Vasai: Mini Goa

Are you thinking of planning out a trip with your family?

How about planning your trip to Vasai? The most lively and fascinating place indeed, right?

There are too many places to see in Vasai and it's worth planning your vacations out here. In this blog, you will come across the 10 best places in Vasai you never knew before. Vasai is blessed with many beautiful beaches. It has its own history. There are many Churches built during the Portuguese period. Come along and let's explore Vasai: The blissful place.

Origin of the name Vasai:

The name Vasai derives from the Sanskrit word Waas meaning dwelling or residence. Later the Portuguese named it Bacaim. It was named Bijapur by the Marathas. The Muslim rulers named it Basai. Later it was renamed Bassein and now it is Vasai.

How to come to Vasai:

You can come to Vasai by train or by road. If you are coming by train then outside the Vasai station [W] autorickshaw and bus service are available by which you all can visits and see different beautiful tourists spots.

Places to visit in Vasai:

Vasai fort:



Vasai fort or Bassein Fort is basically a sea fort. It was built by Sardar Bandare Bagale in the year 1414. In 1530 it was taken over by the sultan of Gujarat. In 1536 it was rebuilt by the Portuguese. In 1739 Chimaji Appa attacked and captured the fort of Vasai. In 1774 the fort was taken by the British and in 1783 under the Treaty of Salbai the fort returned back to the Marathas. In the year 1818, the Britishers again attacked and seized the territory from the Marathas.

There are many churches built by the Portuguese in the fort. The boundary wall is about 30-36 feet tall. It has a sea-facing and land-facing entrance. There is also a temple of Shree Vajreshwari Devi in the fort.

Vasai fort is also a popular shooting location for many Bollywood movies. Movies like Josh and Songs like Poster Lagwa Do from Luka Chuppi were shot here.

500 years old Vasai fort is only 6 km away from Vasai station.




Besides the fort, there is also a Jetty with a beautiful view.

Churches in Vasai:



The first church built outside the fort is the St. Thomas Church [Sandor].

There are many other churches in Vasai including

Our Lady of Remedi [Remedy].

Holy Cross Church [Nirmal].

Our Lady of Mercy [Merces].

St. Michael Church [Manicpur].

Giriz Dongri:



Giriz Dongri is a small hill also known as Heera Dongri, Dutt Dongri and Vajragad. It is in the Giriz parish and to visit this place autorickshaws and buses are available from Vasai station to Giriz. Vajragad is like a watchtower built by the Portuguese to keep watch from Vasai fort to Arnala fort but when Marathas attacked the Portuguese this came under the hands of Marathas and the Dutt temple was constructed. On the top where the temple is, you will get to see the entire view of Vasai.

Buddha Stupa:

The stupa was discovered on 7 April 1882 by Pandit Bhagwalal Indrajit.



During excavation, from the center of the stupa [inside a brick-built chamber], a large stone coffer was excavated which contained eight bronze statues of Maitreya Buddha which belong to the 8th-9th century A.D. The coffer also contained caskets of bronze, silver, crystal, and gold. Silver belonging to 1st-2nd century, Satvahan kingdom of king Gautami Putra Satakarni's era were also found 2 out of 14 inscriptions were also found numbered 8th-9th which were written by Samrat Ashoka and now it's kept at Asiatic society in Mumbai.

It's a good and serene place, where one can visit and meditate.

Farms:



Vasai is a combination of both city and rural life. Vasai is Immersed in old-world charm.



You will get a picturesque view of Vasai which includes beautiful old as well as new houses. If you are going through a village you will come across many farms and most importantly you will get to buy fresh vegetables.

Yazoo Park:



If you are with your kids then Yazoo Park is the best place where your kid will enjoy the most. Yazoo Park is in the Virar [W] in the Global city. It is an amusement park especially meant for kids with many Thrilling rides. It also has a food corner with the tastiest food available. I am absolutely sure that your kids will have a lot of fun here.


Jivdani Mandir:



Jivdani mandir is located on a mountain in Virar [E]. Every year lakhs of devotees visit this mandir for blessing. You can too have a visit to Jivdani Mandir.

Beaches:



If you are a beach lover then Vasai is the best place for you all to visit because Vasai is blessed with many wonderful beaches. One of them is Arnala Beach. There is an Arnala fort too you can visit it by boat. On Arnala beach you can even have a camel or a horse ride. In the evening one can enjoy the beautiful view of the sunset. While coming from the beach you can buy fresh fishes too.



You can also have a one-day stay in the resorts of Arnala.

Food Corners:



There are many Food corners in Vasai, one is in Vasai station in Din Dyal Nagar, a famous shop called True Taste the best food item of this shop is the shawarma.



If you are visiting Vasai and did not have Seafood then you are definitely missing a big thing.

You will get tasty seafood at Farmhouse and Kinara in Pachu Bandar in front of this is a fish market as well. 



Places to stay in Vasai:



There are many clean and outstanding hotels in Vasai of those are the Park Inn and the Western Inn where you will surely get a luxurious stay.

I hope you all will surely visit Vasai and will go to all these wonderful places.

Here is a video on Vasai only on the "Vasaikar Rovilda" youtube channel.



For more such Travel blogs please follow "Travel Over" and do not forget to share them with your family and friends.