A long stretch of sand for few kilometres, thickly covered with vegetation, bordered by a river and the sea on either side, displaying classic scenic beauty at every step is Devbaug, ‘the garden of God’. A recently proclaimed MTDC tourist location is situated 6 kms south of Malvan.

The side facing the river gives a panoramic view of the sunrise over the mountains across the river. The seashore flaunts calm and clear waters, the local fishing boats and nets and a view of the Sindhudurg fort in the horizon. Over the years, both the Karli river and the Arabian sea have washed away vast amount of sand. The distance between the two is gradually diminishing. But the inhabitants here are not afraid. They claim the deity in the village temple protects the land. As long as the temple remains, so shall the village survive all odds.

The vast stretch of land was untouched by the wave of tourism and modern lifestyle just 20 years back. One had to walk or row in a boat to reach any place on the island. Fishing was the sole profession known to the inhabitants. Food was cooked on chul, a platform of mud elevated from the kitchen floor, with a hollow space within to place dry wood and twigs. Tea was consumed with loads of sugar but without a drop of milk. A postman and a DD from a family member migrated to the city was eagerly waited upon.

Development has changed the look of Devbaug and it will happen further. With MTDC setting up its tourists centre here, the place has been exposed to development. A state transport bus and vehicles travel all the way through the village to the peninsular point where the river meets the great Arabian Sea. The inhabitants now possess LPG gas cylinders and telephones. The sanctity of traveling in a rowing boat is now lost to the noisy motorboats and jettys. The tourists advent brought in varied employment opportunities for the locals. The Malvani fish cuisine is relished upon by every seafood lover. Fish is also exported in frozen form to cities and abroad. Devbaug flora boosts of one of the best varieties of mangoes, coconuts, chickoos, etc., too.