Velas Turtle Festival 2025 from Mumbai & Pune

• ID Card
• Camera (Optional)
• Enerzyl Powder or Glucon D powder
• Snacks & Biscuits
• Extra Pair of Clothes
• Clean napkin or small towel
• Comfortable Footwear.
• Cap, Sunglasses, scarf
• Haversack or Backpack (No sling bags)
• Mosquito repellent cream
• Please carry Personal medicines if you need any

ECO TOURISM - OLIVE RIDLAY TURTLES AT VELAS

Place : Village Velas, Taluka – Mandangad, District - Ratnagiri, Maharashtra , in the western costal region of India.

Velas turtle festival is a popular annual festival where new born baby turtles are released back to sea. Tourists and photographers enjoy the time watching baby turtles take first steps of their life towards sea and then start their long journey of life which is full of challenges. Velas beach and Velas village also offers a great ecotourism experience for all visitors and its a great fun spending your time at Velas in that rustic and cozy village life. However it is highly important to note down a few things in order to make sure that your tour will be full of fun, hassle free and will not give you any unwanted set back. So here are a few quick tips to make your velas tour memorable

• The Velas Turtle Festival is a limited-time event, attracting a high number of visitors. Expect some rush, especially during weekends.
• Velas is a remote village with limited infrastructure and resources. While our team will ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience, we encourage you to embrace the simplicity and authenticity of village life.
• We are committed to providing everything as mentioned in the itinerary, but due to sudden surges in visitors, there might be slight variations. We request your understanding and cooperation as we work to make your experience seamless and memorable.
• The turtle hatching is a natural phenomenon, and sightings depend on nature’s timing. While not guaranteed, they are highly likely during the festival period.

Join us for an unforgettable blend of nature, history, and rural charm at the Velas Turtle Festival! 

Read More on Velas Turtle Festival 

About Olive Ridleys Turtles 

The Olive Ridleys turtles had been declared 'endangered' long back. Hence Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra(SNM), a nonprofit organisation joined hands with Marine Conservation Society and the local community in 1992 and since then, have dedicatedly worked towards the conservation of this exotic species of turtle. 

Mostly during February and March, a number of Olive Ridleys come to the western coast of Maharashtra to lay eggs, of which, 40% proceeds to the beach of Velas. The sea turtles reach the beach late at night, and each female lays around 80-120 eggs, which are then guarded against predators and poachers by a group of dedicated volunteers. 

The eggs were previously sold in the open markets or destroyed by dogs, but this conservation effort ensured a sizable rise of the Ridley family. The volunteers immerse the eggs into a safer nest in the sand, and after an incubation period of 40 days the hatchlings emerge and makes their way to their home in the ocean.

The releasing of hundreds of turtles into the ocean is one of the most delightful sights to behold - an event that attracts nature lovers, first-time visitors, and shutterbugs alike. The releasing of turtles takes place twice a day, once under the gleaming rays of the morning sun, and once again in the sultry evenings. 

Added to this unique spectacle is the unforgettable eco-village experience, where visitors can stay at the home of the locals and interact with the people of the coastal village.

Eco-tourism Trip and Awareness

Velas Turtle Festival is not just about little turtles hatching season and the beautiful beaches, there something more to it. Olive Ridley Turtles are one of the more endangered species of turtle. To protect and conserve these turtles, the Marine Conservation Society hosts this turtle festival at Velas every year to spread awareness and promote eco-tourism.

1: Can we get a separate room or family room at Velas Tule Festival Homestay?
Answer: Currently, we are only conducting group events, and due to the heavy rush on weekends, we can only oer dormitory homestays at Velas Village.
Velas Tule Festival Homestay, Our Velas tule festival accommodation is a dormitory with large halls. We have separate rooms available for Men and Women. Velas beach reso is not available at Velas Beach Ratnagiri or Velas village. Resos are available in Dapoli or Harihareshwar only.

2: Where can I nd olive ridley tules on Konkan coast?
Answer: Apa from Velas Maharashtra, Olive Ridley tules can be found at many beautiful beaches along the Konkan coast, few beaches mentioned here. Guhagar Beach, Harihar Beach, Velas Agar Beach, Anjarle Beach, Wayangani Beach Vengurla. Best in all, the beaches of the Konkan coast.
Some of the best beaches are available close by Diveghar Beach, Shirvardhan Beach, Harihareshwar Beach, Bankot beach, Kelshi Beach, Anjarle Beach, Karde Beach, Harney Beach, Ladheghar Beach, Ganapatipule beach. Due to limited time on tour, we will be covering only Harihareshwar Beach and Velas Beach. Many olive ridley tules conservation projects are active on the Konkan coastline; only a few are open for tourists by the forest depament and olive ridley tules conservation team.

