Velas Turtle Festival, also known as Velas Kasav Mahotsav, is an annual eco-tourism event hosted in Maharashtra. It is set in the Velas, a coastal village of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. This year, this festival is all set to begin on March 6, 2026, and end on April 26, 2026. It is celebrated to protect the endangered Olive Ridley turtles and promote community-led marine conservation. So if you too wish to be a part of this unique festival in Maharashtra, here’s a Velas Turtle Festival guide for you!
Velas Beach Turtle Festival Guide
What Is Velas Turtle Festival?
The Velas Turtle Festival is an annual eco-tourism event that celebrates the nesting and hatching of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles in Maharashtra. From February to May, especially between March and April, many female turtles arrive on the Velas beach to lay eggs. This is known as “arribada,” which is a Spanish term that means synchronized, massive arrival of sea turtles on beaches to lay eggs.
Each turtle lays about 80 to 150 eggs, which hatch into thumb-sized babies in a period of 45 to 60 days. These babies begin to race to the Arabian Sea from the Velas beach. This festival was first organised in 1992 by the locals and the Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra Mandal to celebrate the beauty of nature and its beings.
The festival is limited to 3000 visitors and hosts hatching releases, food stalls, and folk dances on the beach. This festival blends nature’s miracles with the beauty of Konkani coastal culture. All the visitors can participate in guided walks and witness dawn hatchings as part of this festival. They are also given information on threats like climate change and poaching.
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Velas Turtle Festival Booking
There is no single official government booking site to book tickets for this marvellous festival. There are popular operators who generally curate tours to this place. They tend to offer packages that include transport, meals, and even accommodations, which are generally homestays. You can find the listings on BookMyShow as well.
The official website of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra Mandal, the pioneers of this festival, has shared some contacts on their official website. You can contact them for bookings-related information.
Mr. Mohan Upadhyay: 02350 220304/ 8983767388/ 8975622778
Mr. Trushant Bhatkar: 7038425793 / 9404765477
Velas Turtle Festival: How To Reach
Air
- The nearest airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai.
- From the airport, Velas beach is a 6 – 7 hour drive away via the scenic Konkan coastal roads.
- You can hire a private taxi or car to reach the destination.
- If not by road, you can also reach the destination via train or MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) bus.
Train
- The nearest railway stations to the Velas beach are Khed (80 to 90 km), Mangaon (80 km), and Chiplun (107km).
- Reaching Velas beach from these stations is a three to four-hour journey.
- You can opt for the MSRTC bus or a private car for the same.
Bus/Car
- You can opt for a state transport bus from Mumbai or Pune to Madangad or Harihareshwar.
- If you get down at Harihareshwar, you can take a ferry to Bagmandla, which is very close to Velas beach.
- You can also decide to drive to this place, with the most common route being the Mumbai-Pune Expressway or NH66 (Mumbai-Goa Highway)
- Take off at Lonere or Mangaon towards Mhasala and Velas.
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Velas Turtle Festival Travel Tips
- Make sure you reach the beach early in the morning, at around 6 AM, or in the evening at 5 PM to witness hatchlings.
- There are no hotels around. You will have to stay in rustic, authentic Konkani homestays with villagers. So make sure you book well in advance.
- Maintain silence strictly to make sure that you do not scare the little racers (turtles).
- While taking pictures, do not use flash. This can distract the little turles.
- Network connectivity at this place is quite low, so make sure you have offline maps handy. You can also inform your family about the low network issue beforehand.
- There are guidelines set by the Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra NGO volunteers; make sure you follow them.
- Be patient, as it is not a scheduled show.
- Carry enough cash, as this remote village does not have ATM machines readily available.
Velas Turtle Festival Stay Options
There are no hotels around here. You can stay in authentic and rustic Konkan-style homestays for yourself. These homestays offer you an authentic experience with basic amenities.
The stay is often organized through villagers or local conservation groups (Kasav Mitra Mandal), providing homemade meals. These meals include both vegetarian and non-vegetarian Konkani dishes or thali. All these are generally non-AC options.
The official website of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra Mandal, the pioneers of this festival, has shared the website of a homestay: Turtle Nest Home Stay. The rates generally start from INR 1200 per person per day.
These homestays generally have tie-ups with various organizations and tour curators. So you can easily book one through them.
Summing Up
Velas Turtle Festival is a well-known eco-tourism event in Maharashtra and will be hosted from March 6 to April 26 this year. It offers a wholesome experience, witnessing the wonder of nature as the villagers celebrate the hatching and nesting of the Olive Ridley turtle.
FAQs
How To Reach Velas From Mumbai?
You can either opt for a private car or take the MSRTC bus to Harihareshwar. If you wish to travel by train, the nearest railway station is Mangaon or Khed
What Is Velas Turtle Festival Location?
The Velas Turtle Festival is located on Velas Beach in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India.
Which Is The Nearest Railway Station To Velas Beach?
Khed Railway Station and Mangaon Railway Station are the nearest railway stations to Velas Beach.
How To Reach Velas From Pune?
You can reach Velas by road via Tamhini Ghat or Mandangad. If you wish to take a train, you can get off at Khed railway station and then hire a taxi.
