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The British political agent, Colonel Westrop, developed
Amboli as a hill station after the opening of the Ghat Road from the
coastal town of Vengurla, now in southern Maharashtra, to Belgaum.
It is located in Sindhudurg district at an altitude of 690m form the flat
beaches. Amboli is the last mountain resort before the coastal plains
begin in the southern ranges of the Sahyadri Hills. Submerged by dense
forests and steep valleys, this tranquil mountaintop offers some of the
best panoramic views of the Konkan coast.
Amboli is on record as the wettest place in Maharashtra,
with an average of nearly 750 centimeters (269 inches) of rainfall a year,
falling between June and October. In rainy season, the hill station is
wrapped in mist. In other seasons there are fine views of the Konkan
coastal belt. Amboli is one of the few hill stations from where one can
really see the sea. It is quiet and peaceful. If one is looking to spend a
few days in splendid isolation with the family, Amboli is an ideal resort.
Interesting places to visit are Hiranyakeshi Temple, Nagarta falls, and
Narayangad. One can spend hours angling for a fish at Hiranya Keshi. Enjoy
the exquisite picnic spots at Nagatta Falls, Mahadev Gad and Narayan Gad.
Another pleasant and different expedition is a visit to the Bauxite Mines,
10-km away.
Tourists can visit the numerous enchanting viewpoints of the luxuriant hills and fertile plain. Sea Viewpoint offers a rare view of the land all the way to the golden Konkan coast. Apart from these one can visit Hiranya Keshi, Nagatta Falls, Mahadev Gad and Narayan Gad, a natural fort, Shirgaonkar, and Sunset. 10-km away from here is a pleasant and very different excursion, the Bauxite Mines.
Tourists can enjoy the scenic beauty of Amboli throughout the year, except during the monsoon. Amboli has a cool and exhilarating climate in summer, which acts as a welcome respite.
Air: Nearest airport is Belgaum, at 64-km.
Rail: Nearest railway station is Sawantwadi at 28-km on the
Konkan Railway.
Road: State Transport buses ply form Vengurla, Sawantwadi,
Ratnagiri and Belgaum. Panaji, the main town of Goa, is only around 90-km
away. There is one bus a day from Panaji to Amboli, but several from
Panaji to Sawantwadi on the way to Amboli. From Sawantwadi, there are
frequent buses to Amboli. Regular buses also run from Belgaum and
Kolhapur,
Pune
, and Mumbai
. Taxis and rickshaws are available, though horseback and bicycles could
add to the feeling of getting away from it all.
Accommodation options in Amboli vary from MTDC Resort to economy lodges and luxury hotels. Tourist can also stay at Maharashtra Tourism Holiday Resort and Forest Rest House & a PWD Bungalow.
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