ganpatipule......

For the "freaks of nature"
Are you the kind ,who prefers solitude and revels in the beatitude of nature instead of shaking a leg to the mambo beats of a DJ in a sweaty club.....
Maybe it is the healing silence that unwinds you, contrary to what your friends may say....
If you want to shake off the monotony that threatens to engulf you and want to have some "Me-time" then Ganpatipule (Maharashtra) provides the perfect retreat for you.
One of the virgin beaches that Maharashtra is famous for....its still largely undiscovered by tourists who still prefer Goa(ho-hum).....
Located in the district of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, its easily accessible by road and rail.


For the "penny-pincher"
Ratnagiri being the nearest major station , state transport buses provide cheap and comfortable commute to Ganpatipule....S.T. buses start from mumbai in the night and reach ganpatipule in the morning, covering a distance of around 375 kms.
Adjacent to the beach is the MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation) which provide a good view of the beach..... recommended if you are travelling with spouse/kids....
But if you are at the beautiful age when such encumbrances don't limit you i.e.you are a student / bachelor then I empathize and maybe you should check out the local lodges. They charge around Rs 500-700 a day and you can roam around like a gypsy without worrying about some urchin pilfering through your luggage...
The rooms provided are clean and can be adjusted to accommodate 4 people.That comes to around Rs.100-150 per head.

"Main attraction"
The main attraction is obviously the clean , pristine beach.You can actually see through the ocean water which is great considering majority of the beaches in Maharashtra have been turned murky, courtesy indisciplined tourists....
The best part is, most of the people visit ganpatipule mainly for the temple and not for the beach, giving the beach a "private-beach" kind of feel.
There are no shady guys in trunks trying to sell water sports ...... hence you are spared the agony of dodging them and finding a quiet spot......
Also it's a veritable gold mine for amateur photograph buffs because of its scenic location and beautifully constructed temple.
Flanked on one side by the beach, the temple is surrounded by a hill on the remaining three sides.In fact thetemple is constructed at the foot of the hill around the deity.
Red stones used in its construction give it a distinct "rajasthani" flavour.
The walls have ornate carvings of "Dwar-palakas" (temple-gate guardians) and the presiding deity (Ganapati) in various artistic postures , symbolizing the deity's mastery over the finer forms of art.

The main deity itself is small, about 4-4 1/2 feet in height , vaguely resembling the deity with a trunk and eyes.
Devout's throng the temple throughout the day, paying obeisance to the deity who is considered all the more potent because its a swayambhu (self-made, literally swayam -self , bhu -earth)
Swayambhus are considered auspicious as it is believed that the deity incarnates at those places out of its own volition.
Legend has it that the deity was discovered when a cowherd followed his cow to the hills and found her worshiping the deity with milk from her udders.
On closer examination, the deity was revealed and a temple constructed around it.
A pradakshina around the temple is considered auspicious , symbolizing that God is the centre and we have to keep revolving in the material plane with our thoughts firmly fixed on the centre.
In any case the pradakshina is recommended, as the hill is breathtakingly beautiful especially in the rainy season.The pradakshina leads one to another swayambhu on the upper parts of the hill.
Though not elaborate as the original deity, this swaymabhu represents the face of the deity.
Regular worship is done at this particular spot too.

For the "foodie"
Food is definitely not a problem in Ganapatipule.Closer to the temple , we can find a string of good hotels offering superb malvani/konkan fare.
If you are a gourmet , try out the konkan cuisine......also there is something about the food over there ,You don't feel satiated by the food at all.......a good point if you are planning to try everything on the menu.
I would definitely recommend the "Sol-kadi" , a concoction of kokam and coconut milk, which is supposed to be an appetizer.
The charges are nominal and the total expenditure would not exceed Rs. 200 per person.

"Nearby tourist attraction"
Around 2 kms from Ganpatipule is Malgund, birthplace of the famous marathi poet "keshavsoot"
Jaigad fort is also a definite must-see.

All in all a brilliant get away for the weekend, which would help you rejuvenate both body and soul.