli. Private cars are available from Sawantwadi railway station to Amboli. Buses travel to Amboli from Sangli and Kolhapur stations via Nippani–Gadhinglaj–Ajara.

Gallery

Image:Amboli1.jpg, Image:Amboli2.jpg, Image:Amboli3.jpg, Image:Amboli4.jpg, Image:Amboli waterfall (2).jpg, Waterfall in Amboli Hiranyakeshi Mandir.jpg

References

External links

Information page
*{{Wikivoyage-inline, Amboli Cities and towns in Sindhudurg district Tourist attractions in Sindhudurg district