The areca nut is the fruit of the Areca palm (Areca catechu), commonly referred to as betel nut. 'Dive' means (tea) light and 'Agar' means orchard. Most houses in the Konkan region (west coast of Maharashtra) of India include an orchard ('agar' or 'wadi'), which often includes Areca palm, Mango, Coconut, Cashew, Nutmeg, Jackfruit and Kokum trees. The block of land which houses Areca Palms also includes many palm trees - hence the name.
Located on the northern end of Diveagar near Uttareshwar temple, Areca Palms is a 7-10 min leisurely stroll to the northern end of Diveagar beach. It's almost like having your own private beach.
Areca Palms is perfectly suited for a family reunion. A quiet getaway, with tourist attractions, water sports, a stroll the beach, fantastic lunch/dining options, meaning there is something for everyone to do and there is lots to like. Areca Palms has tie ups with some of the popular breakfast and lunch homes and can cater to our guests.
Diveagar is a quaint little village located on western coast of Maharashtra. It's sparsely populated with a population of 4,000. It is a ancient village with a rich historical background that can be traced back to circa 1,500 years. The region, made of six villages, includes a fishing settlement, the beach, three temples, local businesses engaged in coconut and betel nut tree farming, and some tourism businesses such as restaurants, cottage rentals and hotels. It is however less commercial, still new/fairly undiscovered and quieter.
Diveagar is located circa 180 kms from Mumbai and circa 160 kms from Pune - easy to get to for a weekend getaway. Diveagar is close to other tourist attractions and beach towns such as Shrivardhan (15 kms), Harihareshwar (30 kms), and Murud Janjira (17 kms, via ferry ride from Dighi; an impregnable fort located 3 kms off the coast).
Although Diveagar has many restaurants offering various Indian cuisines; the home made food served in the lunch homes (veg/non-veg thali), cooked with authentic Konkani culinary style are most popular. Fresh fish can be purchased from the nearby fishing village Bharadkhol every morning.
Diveagar beach faces the Arabian sea and is 4-5 km long, serene, calm, clean, and well maintained. Like most beaches in Konkan, it is fenced with Suru (Casuarina) trees. Diveagar beach has a thin layer of grainy white cover over the fine black sand underneath, making it very unique. During low tide, one can partake in many adventure sports such as banana boat ride, horse cart ride, camel ride, motor boats, jet skis, parasailing, quad bikes etc. During high tide, a large portion of the beach gets submerged under water, leaving behind some wonderful patterns on the beach. Sand Bubbler crabs can be found on the beach. Dolphins are sighted frequently at nearby Harihareshwar. Some sea turtles lay their eggs on the beach.
Traveling by road is the best option to reach Diveagar. There are plenty of buses which ply regularly from both Mumbai and Pune. The drive from Mumbai to Diveagar is 190 km (roughly 4 hrs); and the drive from Pune to Diveagar is 160 km (roughly 3.5 hrs).
The closest railway station is Mangaon, approximately 45 kms away. Mangaon station is pretty well connected to other major cities and towns.
The closest international airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport in Mumbai, which is approximately 200 kms away. Closest domestic airport is Lohegaon airport in Pune, which is approximately 170 km away. The airports are well-connected to major airports.
