|
The town of Ratnagiri is located in the southwestern
part of Maharashtra, on the Arabian Sea coast. It is
bordered by the Sahyadri Hills on its west and is a
part of the Konkan tract, famous for its long coastline,
accessible harbours and its proximity to the Arabian
Sea.
Lore has it that the Pandavas had settled in the adjoining
territory of Ratnagiri district in their thirteenth
year of exile, and when the Pandavas and the Kauravas
fought the famous battle of Kuruskshetra, the king of
this region, Veeravat Ray, had accompanied them.
During the rule of the Bijapur dynasty, a fort was
built in Ratnagiri, which was strengthened in 1670 by
the Maratha king Shivaji. Under the rule of the Bijapur
dynasty, the town also became the administrative capital.
The Ratnagiri of today is the land of scenic beaches,
providing many sightseeing and relaxing opportunities
for tourists.
The Beaches:
Ratnagiri boasts of many beaches in and around the
district, which are famous for their beauty and serenity.
The Ratnagiri beach itself is a picturesque beach, which
penetrates the sea. There are many other beaches on
the coastline of Konkan, like the Chiplun, Dapoli and
Guhagar beaches.
Parashuram Temple:
This famous temple, devoted to Lord Parashuram, is
located near Chiplun, Ganapatipule and Pavas, and attracts
many visitors. A few caves in Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol,
Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum and Vade Padel are also
attractive sights for tourists and deserve a visit.
Murud Janjira:
The Murud-Janjira beach near Alibaug is a sea town,
located close to Mumbai. Here, one can visit the semi-ruined
fort of Janjira. Murud also boasts of a fort that is
three centuries old. It is surrounded by palm trees
and is a marvellous piece of architecture.
Savantwadi:
Savantwadi is one of the most popular towns of Sindhudurg
district. It is gracefully adorned with lush green forests
and hills from three sides. There are various waterfalls
here, along with the beautiful sea to its west. This
place is famous for its wooden articles and mangoes.
Sindhudurg Fort:
The Sindhudurg Fort is an island fort. It was constructed
by Shivaji in 1664 AD, and is located on a low, rocky
48-acre island off the Malvan coast. This fort speaks
volumes about the glory of the Maratha Empire. It is
situated in the southern part of Konkan, nearly 150
km from Ratnagiri. It is said that this fort has the
hand-prints and foot-prints of Shivaji. There is also
a 300 year old small temple which is dedicated to him
and was built by his son.
Shopping:
Ratnagiri is bestowed with some of the high-quality
horticultural fruits. One can buy a variety of fruits
from this place, specially the royal mangoes. During
summers, the most famous variety of mangoes in the world-
the Devgad ‘hapus’ or Alphonso mango is
available here. These mangoes are exported throughout
the world.
Seasons to visit:
Ratnagiri is ideal for visiting throughout the year.
Getting There:
Air: The nearest airport is situated at Ratnagiri itself.
It is about 50 kms away.
Rail: The nearest important railhead is Kolhapur. Ratnagiri
also has a railhead on the Konkan railway about 50 kms
away, but it is not very important, and not many trains
pass through it.
Road: The district is well connected by roadways with
important towns such as Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, etc.
| 
