RATNAGIRI - GANPATIPULE - CHIPLUN - DAPOLI - HARIHARESHWAR - ALIBAUG (BEST OF KONKAN FROM PUNE)

At a distance of 2 km from Ratnagiri Bus Stand, Thibaw Palace is a historical building situated on a small hillock in Ratnagiri Town of Maharashtra. This is one of the major tourist attractions of Ratnagiri.

Thiba Palace is an architectural grandeur that was created for King Thibaw of Myanmar (Burma) who was in exile here. It is said that the Palace was built by the British in 1910 to keep the king of Burma under house arrest. The palace came into use from 1910 up to the king's death on 16th December 1916.

The palace is a beautifully constructed three storied structure with sloping roofs. Semi-circular wooden windows with beautiful carvings are the main attraction of this structure. There is a dancing hall with marble floor on the first floor. One Buddha idol is installed at the back side of the palace. This idol was brought to India by king Thibaw. Presently the palace is maintained by ASI and it is currently under renovation. There is also a museum in the palace which displays .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Ratnagiri Bus Stand, Marine Aquarium and Museum is located on Ratnagiri - Bhagwati Mandir Road next to Mandavi Beach in Ratnagiri Town.

The Marine Museum was established in 1985 by the Marine Biological Research Station of Ratnagiri. The Marine museum has some rare and beautiful specimens like Sea horse fish, Lion fish, Trigger fish, Sea turtles, Eels, Sea cucumbers, Star fish, Lobsters, sea snakes and many more. This museum also possess well mounted precious and age-old skeleton of Whale. The original length of the whale being 55 feet long and 5000 Kg in weight is strongly appreciated by everyone who visits this station.

Taking into consideration the growing demand of general public about aquarium, a beautifully arranged and well decorated separate freshwater aquarium section has been recently developed. In this section, along with beautiful and fancy colour fishes, one can also observe locally available freshwater aquatic species like prawns, .....

At a distance of 4 km from Ratnagiri Bus Stand, Ratnadurg Fort is a historical fort situated on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Ratnagiri. It is one of the popular forts in Maharashtra, and among the top Ratnagiri places to visit.

The fort of Ratnadurg was constructed during the rule of Bahamani Sultans. It was captured by Adilshah and then Chhatrapati Shivaji conquered the fort in the year 1670 AD. Later, the fort was controlled by Kanhoji Angre, and later handed over to Peshwas. The British captured the fort from the Peshwas in the year 1818 AD. It is among the must-visit places during your Ratnagiri trip.

Spread over a vast area of 120 acres, Ratnadurg Fort was once a stronghold of the Maratha Empire. The fort was used as a watchpoint for keeping vigil on the pirates. Ratnadurg Fort is .....

At a distance of 3 km from Ratnagiri Bus Stand, Bhatye Beach is a marvelous beach situated at Bhatye in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Situated along the Konkan coast, it is one of the popular beaches that can be visited as part of Ratnagiri packages.

Bhatye Beach is a wonderful beach in the background of the jagged Sahyadri mountain ranges provides a panoramic view of the surroundings. The length of the beach is approximately 1.5 km and is very flat and straight. Bhatye Beach and Mandvi Beach are next to each other separated by a creek. One can enjoy nature at its best here. With the bluish water, a vast expansion of silvery sands, and the clean environs sprinkled with casuarina trees, Bhatye Beach is one of the best tourist places in Ratnagiri to admire the mesmerizing sunset.

The Ratnagiri Lighthouse and the famous Mandavi Beach .....

At a distance of 1 km from Ganpatipule Bus Stand, Swayambhu Ganapati Temple is an ancient temple situated on Ganpatipule Beach in Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Ganpatipule and also one of the popular Ganesh temples in Maharashtra.

The Ganpati Temple is about 400 years old and is the prime attraction in Ganpatipule packages that draws thousands of pilgrims every year to seek blessings of the Lord. According to one legend, after being insulted by a local lady, Lord Ganapati moved to Pule from his original abode of Gule. Thus the place was named as Ganpati-Pule.

The idol of Ganesha is believed to be a monolith which is self-created and discovered over 1600 years ago. The other idol of Lord Ganapati is made of copper and placed in the sanctum sanctorum. This copper .....

At a distance of 1 km from Ganpati Pule Bus Stand, Ganpatipule Beach is a spectacular paradise along the Konkan coast in Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Ganpatipule and also one of the popular beaches in Maharashtra.

