One of the most famous place in Maharashtra is Ganesh Temple at Ganpatipule.

Located in Ratnagiri district of Kokan [~350 kms. from Mumbai]

Lambodara’s (Ganesh) temple Also called as “Paschim Dwar-Devata” (Western Sentinal God)

The abode of Ganesh at Ganpatipule is Swayambhoo! (Self incarnated)

Lets look into each detail about this place .. I mean it will be complete guide for you.

Ganpatipule – Places to visit, Food, Bhakta niwas booking

Places In Ganpatipule

1. The idol of Lord Ganesh.
2. Huge Temple of Swayambhoo Ganesh.
3. The Holy -Trunk place (Shundasthan) on the circum navigation path and Shembekar Math.
4. Tranquil and clean sea-shore.
5. Holy Tomb of Bhide Guruji.
6. The Big Entrance and Lord Ganesha’s Vehicle – the Mouse.
7. Chandika Mandir (Village Deity)
8. Ganpatipule Sea Beach

Places to visit near Ganpatipule

• Suggestion : You can book a car for full day for about 2500 Rs with driver for full day and cover most of the places near Ganapatipule as shown in below listing … this will be easiest way to save time searching for directions and places ..

1. Poet Keshavsoot Memorial
   • Location : at Malgund
   • Contains the Library and study room + the collection of famous Marathi poetry by legendary Marathi poets, (articles made up of copper about 100-150 years back.
   • See below utensils
     • Panchapale (Special equipment of worship),
     • Moodpatra (Scoops of boiled rice can be formed with this)
2. Omkareshwar Temple
   • Location : about 1 Km far from the Malgund S.T. stand.
   • Constructed in Hemadpathi style in 1765.
   • Similar to the Omkareshwar temple, Pune.
3. Jaygad Fort
   • Accessible by a four-wheeler till main gate
   • The out skirts and watch towers of the fort are still intact.
   • You can see just the ruins of at wostoried construction
4. Karhateshwar
   • At the left of the Jaigad fort, you can see Karhateshwar temple and Jaigad light house.
   • Situated on big rock close to a cliff at the sea-shore.
   • Visit  ‘Bobhati Ganga’
5. Shri-Laxmi-Keshav Temple – Kolisare
   • Location : Jaigad to Chafe road, 8 Km prior to Chafe diversion, turn left to Kolisare village.
   • The temple is engulfed with tranquillity and dense forest.
   • A four armed idol is 5 feet high made of reddish black shaligram stone from the Gandaki river in Nepal
6. Shri Uma-Maheshwar Mandir – Hedvi
   • Made at the end of 18th century
7. Shri Welneshwar Mandir
   • Location : 5 km far from Hedvi.
   • This temple has a history of 400 years.
8. Shrikshetra Parashuram
   • Location : Mumbai-Goa highway near Chiplun at Pedhe village.
   • Contains traces of western, Muslim and Hindu architecture at the same time.
9. Thiba Palace
   • 97 years old palace used for King Thiba imprisonment of 30 years
   • Visit museum containing various ancient idols found in Konkan + TuTu’s photographs, Old wooden chairs and the exhibition of pictures of ancient temples in Kokan.
   • Museum closed on Monday
   • Lunch-hour (1 to 1.30pm)
   • Do not forget to see Sunset from ‘Thiba Point’ looking over Bhatyeriver, Rajiwada port, infinite ocean and Fort Bhagwati.
10. Lokmanya Tilak Birthplace
    • See a Life-size statue of Lokmanya and the Maharashtra State Archeological Preservation Department office.
11. Ratnadurga Fort
    • made in 1205 akak Ratnagad or Bhagwati fort.
    • Its horseshoe shaped fort with area of 120 acres ( length 1300 meters and width 100 meters)
12. Swatantryaveer Savarkar’ Memorial
    • Location :  close to the Patit-Pawan Mandi
    • Audio-visual information available in an exhibition titled ‘Gatha Balidanachi’ (Story of martyrdom)
    • You have to pay a nominal entry fees
    • Time : 10 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 6 pm.
13. The Savarkar Cell Cubicle (its a national memorial)
    • Location : at Jayastambh square on the main-road.
    • This cell holds the memorial of the die-hard devotee of India-Veer Savarkar!
    • See the very iron shakles and iron shots
14. Memorial of Labour-power
    • Location : in front of Ratnagiri Railway station
    • Formed in the memory of sacrificed lives for the construction of Konkan Railway.
15. The Highest Railway Bridge in Asia-Panwal
    • Location : a diversion towards village Panval on Ratnagiri- Hatkhamba road at 9 km from Ratnagiri.
    • Jeep/sumo can reach up to the bridge
    • or Walk 3 kms if you go by your car
    • highest in Asia = 65 meter heigh
    • View down from the support-pole galleries towards the deep valley, to take breath-talking views.
16. KARABUDE : Konkan Railway Tunnel
    • Location : 5 km from Nivadi diversion to Ganpatipule, there is a way-right towards Karabude.
    • There is a motor-way up to Lajool Grampanchayat from a way left at Ukshi.
    • 20 minutes walk after parking.
    • The biggest 6 km tunnel in Asia.
    • You can see the huge turbines running over the tunnel when ones travels towards Ganpatipule.
    • WARNING : Avoid walking in the tunnel darkness
17. Shri Swami Swaroopanand Shrine Temple – (“Samadhi Mandir”)
    • Location : 20 km from Ratnagiri.
    • There is a huge, beautiful and extremely clean temple at the same spot.
    • The temple has the facility of Bhakt-Niwas and Prasad.
18. Haraji Bhatkar Chowpaty
    • The sea-shore at Bhatye-village is known as Harji Bhatkar Chowpaty.
    • See the infinite ocean and the cut-out of Ratnagiri fort with the light-house.
19. Shri Zari Vinayak Mandir
    • Location : Ratnagiri-Pavas Road
    • See Lord Ganesh Carved out of the rock
20. Ganeshgule (Agargule)
    • Location : Pavas-Poorngad road. At about 4 km from the main-road
    • 400 years old temple constructed in jambha rock
    • See a 70 ft deep well in the temple premises.
21. Dhoot-papeshwar
    • Located : 5 km distance from the main market area of Rajapur.
    • See a specious auditorium, outer altarand inner altar along with Nagarkhana (Place to beat holy drums on special occasions in a temple) and stone-towers far Lamps
    • See Mrudani River views over a black rock.
    • See waterfall “koti-teerth”in rainy-season.
    • See beautiful Ganesh idol carved and of black stone.
22. Hot water spring – Unhaale
    • Location : Mumbai-Goa highway – Unhale village.
    • well-constructed hot water springs.
    • These the sulfur smelling hot water springs are functioning through out the year said to have the medicinal healing power
23. Ganga – Teerth – Rajapur
    • Location : Mumbai-Goa highway, next to Rajapur.
    • See 14 Kund (Earthen thanks bordered with Jambha rock.
    • The temperature varies from kund to kund.
    • You can take bath under the flow of water descending through the Go-mukh in kashi-kund.
    • the emergence of Ganga at Rajapur takes place after 3 years. In the mean time all the kund are empty waiting for the next emergence of Ganga!
24. Shri Kanakaditya Mandir
    • Location : The road past village Gaonkhadi at the 7 km.
    • See the designs on the pillars, patterns of vines and leaves, carved images of various Gods and Goddesses etc.
    • See beautiful wooden carving of Gods and Goddesses on the ceiling of the temple.
    • marvelous work of sculpture made in black stone
25. Shri Mahakali Mandir
    • Location : village Adiware on the Ratnagiri Rajapur via pavas road
    • See the five idols in the temple namely Shri Yogeshwari, Shri Mahakali, Shri Mahalaxmi, Shri Mahasarswati and Shri Ravalnath.
26. Golwarkar Guruji Memorial

