| -Pragya Jhavar
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.
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