Little away from the crowded city of Mumbai Ganapatipule with its luxuriant and serene beach welcomes and rejuvenate the tourists. The location is Mumbai-Konkan NH-17 and is 374 km from Mumbai, 331km from Pune, 144 km from Kohlapur and 45 km from Ratnagiri. The name of the hill came from Ganesha or Ganapati and Pule means coast Therefore the name is Ganapatipule. Paschim Dwar Devata (god on the western door), Ganapatipule is one of eight Ganapatis. It is a plateau, the temple is at a height of 100 meters on the hill itself has taken the shape of Lord Ganesha in the imagination. The road rounds the hill as if virtually walking round the god. On the Shukla Chaturthi day in the month of Magha the devotees from far off places visit the temple. This is the deity, which Chhatrapati Shivaji worshipped. The idol was established by the Marathas in 1600 AD. Later on. the temple was renovated by the Peshwas.
This is not only a 4000 years old temple source of legends, bin also its calm and silvery coastline shaded by coconut and tamarisk trees attract pilgrims as well as tourists from far off places. Various types of water-sports facilities are available in Ganapatipule.
How to reach Ganapatipule:
One may reach Ratnagiri by Konkan Railway trains from Mumbai and then arrive at Ganapatipule by bus in about one and half hour or, alternatively may reach here by direct luxury buses of MTDC or ASIAD from Mumbai to arrive at Ganapatipule in about 10 hours. Since the number of buses on Mumbai to Ganapatipule route are insufficient, one may also reach via Ratnagiri by bus, which is available at half our interval.
From Deolipatta on Bombay to Goa NH 17 route, buses are available for Ganapatipule at a distance of 32 km from there. Buses from Pune and Mahabaleswar also reach Ganapatipule in about 6 hours. Regular buses from Panaji are available for Ganapatipule.
MTDC organizes package tour to Ganapatipule during season.
The natural beauty of the road with green groves of mangoes, jack-fruits, coconuts and bananas and the springs flowing down here and there and occasional cottages with roofs made of red tiles against the blue sky background are unique attraction to the tourists. The interested tourists should also Keshavsoot Memorial at the residence of Maratha Poet Keshavsoot in Mafgand. Swami Swarupananda Ashram at Powas, legendary Jaigarh Fort about 35 km away and Marleswar Shiva Temple and fountain at a distance of 60 km on the way to Ganapatipule From Mumbai CST.
Margaon-Mandavi Express 7-05Hrs , Konkan Kanya Exp at 22-50 Hrs; from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus; Jana Shatabdi Exp at 5-35, LTT-Mangalore Matsyagandha Express 14-05 hrs, LTT-Tiruvanantapuram Netrabati Express 11-40 hrs and from Dadar: Dadar-Rainagiri Pass at 13-50 hrs by the latest trains of Konkan Railway arrive Ratnagiri. Besides Nizamuddm-Ernakulam-Mangala/ Lakshadweep express and numerous other trains also run via Ratnagiri. The town connected by bus route and 10 km from railway station.
Where to stay at Ganapatipule:
For accommodation at Ganapatipule, there are Guest House of Temple Committee and Holiday Resort of MTDC, Dist Ratnagiri, Ph: (02357) 235248.
Konkani House under the same management is also there at your service.
Other hotels at Ganapatipule:
Hotel Abhishek, Motel Madhur, Hotel Kinara, Hotel Sreesagar, Hotel Landmark.
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