Ganpatipule is one of the only two white sand beaches in Maharashtra, the other being Kashid Beach. It is a perfect gateway that captivates beach lovers, adventure enthusiasts, and pilgrims as part of Ganpatipule tour packages. The 6 km long beach simply looks stunning with the Ganapati Temple on the shores that offer a soothing atmosphere. With several shacks, horse riding, and camel rides, the beach has become a perfect holiday destination for visitors.

The pristine Ganpatipule Beach is the main attraction among tourists and mainly adventure enthusiasts. .....

At a distance of 19 km from Ganpatipule and 42 km from Ratnagiri, Jaigad Fort is coastal fortification that is located near Jaigad village in Maharashtra. It is one of the popular forts in Konkan region and also one of the top tourist places near Pune for history lovers. It is a protected monument under Archeological Survey of India.

Jaigad Fort is one of the prime places to include in Ganpatipule tour The meeting point of the river Shashtri and Arabian Sea is called as the creek of Jaigad. For the protection of this creek two forts were constructed, one is Vijaygad at the north direction and the other is Jaigad at south. Situated on a cliff, Jaigad has a commanding view of the bay and the open sea. A jetty port and a lighthouse are located nearby.

It is believed that the construction of Jaigad was initiated in 14th century and completed by Sultan of Bijapur .....

At a distance of 17 km from Guhagar and 72 km from Ganpatipule, Velneshwar Temple and Beach are located at Velneshwar in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

Sri Velneshwar Temple is believed to be one of the ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati. Earlier, the temple was built by Gadgils and was later renovated by Sri Trimbak Ravaji Gokhale. Representing an example of ancient Hindu architectural style, the temple houses many small shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Ganesha and Kala Bhairav. The main sanctum of the temple is adorned with paintings and stone carvings representing various episodes of mythology. This temple is flocked by a large number of devotees during the festival of Mahashivratri. It is held in the month of March and celebrated in honour of the deity Lord Shiva.

Another prime attraction of Velneshwar is the Velneshwar Beach which is lined with coconut trees. This is one of the most secluded and pristine beaches in the entire .....

At a distance of 79 km from Ganpatipule and 46 km from Chiplun, Guhagar is a pristine beach located at Guhagar in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. It is one of the top places to visit in Ganpati Pule.

Guhagar Beach is one of the cleanest and less polluted beaches in Maharashtra. It is located just 200 m from Guhagar Bus Stand towards the western side. Guhagar is the place where Vashishti River empties into Arabian Sea. Guhagar Beach is a very long beach and extends for almost 6 km between two hillocks.

Guhagar Beach is the main beach and also the most prominent tourist attraction in Guhagar. The beach is dotted with thick plantations of suru trees and white sand. It is known for activities like swimming and sunbathing. The sea beach offers swings and slides to the children and camel ride to the elders. This beach is also famous for various food and beverage stalls, chaat stalls and flea markets. There are no water-sports or boating activities.

There is another route .....

At a distance of 7 km from Chiplun Bus Station, Parshuram Temple is an ancient Hindu temple situated at Parshuram village near the town of Chiplun in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. Also known as Shree Kshetra Parshuram, it is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in the Konkan region, and among the must include places in Chiplun tour packages.

Parshuram Temple is dedicated to Lord Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is one of the important Chiplun places to visit. Since Parashuram created Konkan land, he is considered the presiding deity of the Konkan region. The temple was constructed by the Portuguese and the funds for its construction were provided by Janjirekar & Siddi. The temple was rebuilt by Swami Paramhansa Brahmendra. He was the Guru of Siddi Yakut khan of Janjira, Kanhoji Angre of Kolaba, Peshwa of Pune, Chhatrapati .....

At a distance of 4 km from Chiplun Bus Station, and 4 km from Parshuram Temple, Sawatsada Fall is a seasonal waterfall situated near the town of Chiplun in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the monsoon tourist places in Chiplun.

The Ratnagiri region of Maharashtra has many hidden gems that are just a delight to explore. From a beautiful coastline to dense forests, its natural and wild beauty captures the heart and is a visual delight. Sawatsada Waterfall is one of the lesser-known places to visit here and is a natural wonder worth a visit as part of Chiplun tour. One can watch this huge waterfall from the Mumbai-Chiplun road. So, in case if you are pressed for time, you can just make a quick stop here and take a few photos.

Emerges from the Sawatsada cliff, Sawatsada is a seasonal waterfall that can only be seen in its .....

At a distance of 11 km from Dapoli, 12 km from Anjarle, 69 km from Chiplun, Murud-Dapoli Beach is a serene beach situated near Dapoli in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Located between Hernai and Karde beaches, it is one of the most visited beaches in Maharashtra, and among the must-visit places as part of Chiplun Tour.

