History of Environmentalism

• Dahanu is protected as an ecologically fragile zone.tea garden image by anand beri from Fotolia.com
  
  Legally protected as an ecologically fragile zone in 1991, Dahanu is known for its pristine coastline ringed by vast, mountainous monsoon forests. The Dahanu Notification prohibits many forms of development in Dahanu including quarrying, coastal development and logging. Just 74 miles north of India's capital, Mumbai, and 40 miles south of Vapi, which is developed by the chemical industry and known as a toxic hotspot, Dahanu is "one of the last surviving green zones in the region," according to the Infochange Media Fellowship.
  
  

Dahanu Homestay and Tented Eco-Camp

• Ecomantra is an ecotourism project based in India that runs the solar- and bio-gas-powered Dahanu Homestay and Tented Eco-Camp located on the banks of the Ashagad River. The camp includes a chickoo (a tropical fruit also referred to as "sapota") and mango farm maintained by members of an indigenous Warli tribe. Activities include workshops on solar power and tribal culture, working on the farm, beach visits and trekking.
  
  Ecomantra Nature Adventures
  19, Rajasthan Technical Centre
  Patanwala Estate, LBS Marg Ghatkopar
  Mumbai, India
  +91-2261-280100
  ecomantra.com/pages/booking-advice
  
  

Tarpa Agri-Tourism at Sawe Farm

• Sawe, one of Dahanu's many chickoo farms, hosts a retreat for ecotourists interested in agriculture and environmentalism. Sawe offers one- and two-day tours for students, farmers and nature lovers. The experience at Sawe is designed for a minimum group of 25 people and includes communal huts and farm-fresh vegetarian meals. Activities consist of a tour of the 35-acre farm, which has a wide range of labeled plant species, discussions of organic farming and rainwater collection techniques and hill treks.
  
  Sawe Nursery Farm
  Gholwad, Dahanu
  Maharashtra, India
  +02-5282-41130
  sawefarm.com/contact_us.html
  
  

Dahanu Beaches

• Dahanu's beaches sprawl for 10 miles along the Arabian Sea. The beaches are favored by locals and by visiting urbanites because of their clean shores and calm waters. The beaches are quiet without motor boats or jet skis. Several beachside resorts in Dahanu include Hotel Beachside which offers yoga classes and a sea view; Pearline Beach Resort, which is located on a sprawling gardened estate; and Seawoods Beach Hotel which offers pipe music and sea and garden views.
  
  Hotel Beachside
  Narpad Beach, Dahanu
  Maharashtra, India
  +09-8222-94849
  hotelbeachside.com/contact.htm
  
  Pearline Beach Resort
  Sea Face, Dahanu Beach, Dahanu
  Maharashtra, India
  +91-2528-222442
  pearlinebeachresort.com/contact.htm
  
  Seawoods Beach Hotel
  Dahanu Beach, Dahanu
  Maharashtra, India
  +02-5282-25669
  seawoodsbeachhotel.com/contactus.htm
  
  

Dahanu Temples

• If you are interested in world cultures and religions, visiting some of Dahanu's 16 temples via a two-mile trek through the main city is a must. Serious nature trekkers will want to visit the Mahalaxmi Temple Caves on Bahrot Hill approximately four miles outside of the main city.
  
  Dahanu's holy shrines include the Hanumanji Temple, the Jain Temple at Kosbad Hill, the Mahadev temple, known for its brightly-colored lotuses; and Udvada, the worship grounds of the Zoroastrians where a sacred fire has burned for over 1,000 years. Many of Dahanu's beach resorts are within walking distance of the holy sites and can provide more information on touring the temples.