Places to eat in Ganpatipule

Best way is to look for home made food places, ask for Kahawal (A place were people eat daily the home made food)

• Mehendales Swaad Dinning
• Bhau Joshi Bhojnalay
• Aditya Khanawal

Shopping in ganpatipule

• kokum and mango products.
• Dried kokum (used in Indian dishes)
• Kokum sherbet,
• Mango pickles,
• Aam-papad,
• Wooden toys and show-pieces.

Ganpatipule bhakta niwas rate card

Ganpatipule bhakta niwas

• Good quality tasty food at low rates (poha/upma 20 Rs, tea 5 Rs, Cofee 10 Rs, unlimited lunch 60 Rs)
• Good quality rooms at low rates 50 Rs to 500 Rs
• Contact phone number of Bhakta nivas 02357 – 235754 / 235755
• भक्त निवास संपर्क – (०२३५७)२३५७५४/२३५७५५

MTDC Beach Resort Ganapatipule

• The MTDC resort just overlooks the famous Ganpatipule Beach and the Lord Ganesha temple
• The MTDC cottages are located on a hill and you can get stunning sea view
• Rooms are available with attached bathrooms facility
• AC and non-AC Konkani houses also available for stay (indicative charges for rooms are in the range of 2500 Rupees to 3000 Rs)
• Holiday resort, Ganpatipule,post – Ganpatipule Dist Ratnagiri-415615 , 415615
• Phone numbers of resort. : 02357-235248/ 235061/235061/ 62
• Click here to do Online booking for MTDC Ganapatipule resort

How to reach GANPATIPULE from Ratnagiri Railway station?

• You can hire an Auto rikshaw or a cab or get into the ST bus, it will take 45-50 minutes travel.
• By all these options you will be able to reach right up to the MTDC resort & Ganesh temple

What is the Best time to visit Ganpatipule ?

• Winter season is the best, being sea shore, you will enjoy visit during winter season ..
• November till January end
• summer seasons are too hot and humid, unless you want to taste Ratnagiri Mango, there is no reason to visit there in such hottest months! (March till May)
• Rainy season (monsoon) is totally NO, there will be heavy rainfall, so not recommended at all (June till Oct)