Ganpatipule

Origin of the name

According to local folklore, the Hindu god Ganapati, taking umbrage at a remark made by a native lady, moved to Pulé पुळे (a few km before the town) from his original abode of Gulé. Thus the region was named Ganpati-pulé.

The 400-year-old Ganpati idol at Ganpatipule is said to have sprung up from the soil. This deity faces the west, so as to guard the western gates, unlike deities in other Indian temples who face the east. The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around (pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect.

Geography and history

Ganapatipule is approximately 375 km. south of Mumbai, along the Konkan Coast. It is a very small town with about 100 houses, and has one of the most spectacular beaches along the Konkan Coast – an idyllic getaway that attracts peace-seekers, beach lovers, and pilgrims alike. The temple of Swayambhu (self-originated) Ganesh is much frequented by thousands every year. The God is considered to be the Paschim Dwarpalak (Western Sentinel God of India),and those who visit Ganapatipule make it a point to pay their respects to this deity. In addition to its clean beach and clear waters, Ganapatipule is rich in flora, including mangroves and coconut palms.

Ganapatipule is governed by the Ganapatipule Grampanchayat.

Climate

Winter (late October to mid-February) is the most pleasant season, with temperatures dropping at night. From March, the temperature starts rising but rarely crosses 30 °C. May is the hottest month, with temperatures reaching 40 °C. The monsoon lasts from June to October, when rains are usually plentiful and regular.

Demographics

Marathi is the most widely spoken language. Hindi and English are understood and spoken by many. There are Marathi medium schools run by Ganpatiphule Grampanchayat / Ratnagiri. The nearest college is at Malgund. There are many villages in Ganapatipule which are full of greenery. The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. Rice and coconut are the most common crops in this area. Many festivals are celebrated along the Konkan Coast. Among the most significant are Gauri Ganpati and Magh Chaturthi (the fourth day of the lunar month of Magh).

Tourism

With the development of tourism, a number of resorts and hotels have opened in this small town, the most significant of which is the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation resort near the beach.Other resort/spas include: Abhishek Beach Resort and Spa, Areopagus Spa, and The Blue Ocean Resort and Spa in Ganpatipule. are also a few smaller hotels in this town.

Nearby places

The beautiful village of Velneshwar, situated north of the Shastri River, has its own peaceful, coconut-fringed beach, where one can relax in tranquility. The village comes alive each year during the Maha Shivaratri fair, when pilgrims in large numbers visit the Old Shiva Temple. According to folklore, a fisherman had found a statue in his net which he had promptly thrown back into the sea. He again found the statue back in his net. Angered by this he banged the statue on a stone, but the statue started bleeding. The fisherman picked up the statue and place it in a small temple which then grew into the Velneshwar Shiva Temple.

About 26 km from Ganapatipule lies the district headquarters town of Ratnagiri. This region has a long illustrious past and is even mentioned in Indian mythology.

Malgund, a small village 1 km away from Ganpatipule, is known as the birthplace of the famous Marathi poet Keshavasuta, born in 1866. He is regarded as a poet who heralded the dawn of modern Marathi poetry. There is a monument at Malgund dedicated to his work and also a museum where one can find information on most of the modern-day poets of the Marathi language. The memorial is for people interested in Marathi literature. Malgund also houses Nirmal Nagari of Her Holiness ShreeMataji Nirmala Devi of Sahaja Yoga fame.

Resting on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river, just 20 km from Ganapatipule, is Jaigad Fort. This 17th-century fort offers a commanding view of the sea and an almost unique view of Konkan village life. A scenic 15 km back road connects Ganpatipule to Jaigad via Malgund.

Besides its scenic natural beauty and serenity, Pawas is 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. The distance from Ratnagiri to Pawas is approximately 20 km.

The panoramic view from the lighthouse, around 6–7 km from Jaigad Fort, is breathtaking. It was completed in 1932 and is still completely operational and serving on the coast.

Transportation

The town is easily accessible from the port city of Ratnagiri, which also has a railway station and an airport.

By road

Ganapatipule is 32 km from Nivali, a small village on Mumbai Goa Road (NH 17). From Nivali, one has to turn right for Ganapatipule. The distance from Nivali to Ratnagiri is around 20 km. The distance from Nivali to Hatkhamba is around 4 km. From Hatkhamba one has to take a right turn for Ratnagiri, which is 16 km from here. Sangameshwar is about 25 km from Nivali and 45 km from Chiplun. From Ganapatipule one can approach Ratnagiri directly without coming to Nivali and going through Hatkhamba. The direct road has many more turns and is narrow compared to NH-17, but the journey has natural beauty and sea views. That distance is around 30 km. Mumbai is 375 km away via Mahad, and Pune is 331 km away via Satara. For fast journeys, Ganapatipule is also connected with other cities by state transport buses. Buses are available from major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur to Ratnagiri. From Ratnagiri, private cabs also ply to the town.

By rail

There is no railway station at Ganapatipule. The nearest railway stations are at Ratnagiri and Bhoke. All the express, passenger trains stop at Ratnagiri, being a city. Bhoke is a small village and only passenger trains will stop there.

By bus

There are frequent buses from the MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) to Ganapatipule via Ratnagiri Railway Station, Nevade Road and MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) to Ganapatipule via Ratnagiri Railway Station, Nevade Road, Malgund. One can reach Ganapatipule faster by taking the MSRTC City Bus from Ratnagiri Railway Station to MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) and then changing buses there to a bus to Ganapatipule via Arevare. There are MSRTC buses from Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchawad, Pune, Swarget (Pune), Miraj, Solapur, Chiplun, Sawantwadi, and Panjim.

Private buses ply between Mumbai / Pune to Ganpatipule via Ratnagiri. Neeta Travels : Borivali (Mumbai) to Ganpatipule via Ratnagiri. Purple Travels (MTDC) : Borivali (Mumbai) to Ganpatipule via Ratnagiri.