Aquarium - Ratnagiri

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Saibaba Temple at Ganpatipule

The idol of Saibaba at the temple

Lokmanya Tilak birthplace and memorial

Statue of Lokmanya Tilak at the birthplace memorial

Marleshwar

Replica of Marleshwar at Prachin Konkan

Veer Savarkar Memorial

Tiled image of Veer Savarkar at the memorial

Patit Pavan Mandir



Idols of Laxmi Narayan inside the temple

The temple which was built by Veer Savarkar in 1930 marked a new beginning. It was the era when the caste system was very prominent and the people of the lower caste were treated as untouchables. Worship to the lord by them was considered as the most unholy. It was Veer Savarkar, who realised the need to a temple for these people called the Harijans then. The temple came to be known as Patit Pavan - Patit meaning the lowest or downtrodeen and Pavan meaning the holy; thus giving rights to worship God as equals to the people of the lower caste. The temple was first of its kind to be built in those days.  It was surrounded by chawls of these untouchables, who regularly worshiped the idols of Laxmi and Narayan. It is said that it was built at a cost of 1.5 lakh and recieved an annual income of Rs. 900. However, the expenses exceed this figure and the deficit was met by the public contributions.

Bhandarpule beach

The virgin beach of Bhandarpule

Two km from Ganpatipule, nestled amidst two hillocks is the tranquil shore of Bhandarpule beach. The shoreline has soft sands and is lined with suru trees. Not many people are seen here and thus makes it an ideal place for people seeking solitude. One can have great views of this place from the nearby hillock.

Aare beach



Soft sands and the verdent suru corridor at Aare beach

 One of the most virign beaches of Ratnagiri, Aare is was not a very well known destination until a road was newly constructed to reduce the distance between Ratnagiri and Ganpatipule. The beach streach lies 15 km from Ratnagiri as you approach Ganpatipule. A long beach stretch of around 3 km, verdent suru corridor and no tourists are the major attractions of this beach. It is one of the best preserved jewels of the Konkan.

Getting here
Though the beach lies on the the road journey between Ratnagiri to Ganpatipule, the buses still take the older route and thus don't cross Aare beach. The best way is to hire a private vehicle to reach here. It is 15 km from Ratnagiri.

Ganpatipule Beach

Ganpatipule beach strecth as seen from MTDC guest house

Virgin, tranquil and serene... suddenly you realize epithets are scanty to describe the beauty of the shoreline at Ganpatipule.The waters are clear and beach is clean. One can spend hours here playing with the waves or just sitting by the saline waters. Thus the place is equally frequented by the beach bums as is by the followers of Lord Ganesha.

Getting here :

Loads of buses ply to Ganpatipule from Ratnagiri. It is around 35 km away from here.

Accomodation :

MTDC resort is the best option if you are here.  

Prachin Konkan

You reach Ganpatipule to see numerous signboards around pointing to ek anokhe (a unique) museum called the Prahin Konkan. Just a km away, this place is a haven to the ancient cultural glimpses of the Konkan. It is an open air museum and the walk in the thick woods starts with the history of Konkan and Lord Parshuram whose statue has been installed here. You get the glimpses of local rural life inlcuding the local deities, the lifestyle, barter trade of the olden days, various professions of the people, etc. A place definitely worth a visit when you are at Ratnagiri / Ganpatipule

Reaching here :
From Ratnagiri take a bus to Ganpatipule which is 35 km away. From here follow the signboard directions to walk up to this place. One can hire an autorikshaw for this 2 km ride. However the walk is more enjoyable.

Thiba Palace

Just a km away from the city, the Thiba place is an architectural grandeur that was created for King Thiba of Myanmar (Burma) who was in exhile here. It is said to have been built by the British Government to have the king kept under house arrest in 1910.

The place has been beautifully crafted in Jambha stone and the roof is decked with Manglorean tiles. It has grand archways and spacious rooms which are all locked up. Today the place lies in complete neglect and not much looked after, except a couple of rooms which have taken a form of a museum displaying the various old artifcats used by the king in the olden days.

The mute walls narrate a story about a king who spent his last days of his life, in this place, thinking about the choices that he made for his life! Marrying his own sister or accepting his fate which leaded to a house arrest was part of that. Thiba was put in a house arrest in 1885 at Ratnagiri. Later in 1910, this palace was built for him.