Located on the Konkan coast in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Velas is a quaint village still unsullied by commercialisation and the advent of technology. Velas is a small eco-village in Ratnagiri district which is famous for the Olive Ridley turtle population that visits the Velas beach every year and lays their eggs. Witnessing a baby turtle coming out of the egg and then finding its way to the sea by those baby steps is an unforgettable moment.

Velas Turtle Festival is organised by Sahyadri Nisarg Mandal on the beach every year where this NGO sets up hatcheries along the beach to conserve Olive Ridley turtle eggs. The Olive Ridley turtle eggs have a nesting time of 45 days to 60 days and post the period, the baskets are checked twice daily for any hatchings and the new-born turtles released into the sea immediately. Olive Ridley baby turtles generally find it easier to dig out of the sand during the night as the sand is cooler. Once born, the turtles are immediately carried a little closer to the sea and then allowed to make their maiden journey into the sea.