Commonly called Murud-Harnai, Murud is a small town located on the rugged Konkan coastline. A long, scenic stretch of Murud Beach with swaying palms is the main attraction here. Murud Beach is made of very soft sand and is safe for swimming. The sunset at the beach is mesmerizing and makes up for the most picture-perfect moment in this destination. Activities like parasailing, dune buggy rides, camel rides, horse-cart rides, and water scooters are available. Dolphin watching boats leave early in the morning to take tourists out into the sea to watch dolphins. One can also dig into some local food items at the many eateries at the beach.

There is also .....

At a distance of 3 km from Anjarle Beach, 24 km from Dapoli, 43 km from Harihareshwar, and 82 km from Chiplun, Anjarle Ganapati Temple, also known as Kadyavarcha Ganapati Temple, is a Hindu temple located atop a hill in the small village of Anjarle in the Dapoli Taluka of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular temples in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, and among the most popular places to visit near Chiplun.

Dedicated to Lord Ganesh, the Kadyawarcha Ganapathi Temple is believed to have been built in 1150 AD using wooden pillars. It was renovated during the 18th century and is a 3-tier structure. Ganapathi at this temple has a trunk curved towards the right, unlike most idols that have the trunk curved towards the left. Devotees believe that Kadyawarcha Ganapathi is a live deity who will come to their rescue whenever they are in trouble.

Apart from the Kadyavarcha Ganapati, there is one smaller temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the temple premises. There .....

At a distance of 23 km from Dapoli, 41 km from Harihareshwar, and 80 km from Chiplun, Anjarle Beach is a beautiful and unspoiled white sand beach located at Anjarle village in Dapoli taluk of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It is one of the finest beaches in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Chiplun trip.

The Anjarle Beach is one of the most scenic and secluded beaches in Dapoli and looks mesmerizing with its tall palm trees and clear blue waters. The beach is located near the lagoon of the river Jog, which is about 2 km long and the coastline of the beach is also smooth. The highlight is the white sand that looks so beautiful in the daylight when the sun's rays fall upon it and they shine bright like a diamond. Overall, the blue waters and the white sand create a pristine look to the place and the ambiance is perfect for a getaway. It is one of the most visited .....

At a distance of 1 km from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, and 19 km from Shrivardhan, Harihareshwar Beach is a pristine beach located at Harihareshwar town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the popular Maharashtra beaches, and among the must include places in Harihareshwar holiday packages.

Situated on the Konkan coast, Harihareshwar Beach is surrounded by four hills namely the Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri, and Pushpadri. It is considered the highlight of the town and is considered one of the underrated beaches in Maharashtra. There are two beaches - one to the north and the other to the south of Kalbhairav temple. Harihareshwar, along with Shrivardhan and Diveagar Beach forms a popular weekend beach destination from Pune and Mumbai.

Regarded as the must-visit Harihareshwar tourist places, the .....

At a distance of 500m from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, Harihareshwar Temple is a Hindu temple located at Harihareshwar town in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Harihareshwar tour packages.

Harihareshwar Temple is one of the most ancient and renowned temples in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and among the most famous places to visit in Harihareshwar. The temple complex comprises two adjacent temples. One of them is a small Kalbhairav temple that needs to be visited first and the other is the main Harihareshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva created Kalbhairava and blessed him with all mantras.

Built in the late medieval period, the main deity .....

At a distance of 1 km from Harihareshwar Temple, and 2 km from Harihareshwar Bus Stop, Ganesh Gully is a pilgrimage spot located in Harihareshwar, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places to visit in Harihareshwar while holidaying in the Konkan region.

As the name suggests, Ganesh Gully is a narrow passage of about 3 feet wide. It is between two rocks, where a path is paved, leading to a sea-bed. It is said that an idol of Lord Ganesh is submerged in the water around 30 feet deep and can be seen only during low tide. Many tourists visit this place to have a glimpse of the Ganesh Idol. There are black rocks on the viewpoint which meet the sea. The sea waves collapse on these rocks enhancing the beauty of this viewpoint.

Going up there itself is an adventure and further adds to the overall experience like nothing better. To reach the spot, one has to climb the staircase of the Harihareshwar temple. As mentioned, the place is at the temple area and hence it is called Shukla .....

At a distance of 20 km from Diveaghar, and 21 km from Harihareshwar, Srivardhan Beach is a pristine beach located at Shrivardhan town in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is one of the popular weekend getaways from Mumbai, and among the must-visit places as part of Harihareshwar Packages.

