Announcing Velas Turtle Festival 2010 - March 10 to 28
Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra, Chiplun is organising the Turtle Festival from March 10 to 28 2010 at Velas, Taluka Mandangad, District Ratnagiri in coordination with Kasav Mitra Mandal - Velas, Gram Panchayat - Velas and the Forest Department.
What's New This Year?
The turtle eggs in Velas nests have started hatching since the last few days. There is a good possibility of emergence of hatchlings from 10th to 28th March 2010, and hence these 19 days have been set for the Turtle Festival. To participate in the festival you can visit Velas at your convenience. The dates on which the hatchlings could be best viewed would be announced on the website as well as our blog at snmcpn.blogspot.com. During the festival period we will be updating the blog about twice a day. Once hatchlings start emerging from nest, they continue to do so for 2 consequent days so that's a good time to observe them.
You may contact any person listed below or on the blog to inform about your arrival, period of stay, number of accompanying persons etc. Please be present at the sea-shore at 7 in the morning and 6 in the evening. There you will find our volunteers releasing the hatchlings (if emerged) into the sea. You can get additional information at the spot from the volunteers.
While in Velas, please do visit the Marine Turtle Information Centre as well as the Marine Turtle Research and Conservation Centre. Kindly make generous donations and also purchase SNM memorabilia of your choice at these centers.
Logistics
Lodging and boarding arrangements will be made by the Kasav Mitra Mandal of Velas. Charges are Rs. 225/- per person per day. This includes: a simple dormitory style homely accomodation (no separate rooms), simple vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and tea (three times). Sataranjis (carpets) will be provided where sufficient mattresses are not available.
Kindly contact the following for more information.
- Mr. Kamalakar Bendke – 9226 725 050
- Mr. Uday Pandit – 9423 047 700
- Office - 02355 253 030
-
Kasav Mitra Mandal, Velas
- Mr. Prakash Joshi - 02350 - 220570
- Mr. Milind Nijasure - 02350 - 220629
- Mr. Santosh Joshi - 02350 - 220511
- Smt. Bagkar - 02350 - 220682
- Mr. Mohan Upadhye - 02350 - 220304
- Mr. Avinash Yadav - 02350 - 220545
- Mr. Sandeep Kutumbe - 02350 - 220633
Other attractions in/around Velas:
- The native place of the great diplomat - the late Nana Phadanvis and his monument
- Harihareshwar and Kelshi for the pristine nature
- Bankot creek and Himmatgad fort which has the tomb of British officer Aurther's wife
You can take your vehicle on the ferry boat plying across the Bankot creek while traveling to Harihareshwar from Bankot Vesvi. Do leave in time for the return journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to decide the best date to visit?
Hatchlings emerge over about 3 days from one nest. You need to check our website or blog for the announcement of hatchlings emerging from a nest and then plan to visit Velas in the next two days after that. For example, on 13th March if we announce that hatchlings have emerged, then 14th and 15th are the best possible dates for viewing the turtles.How to reach Velas?
By MSRTC (ST) bus: Here is a bus timetable
Timings of ST buses from Mumbai, Pune & Dapoli Bus Starts from At Reaches At Pune - Velas Pimpri 09.30 Velas 17.30 Velas - Pune Velas 06.45 Swargate 13.30 Mumbai - Velas Mumbai 12.30 Velas 20.00 Velas - Mumbai Velas 06.30 Mumbai 12.30 Mumbai - Velas Mumbai 00.30 Velas 06.30 Velas - Mumbai Velas 09.00 Mumbai 15.00 Ratnagiri - Velas Ratnagiri 16.15 Velas 22.30 Velas - Ratnagiri Velas 05.00 Ratnagiri 11.00 Dapoli - Velas Dapoli 14.50 Velas 17.30 Velas - Dapoli Velas 07.30 Dapoli 10.30 Mandangad - Velas Mandangad 08.10
10.10
14.30Velas 09.15
11.30
15.30Velas - Mandangad Velas 09.30
11.45
16.15Mandangad 10.30
12.55
17.15
Train is not convenient to reach VelasHow to book accommodation?
Visit our website or blog - snmcpn.blogspot.com and call one of the members and inform them about your arrival at Velas. Give details such as names and number of persons, gents or ladies, children, period of stay (1 day, 1 and a half day etc.) and arrival time. There is no need to pay in advance, you can pay at Velas.Can we see Turtles / Hatchlings for sure?
We try our best to give you a chance to see turtle hatchlings crawling towards the sea. Our calculations are based on our experience of the last 7 years. However it is a natural phenomenon and can not be guaranteed! Also, it is not possible to see female turtles laying eggs.Can we get separate rooms?
Velas is a small village and there are no Hotels or Resorts. But decent home stay arrangements are provided. Mr. Milind Nijasure, Phone No. 02350 - 220629, has only one separate room while in all other places accommodation is shared with other guests. Basic facilities like bathrooms, latrines etc. are provided.What type of food is available?
Simple home-cooked Maharashtrian vegetarian food.Which mobile networks are accessible in Velas?
Within Velas, there is no mobile coverage, only BSNL landline! About 1/2 km before the village is a spot where mobile coverage is available.
Turtle nesting - Current status
For up-to-the-minute updates, please check our blog at snmcpn.blogspot.com
| Location | Mar 5 |
Feb 20 |
Feb 12 |
Feb 5 |
Jan 27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratnagiri District | |||||
| Velas | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 6 |
| Kelshi | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Anjarla | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kolthare | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Dabhol | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Murud | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Raigad District | |||||
| Dive agar | 17 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
| Maral | 9 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 60 | 55 | 47 | 36 | 25 |
What's new?
Photos from Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Sammelan 2009
Turtle conservation report 2008-2009
Marine Turtle Conservation report for the year 2008-2009 is now available.
You can view/download it by clicking the link below.
Marine turtle conservation report 2008-2009 (PDF)
September 2009
Colourful brochures of Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra and the recently launched
Nature Conservation Fund have just been published. So is the annual report
for the year 2008-2009. Click on the images below to view
or download the PDF versions.
Welcome to SAHYADRI!
Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra (SNM) is a leading non-government organization (NGO) in India, engaged in conservation of, education about and research on nature. In the year 1992, SNM started its work in the pristine region of Konkan on the western coast of Maharashtra state in India.
SNM has successfully organized various projects in nature conservation, protection and education with its limited resources.
Our current major projects include:
- Conservation of Marine Turtle
- Study of Whiterumped Vulture (Gyps bengalenses)
- Conservation of Indian Swiftlet (Collocalia unicolor)
- Study and conservation of Whitebellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
- Breeding biology of some bird species