Sindhudurg district which is a part of Konkan coastline in the state of Maharashtra is known for the Sindhudurg Fort, its temples and many a attractive and unspoilt beaches.
To improve the tourism potential of the region, it is being proposed that an aquarium based theme park be built in the Sindhudurg district. If given a final go ahead, this will be India’s first aquarium based theme park.
The proposal has been jointly suggested by Maharashtra’s Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Maharashtra’s Industries Minister Narayan Rane, who is also the guardian minister of the Sindhudurg district.
The park will help attract not only marine lovers, but will also generate curiosity and interest among the common people about the underwater world of oceans and seas. The park is expected to have its own dolphin stadium, and an underwater studio from where tourist can watch the various sea creatures in their own habitat. In addition, for light entertainment, water sport facilities have also been included in the project, while theme restaurants are also a part of the project plan, so that tourist can be offered choice of food.
The ministers have presented the proposal of the park before the state cabinet, and it is expected to be built at a cost of Rs.400 crore over an area of 500-600 acres of land. The project will be a public private partnership and will help develop more employment opportunities in the region.
The venue of the park will be linked to the Mumbai- Goa National Highway. Thus if the project is completed with maximum knowledge potential and tourism facilities, it can also help generate good amount of tourism revenue in the district.
Sindhudurg which was earlier a part of the Ratnagiri district is now an individual district by itself, flanked by Ratnagiri district in the north, Kolhapur district in the east, Goa to its south and the Arabian sea on its west. Panaji which is the capital of Goa state is just 142 kms from Sindhudurg
One of the main attractions of Sindhudurg is the Sindhudurg Fort, which is built on a rocky island in the middle of the sea, off the Malvan coast. The fort was built by Maharashtra warrior Shivaj Maharaj and is one of the best preserved forts of he Marathas. Even today the fort is home to the descendants of the soldiers who guarded the fort during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj.
One can enjoy water sport activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving to view the coral reefs along the island fort. Some of the other tourist attractions here are Mochemad Beach, Tarkarli Beach, Moti Talao, Dhamapur Lake, Karli Backwaters, Kolamb Beach and Sri Sai Baba Temple.