Ratnagiri is located at a distance of about 330 km
from Mumbai and situated along the western coast in the Konkan region of
Maharashtra. Konkan is a narrow coastal strip, running from North to
South with a varying width. The Konkan strip lies between the Arabian
Sea in the west and the Sayhadri or the Western Ghats to the east.
Ratnagiri district is famous for Alphanso mangoes, cashew nuts,
fisheries, rice and mineral bauxite. Ratnagiri was once the
administrative capital under the Bijapur rulers.
Prime Attractions in Ratnagiri
The prime attractions in and around Ratnagiri are the Parashuram Temple
(near Chiplun), Ganapatipule and Pavas. There are some wonderful caves
in Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol, Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum and Vade Padel,
which are also worth visiting. According to the Buddhist legends, the
region got converted to Buddhism as early as the fifth century BC.
Shivsamarth, near Chiplun, with sculptures from Shivaji's era is also an
important attraction. The "Ganga of Rajapur" is called a
natural miracle. There are 14 small pond lets (about 3 ft apart from one
another) and they all flood with water, with different temperatures in
each pond. According to the Geologists it is a rare case of a large
natural "Siphon Cup".
Tourist Attractions
Some of the major tourist attractions of Ratnagiri are as follows-
Tilak Smarak- This is the ancestral house of the great freedom
fighter of India, Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Patit Pawan Mandir- The patit Pawan Mandir was the first temple
built for the non-Brahmins by revolutionary leader, Swatantryaveer
Savarkar.
Thibaw Palace- The Thibaw Palace was built for the exiled King
and Queen of Burma (now Myanmar) in 1910-11. It now houses the Ratnagiri
Sub-center of the Mumbai University.
Ratnadurg Fort and Bhagwati Mandir - The Ratnadurg fort is
located on the sea shore of Ratnagiri. It spreads across an area of
about 120 acres. The fort is surrounded by sea. Inside the fort, there
is a temple called the "Bhagwati Mandir". This ancient temple
is quite famous among the local populace.
Lighthouse - The lighthouse is one of the oldest and most
beautiful places to see around in Ratnagiri and is open to the public
for a limited time.