3: The food at Velas Village Homestay Food?
Answer: We provide locally cooked Jain, Veg, Non-veg food at our Velas Tule Festival stay. Food quality is the same meal that locals cook for themselves; it is Konkani cuisine. Velas homestay owners are famous for their hospitality, food, tourist ock during the tule festival in Velas.
Questions 4: Are toilets available and a bathing facility?
Answer: A bathing facility is available, and a hot water facility is unavailable. Toilets are the eastern commode.
Velas beach lines have no toilet facility. Tourism is open for a few limited months in the Village, so most homestays are very basic. Tule Festival at Velas Every year, thousands of tourists from India ock to this vibrant coastal Village for the annual festival.

5: Velas Village mobile connectivity? 
Answer: The range is available in a few spots near the Village, and Idea sim cards have a good range. There is load Shedding, and carry power bank electricity is unavailable for some periods due to load shedding at Velas Village. Bankot fo has good mobile connectivity and Harihareshwar beach.

6: What are the things to do at Velas Tule Festival?
Answer: Some fun things to do during Kasav Festival Velas Village. Bird Watching, you can spot my dierent species of birds and play competition who spots the most dierent birds and identies them. Fireies in Velas Village are visible in the evening at ceain spots. Enjoy the village life at Velas beach Konkan Homestay stay.
Bankot Fo Ratnagiri historical very impoant as the rst residency of East India British Company in India, Taking pa in Tule Festival Velas Village, Night walk around the coastal road, Relaxing by the beach and watching sunrise and Sunset.
Watching Dolphins in the sea from Velas beach and Harihareshwar beach. You can visit the Anjarle Tule festival around 40 km from Velas. Anjarle beach is an untouched and charming Village. Many homestays are available right where the beach ends. Boat ride to Suvarnadurg Fo, watch the sh auction at Harney Beach. Darshan at Harihareshwar temple and shop local produce from the market.

7: Velas Tule Festival Timings or Velas Kasav Jatra timing? Velas Tule Hatching release timings?
Answer: It would be best if you reached Velas beach at 6.30 am. For evening Velas tule release arrive at the beach at 5.30 pm. Locals release Velas tule festival 2022 dates, the forest depament and the Kasav Mitra Mandal Velas conservation team. Baby olive ridley tules are released around Sunrise and Sunset every day

8: Will Harihareshwar Temple and Harihareshwar Beach will be visited? 

Harihareshwar Temple and Harihareshwar Beach will be seen on Sunday. Please note there are no Velas beach resorts or Velas Beach hotels available only homestays. Velas beach to Harihareshwar, We need to board a jetty at Vesvi - Bagmandle Ferry Boat. 

9: What are the dates for the Velas festival?      

 Velas Turtle Festival Dates are released after Kasav Mitra information centre, who handle conservation, inform us with approx dates of Baby Turtle Hatching. Turtle festival Velas beach is conducted to help locals make a living through eco-tourism and increase awareness about turtle habitat conversation.  

कासव मित्र मंडळ usually conducts the festival from February to April every year at Velas beach in Konkan

10. Can you tell me about Velas turtle festival 2021 and Velas turtle festival 2020? 

Hi both the years the turtle festival Velas was cancelled by the forest department due to covid guidelines. The villagers suffered huge loss of income from turtle festival cancellation. Later they also lost livehood due to cyclone.

Velas beach place is 20 minutes walking distance from most homestays at the end of the Village. Kasav Mitra Mandal Information boards guide you in the right direction. Many informative boards have also been put up with information about the wildlife in the region.  

11. Velas turtle festival best time to visit?

Have you heard about the Velas Turtle Festival 2025? It takes place in February, March, sometimes upto April, and is held on Velas beach is considered of milestone importance to ecology in Konkan.

This year, the festival offers a chance to get up close with olive ridley turtles and learn how they are threatened by hunting, habitat loss, and excessive fishing. The best time to visit Velas turtle festival 2025 is in March.

• In case of cancellation from the organiser’s end (due to Lockdown, Or any Natural calamities including,snowstorms, thunderstorms, floods, landslides, earthquakes, bad weather or unexpected political unrest, terrorism activity, curfews, riots, or government orders), We will Refund the amount in 30 Days

• In case a client wishes to change the trek date, Bhatakna reserves the right to do so, provided the request is made 30 daysprior to the initial departure date.
• Booking amount is Non-Refundable.
• Refunds will be made within 7-14 working days from the date of cancellation 
• The refund amount will be calculated from the total fee, in case any partial payment has been made
• No refund is applicable on cancellation if Advance Amount is Paid to Book the Trek or Trip.
• Cancellation charges are based on the total trek fee, irrespective of the amount paid either full or partial. 
• If the cancellation is from the client’s end at any point of time post the.registration refund will be provided as per the details mentioned below:-

1. Cancellation made 14 days before the trek/ Trip - 50% refund
2. Cancellation made between 07 days to 13 days before the trek- 30% cash refund
3. Cancellation made between 01 day and 06 day before the trek– No Refund,
4. If the Cancellation is made on the Starting day of the trek or there is no Show on the start day of trek, there will be No Refund