Keshavraj Temple

Reaching Keshavraj is as much a pleasure as arriving, because the temple hides at the top of a gorgeous forest trail near the village of Asud. The walk crosses a little bridge and winds up through dense mango, coconut and betel-nut groves, with birdsong and a stream for company, before a flight of old stone steps delivers you to the shrine. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Keshavraj, the temple is famous for a stone-carved gomukh, a cow-mouth spout fed by a perennial natural spring that flows cool and clear all year. The setting is deeply peaceful, wrapped in green and far from any road noise, which is exactly why it tops so many Dapoli itineraries. The gentle trek makes it suitable for most fitness levels and a hit with families and nature lovers. Combine it with the nearby thousand-year-old Vyaghreshwar temple in the same village. Visit October to March, wear shoes with grip for the trail, and carry a bottle to taste the famous spring water at the top.