Ratnagiri and around..

Few months back I had written a post with title Guhagar & around in same blog.... This time I am taking you bit more southwards to Ratnagiri.. Entire coast of Konkan is beautiful & it will be disrespect to the beauty if I write single post on complete coast...

So here comes Ratnagiri for you.. You might have searched some sites till now & read names like ratnadurg, thiba palace, patit pavan mandir, mandvi beach.. but as always my attempt would be to add some offbeat things..

so.. my first suggestion would be keep 4 days if you want to travel to ratnagiri.. ofcourse one can cover even in two days but 4 days would give you real relaxation & joy....

While going to ratnagiri dont follow the usual NH17 track it becomes boring at times.. So leave the NH17at goregoan & follow the road for mandangad. This is country side road & travelling through Ambet - mhapral bridge & kelshi - Anjarle - Karde to Dapoli is fun. From Dapoli go to Dhopave which is 30 Kms from Dapoli. From Dhopave, load your car / bike / bus into ferry boat & go straight to Anjanvel.. If you have time.. dont miss Gopalgad & lighthouse near fort.

After visiting fort you can take next break to Guhagar beach which is one of the most beautiful beach in Ratnagiri district. One can also visit Vyadeshwar temple on the way.. There are many places between guhagar & ratnagiri, if you want to visit them, take halt at guhagar as you will get many options for stay here.

Day 2 start in the morning.. take left turn from Vyadeshwar temple.. After travelling 6 kms take right turn.. This road heads to Velneshwar & hedvi.. two beautiful places. Velneshwar is 18 kms from Guhagar & Hedvi is 25 kms from Guhagar. At Velneshwar visit beautiful beach & ancient temple of lord Shiva. From velneshwar move further to Hedvi. There are three things to see here, first is Dashbhuj ganesh temple in hedvi, small but beautiful Hedvi beach, & bamanghal.

Further ask for the road to Bhatgaon, dont join NH17. Bhatgaon is another 45 kms from here. The bridge is constructed over Bhatgaon creek. This road from Guhagar to Bhatgaon & further till Ganpatipule is amazing. You will surely enjoy the ride.

If you have time & you are fort enthusiast you can visit Jaigad before proceeding to Ganpatipule... You need to run few extra miles but then the location of fort is great...
Further you will reach at ganpatipule after travelling some 25 kms further... Ganpatipule is famous for Ganesh temple & its beautiful beach.. visit the temple, then go to the beach... look around & if you think its to crowded for you to enjoy.. dont waste time here.. just start your vehicle again & travel 3 kms further to Bhandarpule.. stop in this village and enjoy your private beach... very clean, calm & beautiful..........

From here you can opt to stay at ganpatipule or travel to Ratnagiri town for accomodation.
In ratnagiri town you have many places to see.. you can visit mandavi beach, ratnadurg, bhagwati fort, thiba palace, patit pawan temple, house of lokamanya tilak.. but one more must visit spot is Aare-Waare beach.. This is yet another virgin beach.. must visit near ratnagiri.

If you have one more day.. or dont want to see many places but want to relax.. still you have fantastic option nearby.. just 18 kms from Ratnagiri town is Pawas.. typical Konkan village. The math of swami swarupanand here is very good.. One can enjoy numerous Mango products manufactured locally by Desai brothers at Pawas.

Hope you will plans to visit these places.. if you have time on the way back you can visit dervan near chiplun, shivtharghal which is 24 kms away from NH17, or you can take diversion at Poladpur to visit Pratapgad...

If you need any help in arranging a trip or info about specific locations.. feel free to contact me at kaustubhkhare@gmail.com or call me at 9820031162