The famous and most visited of the four beaches in the vicinity is Arnala Beach in Virar. Arnala, a far north suburb of Mumbai's Thane district, boasts plenty of coconut tree shade, various resorts, and being near Virar, there are plenty of other sites of interest to visit. The beach, however, is the main attraction linked with Arnala.
The Arnala Beach is conveniently positioned, and you can get there by simply going down a few short steps. Couples were drawn to this large beach with semi-white and black sand because of the abundance of tree shade, resorts, and cottages offered on an hourly basis. The Arnala fort island, which was erected originally by the Portuguese and subsequently restored by the Marathas, can be seen from the shore. To go to the fort, you'll need to take a ferry.
Arnala's most famous attraction is, of course, the Arnala Beach. The Arnala Beach is conveniently positioned, and you can get there by simply going down a few short steps. As seen from afar, the beach ocean currents are dangerous and not particularly enjoyable. The water is around 50 to 100 metres from the coast, and this particular beach has a history of many young people drowning.
You will be greeted by a lot of hawker women selling delicate coconut water as soon as you enter Arnala Beach. As you continue walking, you will come across camels waiting to give you a desert experience by taking you on a ride. Similarly, horseback riding is an option. Furthermore, photographers can use their quick cameras to record every minute of your time at the beach.
Arnala is home to a variety of resorts that have set up shop along the world-famous Arnala Beach. These resorts offer a complete package that includes both lodging and meals. You may enjoy a comfortable accommodation while also sampling a variety of classic foods at a reasonable cost.
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This Virar beach, Arnala, was previously a deserted beach with only local villagers, fisherman, and a small number from Virar as visitors. Rapid expansion and a surge in the travel sector brought some of the lesser-known destinations into the spotlight, such as Virar, which was formerly merely a village with a coastal settlement Arnala noted for its fisherman culture.
The historic Arnala Fort is located on a small island near Arnala's port. Sultan Mahmud Begda of Gujarat owned the island of Arnala, which is surrounded by sea on all four sides. The Portuguese captured the island in 1530. After nearly two centuries under Portuguese authority, the fort was taken over by the Marathas in 1737. It is also known as Jaldurg or Janjire-Arnala since it is an island fort.
After a long war with the Mughal Empire, the Maratha Confederacy came to dominate the region in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The then Peshwa Baji Rao I dispatched his brother, Chimaji Appa, to capture the Bassein Fort from the Portuguese in 1737. On March 28, 1737, a second attack on the fort caught the Portuguese off guard and compelled them to evacuate the fort. The fort was restored by the Marathas, who built three bastions: Bahirav, Bhavani, and Bava.
During the First Anglo-Maratha War, the British conquered the fort on January 18, 1781. The Arnala and Bassien forts were nominally surrendered to the Marathas in the Treaty of Salbai. Until 1817, the fort was under the authority of the Marathas. Despite diligently defending the fort during the Third Anglo-Maratha War, the Marathas were eventually compelled to surrender the fort to the British because of their superior naval power.
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