Guhagar is one of the most ecologically gifted parts of Maharashtra’s pristine Konkan coast. We’re located in one of Guhagar’s densely forested valleys on the banks of a beautiful emerald blue river.
‘Raan’ in Marathi, means wild – a word that has unfairly gained a negative connotation of being out of place, unusual or even uncivilised. And that’s because we humans have started seeing ourselves as separate from the wild. We wish to bridge this very gap by conserving, observing and re-building a sustainable way of life within the wild, without abandoning civilization and the comforts we have come to live with. At Raan, our goal is to be comfortable in and with nature.
Meanwhile, the Konkan coast is in pressing need of spaces that can facilitate the exchange of local, traditional and rural knowledge and lifestyle with those who seek it. Sustainable ecotourism and rural tourism practices will help in the conservation and revival of Konkan’s cultural heritage, natural splendours and historical legacy, while providing entrepreneurial opportunities in a region suffering from widespread urban migration.
This is why at Raan, every project, every venture, and every service is run with the local communities of Guhagar.
Raan Guhagar is a confluence where people from all walks of life come together, interact, share and learn. We welcome knowledge seekers, explorers, budding naturalists, sustainable architects, permaculturists, historians, researchers, storytellers, artists and everyone who is conscious of the environment we live in, and the culture that shapes our lives as humans.
As a space, we’re open to folks wanting to experiment, conduct workshops or volunteer short or long-term here at Raan. DM us on Instagram if you have any ideas.
Experience
You can sign up for diverse immersive experiences such as swimming trips in forest ponds (in the monsoon), adventurous cycling trails, farming and harvesting, biodiversity treks and trails, mangrove walks, coastal treks, hidden beach treks, heritage walks and visits to cliffs and panoramic view points.
Our host of interactive and immersive experiences are carefully curated and are run by local communities. With these experiences, you get a chance to dive into the natural and cultural wonders of Konkan with the very people that call this land home. A sense of adventure, an exchange of knowledge and customs, and a taste of local food and traditions are the building blocks of these experiences.
Food
Our home kitchen is handled by local women from the village who make delicious local food, snacks and beverages for you.
- We are normally able to cater to most dietary requirements.
- Instant food or packaged food and beverages are not allowed.
- Breakfast, lunch or dinner are not included in any of our stay packages. This is to reduce food wastage.
- Food is priced differently for each meal. As a reference, we charge ₹200 for a full vegetarian thali.
- Guhagar market which is 4 km away has several other food options. We do not offer room service or butler services.
- There is generally only one vegetarian and one non vegetarian option per meal. All meals need to be pre-ordered with our reception team. If you are checking in and you will be there for lunch or dinner on that day you can message us to place your order beforehand.
- Smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol while consuming your meal is strictly prohibited.
Please note that we have fixed meal timings at Raan Guhagar. We do not have a 24/7 workforce and the village women who run the kitchen need to go back home and manage their home as well.
Breakfast is served between 8.30 am and 10.00 am, lunch is served between 1.00 pm and 2.30 pm while dinner is served between 8.00 pm and 9.30 pm.
If these timings are unsuitable for your lifestyle and you would like to be served late at night, we suggest looking at another destination as everything in Guhagar generally shuts around 9.30-10 pm. We strictly do not offer parcels or room service for you to eat food in your room late at night.
Stay
Please keep in mind that we are a nature and adventure centric backpacker hostel. We are not a resort, hotel or a private villa. If you are looking at a place to consume alcohol or have a party, we are not the right place to book.
At the moment, Raan Guhagar is a work in progress. Minor work such as furniture, painting and landscaping is going on.
In the meanwhile, feel free to come down and stay with us in our jungle cabins or our mixed dormitory.
We share the land with a lot of wild birds and trees, and a river. Because of this, we follow certain norms to maintain the sanctity and serenity of the land and the forest.
- We do not use single-use plastic in our space.
- We do not allow any alcoholic beverages. There is a bar close by you can walk to with a beautiful sea view.
- We do not allow any music on loudspeakers in this space. You are welcome to play an instrument or sing before 10 pm in the common space with the consent of fellow guests.
- We have kept the forest on the land as intact as possible and do not have paved or illuminated pathways.
Jungle Cabins
Our two person jungle cabins with private attached washrooms were built on site with reused teakwood doors and frames. Each cabin features an attached washroom with a hot water shower, western WC and wash basin. The rooms are completely insulated from the elements and have a traditional mangalore tiled roof. Sit on your own small verandah and work, observe the different types of birds or enjoy the afternoon sea breeze.
The minimum age to stay in our cabins is 18. We have a minimum 2 night stay policy for our jungle cabins. Due to potential conflicts with wildlife, pets are not allowed.
Single or double occupancy: ₹3000 + 12% GST
6 Bed Mixed Dormitory
This is a well ventilated 6 bed mixed dormitory, surrounded by views of nature and the river. There is an attached toilet and hot water shower inside the dormitory. Each bed has a locker and a personal fan and charging point. You will have to get your own padlocks to lock your belongings.
The minimum age to stay in our dormitory room is 18. We have a minimum 2 night stay policy for our 6 bed mixed dormitory. Due to potential conflicts with wildlife, pets are not allowed.
Price per bed per night: ₹1000 + 12% GST
Getting here
Chiplun, 50 km / 1 hour away is the nearest railway station. Chiplun is directly connected to Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and Kerala via comfortable super-fast trains.
There are buses and private autorickshaws or taxis available from Chiplun to Guhagar throughout the day at hourly intervals. If you take the bus option, you have to take an autorickshaw from Chiplun railway station to the bus stand, and take a bus from Chiplun all the way to Guhagar bus stand. We are located 4 km from the bus stand. From Guhagar bus stand you will have to take an autorickshaw or take another local bus to reach our gate. You can mention Raan Guhagar in Are village to the autorickshaw.
There are multiple private overnight buses from Mumbai and Pune directly to Guhagar.
From Mumbai, Shree Sunkai Travels and Pimpleshwar Travels are two such private operators.
You can check bus timings and availability online on Redbus.
You can choose your drop off point as Guhagar and inform the bus driver you would like to get down at Are Baji Road. We are just a 10 min walk from Are Baji Road. If you have a lot of bags we can help you hire a rickshaw as well.
There are also MRSTC buses that ply from major cities in Maharashtra to Guhagar.
Raan Guhagar is about 260 km / 6.5-hour drive from Mumbai, 230 km / 6-hour drive from Pune or 290 km / 6-hour drive from North Goa.
There is ample car parking in and around our site. Please note we do not offer separate accommodation for car drivers.
Mumbai, Goa and Pune airports are all fairly equidistant from Raan Guhagar.
Our Blog
Months and Moods at Raan Guhagar
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Konkan Cycling Diaries – Mumbai to Goa
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