Forget Goa, We Found This Insta-Worthy Resort That Has A Private Beach

Prakruti Resorts is an award-winning beach resort tucked away in Kashid, a sea-village in the Raigad District of Maharashtra. Bordered by white sandy beaches, a picturesque village, a wildlife sanctuary, and the lush green slopes of the Sahyadri mountains – it’s a tiny coastal paradise. Forget Goa, this place should be your next beach vacay destination!

Prakruti Resorts is located at Kashid, nestled between Alibaug and Murud. To get here, it’ll take you about 4hrs {180km} by car from Pune. If you’d rather not drive, you can also take a bus to Mandwa Jetty {which will take around the same amount of time to reach}, and hop on a catamaran from there to Kashid. A hotel pick-up can be arranged for, on prior notice.

Prakruti has been around since the ’90s, initially starting out with 15 villas, they now host around 121 rooms in total, split between villas and apartment rooms. Personally, we love their villas {available in 3 or 4 bedroom size} – they’re private and comfortable and have enough space to kick back and relax with a group of friends. They’re equipped with the basics – and also boast a sit-out, lawn, balcony, kitchenette, and a car porch. The entire resort is on a naturally sloping hillside – which makes it all the more appealing for the views of the sea and hill-side. Soak up some sun pool-side during the day, and enjoy live music accompanying your meal at dinner-time. Enjoy a game of golf, beach volleyball, or tennis; take a ride on their jet-ski, try your hand at a game of pool, table-tennis, or carrom. End your day at their bonfire, and enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. Meals aren’t included in the room tariff, and can be enjoyed buffet-style at their restaurant ‘Nisarg’. The fare served here is along the lines of Indian-Chinese-Continental, and they can be quite accommodating to special dietary requirements or requests. Treat yourself to ayurvedic or beauty therapies, rejuvenation packages, and panchakarma treatments at their Sparsh Wellness Spa, or pick a romantic ‘couples package’ to enjoy with your S.O. If you enjoy time at the salon, there’s also one at Prakruti that offers foot reflexology, pedicures, manicures, and face therapies. Yoga sessions can be arranged on request – with a professionally qualified yoga instructor, specialising in Ashtanga Yoga.

Nearby attractions include Kashid beach {obviously}, Murud beach, Murud-Janjira fort {which lies in the middle of the sea}, and the Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary. Kashid beach is much less touristy and crowded than Alibaug or Murud beach, so you have a good chance at a more enriching experience. Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary is a favourite for bird-watchers and wildlife lovers – as it is spread over 13,000 acres of land and ‘home to over 200 species of avifauna’ like the Indian pied hornbill, blue-throated barbet, crested serpent eagle, and more. Other wild animals like leopards, Indian wild dogs {dhol}, jungle cat, wild boar, deer, and plenty more have also been spotted here.

Destination weddings are very popular at Prakruti, owing to the vast amount of space and private beach property. They also have a professional make-up artist and studio tie-up for such events, which you can arrange with them beforehand.