Radiant blue waters, never-ending stretches of silver sand, sun rays dancing through the swaying palms, waves coming closer to the sand dunes, cool breeze whispering in your ears is the land of Ganpatipule.
The 4,000 year old land mark, the ‘Swayambhu Ganpati’ temple (Meaning ‘self-made’, it is a temple of the self-originated idol, Ganapati) is nestled in a foliage. Every year it is flooded by thousands of devotees and tourists. Peeping into the village history, it got its name Ganapatipule from Ganapati, the lord of the “ganas” or army and “pule” which means sand dunes. It is one of the “Ashta Ganapatis” (eight Ganapatis) of India and is also known as “Paschim Dwar Dewata” (the Western Sentinel God).
Ganapatipule is a small village, calm, cool and unspoiled. The beach here is still and silent as natural and untouched as ever. Traveling by roads is an experience by itself. The vast ‘Konkan’ stretch abounds with picturesque greenery. There are typical narrow mud-roads, the soil is red and the roofed houses with clean courtyards add a charming touch to the scenery. The local vegetation includes fruit trees like mango, betel nut, jackfruit, banana, coconut, etc. The entire western coast can be seen covered with these trees. The locals are very social and cheerful, always ready to chat with the visitors and make them feel homely as possible.
Location:
Ganpatipule is 331 KMS from Pune. There is limited transport service to reach Ganpatipule.
How to reach?
Many prefer to go by road. It’s the easiest way to reach. There are tourist buses or you can hire a car and go. If you have your own car, that is the best option to go. Other is rail transport. Though there is no railway station at Ganpatipule. The nearest station is Ratnagiri (45 KMS) which can be travelled by Konkan railway. Avoid air transport as there is hardly any nearby airport.
Places of interest:
Velneshwar
This beautiful village is situated on the northern side of the Shastri River, has its own quiet, coconut-fringed beach, where one can relax in silence. The village becomes energetic each year during the festival of Maha Shivaratri, when devotees visit the Old Shiva Temple in a huge figure.
Ratnagiri
It is located about 25 km away from Ganapatipule. Ratnagiri is often termed as district headquarter town. The region has a famous past and is even mentioned in Indian mythology.
Malgund
Malgund, a small village which is just 1 km away, is well known for being the birthplace of famous Marathi poet ‘Keshavasuta’. He was born here in 1866. He is termed as a poet who heralded the dawn of contemporary Marathi poetry. You can witness a very beautiful monument at Malgund, dedicated to his work and also a museum where you will be able to find more information on most of the modern day Marathi poets. The Memorial is truly a treat for people who are fascinated by Marathi literature.
Jaigad Fort
35 KMS away, resting on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar River, is Jaigad Fort. The fort was built during the 17th century. It offers a superior view of the sea and an almost exclusive view of the entire Konkan village life. To reach there, you can take the back road from Ganpatipule via Malgund to Jaigad. The journey is about 15 KMS, but a worth watch and is extremely scenic, especially for nature lovers.
Pawas
Pawas can be termed as naturally gifted. It is famous for its scenic natural beauty and serenity. Pawas is also well-known for the Ashram of Swami Swaroopanand (a spiritual leader who influenced an entire generation of Maharashtrians). A visit to this place is truly a journey through time.
Food and accommodation:
Food:
Ganapatipule being a pilgrimage destination, non-vegetarian food is hardly seen. But being part of Konkan region, one can notice fish curry, rice and kokam kadhi on the outskirts of Ganapatipule. For veggies, tasty vegetable curries, prepared with a coconut base is available. ‘Modak’, the favorite sweet (Pakwan) of Lord Ganesh is also available.
Accommodation:
With Ganpatipule becoming a favorite tourist destination, a number of resorts and hotels have come up in this small town. Among all MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) is significant of them. It is located near the beach. The MTDC resort lies on the slope of a green hillock, facing the sea. The beach view is enriched with Alphonso mango trees, and coconut palms dot the 45 acre grounds. Sea view cottages, tents and Konkani houses are also available to stay. (The latter two are not rented out during the monsoons).
Other hotels include, the Best Western Blue Ocean hotel, 4 km away from the heart of the town near Malgund. It is also near the beach. There are a few budget hotels in this town, which include Abhishek Resorts and Tranquility.
If you have visited Ganpatipule, please tell us more about it through comment.
Ganpatipule Temple near Pune
Ganpatipule near Pune
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