Places to Visit in Ratnagiri- The Jewel of the Konkan Coastline

Introduction

Situated along with the Arabian Sea coast, Ratnagiri is a port city in the District of Ratnagiri. This city is located in southern Maharashtra and is home to a number of beaches of the Konkan Coastline. Ratnagiri is an ancient city and there are a lot of places to discover. If you want to know about places to visit in Ratnagiri, then we are going to list down a few places which you should definitely visit when visiting Ratnagiri. This city has a rich history as it was ruled by the famous Maratha Ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji. Later the British took over the city. This city has an influence of both Western and Eastern architecture.

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When is the Best Time to Visit?

Ratnagiri is located on the coast of Arabian Sea, therefore, summers are really hot and humid. The best time to visit this place is during the winter, that is, from November to February. During this time the temperature is very pleasant and is perfect for sightseeing. If you want to experience the flora and fauna of this place, then monsoon season will be a better choice to visit. The monsoon season begins in June and continues till September.

1. Bhatye Beach

Bhatye beach is a beautiful beach located Bhatye area of the Ratnagiri district. This beach is located 3 km from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand. This beach falls under the Kokan coast of Maharashtra and is one of the major places to visit in Ratnagiri. This beach is one of the most reputed beaches of the Konkan coastline. The length of this beach is 1.5 km and unlike other beaches, this one has a straight and flat coastline. The beach is famous for its panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges in the background. The unique feature of this beach is the creek which separates the Mandvi beach from the Bhaye Beach. If you are a nature lover, then you would love this place. During the sunset, you can experience a spectacular view of the blue water, silver sands, and casuarina trees along the beach.

From this beach, you can see the Mandavi Beach and Ratnagiri Lighthouse. Apart from the scenic view which this beach has to offer, there is a temple of Zari Vinayak located at the end of it. This beach is a popular picnic spot for families and tourists. There is also an agricultural research center which researches on coconut near the Bhatye Beach. You can also indulge in activities like horse and camel riding when you visit this place. Also, you can get delicious seafood, chats and coconut water along the beach.

2. Mandavi Beach

Mandavi Beach is next to the Bhatye beach and is only 2 km away from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand. This beach is located along the Konkan coastline. This beach is in the heart of the Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. This beach is one of the most happening and crowded places in Ratnagiri. The famous Rajiwanda Port is located at the end of this Beach. Mandavi Beach offers a beautiful and smooth beach where one can come and unwind. The Arabian Sea is on the south of the beach and on the west of the beach is the Ratnadurg Fort. The unique feature of this beach is that it has black sand and hence is referred to as the Black Sea. This beach has a bastion at the entrance and hence it is called the gateway to Ratnagiri.

The Gateway of Ratnagiri is also equipped with a Jetty. This jetty is known as the Ratnagiri jetty. The Bastion is equipped with a sloped roof. This amazing structure was built by Pratinidhi Dhondu Bhaskar and is one of the most beautiful places in Ratnagiri. The design of this gateway is beautiful and one can enjoy a stroll during the dusk and enjoy the cool breeze of the sea.

3. Marine Aquarium & Museum

Located on the Ratnagiri – Bhagwati Mandir Road, the Marine Aquarium & Museum is one of the major attractions of Ratnagiri Town. This museum is located next to Mandavi Beach. In 1985, this beautiful Marine Museum was created by the Marine Biological Research Station of Ratnagiri. This museum cum aquarium shelters some of the rare species of marine animals. These specimens are Lionfish, Sea turtles, Triggerfish, Lobsters, Sea horse fish, Sea cucumbers, sea snakes, Eels, Starfish, and many more.The museum also hosts an enormous structure of wall skeleton which measure up to 55 feet in length and 5000 kg in weight. This massive structure awes everyone whoever visits this museum.

Since people love coming to this museum and it has become one of the most demanded tourist places in Ratnagiri, the museum has recently made a new section based on freshwater aquariums. This section has plenty of freshwater fish and plants. Few freshwater specimens which are displayed in this section are crabs, shrimps, aquatic plants, barbs, turtles, Cichlids, prawns, etc.

Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM every day.

Entry Fee: Rs. 3 for kids and Rs. 5 for adults.

4. Thiba Palace/Thibaw Palace

Thiba Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in Ratnagiri. This is a historical building which is situated 2 Km from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand on a small hill. This building has an interesting history attached to it. King Thibaw of Myanmar (Burma) was sent to exile in Ratnagiri by the British in the early 1900s. For this, the British built this house in 1910, where the King could be kept under house arrest. This palace was used by the King until his death from 1910 to 1916.

This historic building has 3 stories and has a sloping roof. The palace is equipped with windows which are semi-circular in shape and has carvings on it. These windows are the primary reason why tourists come to visit this place. On the first floor of the palace, there is a dancing hall with marble flooring. On the back of the palace, there is a statue of Lord Buddha which was bought by King Thibaw himself. The palace is renovated on a regular basis and is maintained by ASI. The palace also has a museum which displays all the artifacts and items used by king Thibaw.Near the palace is a viewpoint called the Thiba Point. From this viewpoint, you can see the beautiful Bhatye Bridge, Someshwar creek and the majestic Arabian Sea. If you visit this viewpoint during the sunset, then you can surely witness complete bliss and serenity.

Timings: The palace is opened to tourists from 9 am to 6 PM

5. Ratnadurg Fort

The Ratnadurg Fort is located on the coastline of the mighty Arabian Sea. This fort is 4 km from the Ratnagiri bus stand is one of the major tourist attractions in this place. This fort is also one of the most famous forts in Maharashtra as well. Built in the 16th century, the fort was one of the monuments built by Bahamani Sultans. In 1670 AD, Chhatrapati Shivaji and Adilshah captured the fort. It was controlled by Kanhoji Angre and was later presented to the Peshwas. At the end in 1818 AD, the British seized this fort from the Peshwas.

The Fort is uniquely built with several bastions and tunnels. There is a tunnel which connects the lower and upper parts of the fort. There are many bastions which known as Khamakya Rede, Markya, Ganesh, Vagha, Baskya and Vetal. The fort symbolizes strength as it was built in such a way that it can withstand the force of the waves of the Arabian Sea. Till today the walls are still intact, thereby, showing how strong the design of the fort is. The fort is also called Bhagawati Fort because of the presence of a Bhagawati Goddess’s idol inside it. Every year devotees celebrate the festival of Navaratri at the temple situated in the fort. The fort is also home to temples of Ganesh and Hanuman.

6. Ganeshgule Beach & Temple

Ganeshgule Beach is situated in the Ganeshgule village. This village is 21 km from Ratnagiri. This beach is one of the most visited places in Ratnagiri. The Ganeshgule Beach is also considered as one of the most serene beaches in Maharashtra. This beach is 1.5 km long and is known for its amazing sunset views. The sides of the beach is surrounded by mountains and the white sand and rocky terrain makes it a perfect place to unwind yourself. You can swim in this beach and get some tan by sun bathing. There are also many water sport activities like diving, snorkeling which you can try out. Visitors can also enjoy a boat ride while visiting this beautiful beach.

Conclusion

Ratnagiri is a place where you can enjoy nature as well known about the history of the place. There are many places to visit in Ratnagiri and is perfect for a family vacation and the numerous beaches also provide a place to unwind and destress yourself. So, if you are tired of your mundane life, then visit Ratnagiri to charge up your dried up batteries.