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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

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.

Nearby, and where to go next

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