Bankot Fort:
The fort is located at a distance of 5km from the village of Velas. It is one of the main attractions near Velas. Not much is known about the origin of the Bankot fort. The fort was known to be under the control of Adilshahi, and later in 1548, the Portuguese took control over it. Later, Marathas, under the able leadership of the great Kanhoji Angre, took control over Bankot. They rechristened the fort as Himmatgad. It is a historical place because it was the first residency in the Southern part of the Konkan coast of British.
Harihareshwar Temple & Beach:
You can also visit this historic temple near Velas, located around an hour’s drive from the village.
Harihareshwar temple is a Hindu temple and one of the most renowned temples in the Konkan region. It is built on top of the Harihareshwar hill, and inside the temple, you will find idols of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, and Brahma. A pradakshina path goes around the temple, along the seashore.
A huge boulder is also divided into two segments just behind the temple. It is believed that Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, broke a massive boulder into two separate pieces since it stood in the way of the temple.
Kelshi Beach:
The beach is located at a distance of 30 kms from Velas; it will take around an hour to reach here via car.
It is one of the cleanest beaches in the Konkan region and one of the least crowded beaches. There are many hotels and eateries near the beach where you can indulge in the local Konkani cusine.