Stretches about 3 km long, Srivardhan Beach is a very clean and calm beach located along the Arabian Sea coastline. The majestic black sand coastline is bestowed with striking palm groves and mango plantations. The long pristine coastline of Srivardhan is most idyllic for a break from the hectic schedules of modern life and is considered as one of the best weekend getaways from Pune, and Mumbai.

The crashing waves against the black sand are worth seeing. One can find water sports like boating, paragliding, and water surfing at this beach. Kids can enjoy horse riding, camel riding, and Buggy riding as well. It is also an ideal place for swimming as the waters are shallow. Post noon, the tides .....

At a distance of 5 km from Murud, 21 km from Diveagar, 53 km from Alibaug, 84 km from Raigad Fort, 170 km from Mumbai, and 162 km from Pune, Murud - Janjira is an island fort situated near Murud in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is one of the top places to visit in Alibaug, and also one of the popular heritage places to visit near Pune and Mumbai.

Janjira Fort is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on all sides and is one of the strongest marine forts of India. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the must include places in Alibaug tour packages. The name Janjira is derived from the Arabic word Jazeera which means island. The original structure was built in the 15th century by a Koli chief as a defense .....

At a distance of 32 km from Alibaug, 20 km from Murud - Janjira Fort, and 133 km from Mumbai, Kashid Beach is a beautiful beach on the shores of the Arabian Sea at Kashid. It is one of the popular beaches in Maharashtra and also a popular weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.

Kashid Beach is tucked between two hillocks and is known for its clear waters, white sand and casuarina groves that line the shore. The 3 km long white sand beach is the most beautiful and alluring in the Konkan region. Kashid Beach is a quiet and soothing place and a perfect getaway from the busy city life. Kashid is not as commercially popular as most other beaches in the state. Most tourists stop over at Kashid en route Alibag or Murud.

Kashid Beach is also perfect for surfing with waves rising as high as six feet almost throughout the year. However swimming is not recommended at Kashid. Kashid is also a popular destination for water sports like water scooters, parasailing and banana boat rides. The .....

At a distance of 5 km from Korlai, 18 km from Alibaug and 15 km from Kashid, Revdanda Fort is an ancient Portuguese fort located at Revdanda in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The fort is located at the mouth of the Kundalika River.

Revdanda Fort, also known as Revdanda Aagarkot, was built by Portuguese Captain Soj in 1558 CE. In 1740 CE, Revdanda along with the Korlai Fort came under Maratha kingdom as per the treaty signed by the Portuguese. Angres defeated the fort in 1817 CE but it came under the British Raj in 1818 AD.

The periphery of the fort is around 5 km. The entire fortification has two main doors one from north and the other from south. Of which the northern gate was for land connection and the southern gate was used as a passage to the sea. This route opens to the main sea through the Revdanda creek. Portuguese built a dock over here which had become non-existent over time. The north and south gate is connected directly by a long road made of stones. Now, only .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Alibaug Bus Stand, Alibaug or Alibag Beach is a serene beach situated at Alibaug in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is one of the top tourist places in Alibaug, and among the prominent beaches to visit as part of Lonavala packages.

Alibag Beach is the main beach of the town, and is well known for its clean coastline. The beach has primarily blackish sand and a lot of rocky stretches. Alibaug Beach is one of the most popular beaches with the sight of Kolaba Fort providing the perfect view during sunset as part of Alibaug Packages.

The beach is very lively with bathers in the morning and many food stalls in the evening. The beach has no facilities for water sports like boating, diving, or snorkeling. Walking and sunbathing, riding in the six seated horse-driven .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Alibaug Beach and 3 km from Alibaug Bus Stand, Kolaba Fort or Kulaba Fort is an old military fortification situated in the Arabian Sea near the shores of Alibaug in Maharashtra. It is one of the must include places in Alibaug Tour, and among the famous heritage sites near Mumbai.

Kolaba Fort was built by Maratha warrior Shivaji Maharaj in the year 1680 CE after the entire south Konkan came under his control. In 1662 CE, he strengthened and fortified Kolaba fort to make it one of his chief naval stations. The command of the fort was given to Darya Sagar and Manik Bhandari under whom Kolaba fort became the center of the Maratha attacks on British ships. It is one of the prominent places of sightseeing in Alibaug.

Later in 1713 CE, Kolaba Fort along .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Alibaug Bus Stand 11 km from Kihim Beach, Varsoli is a beautiful beach situated at Varsoli village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. This is one of the popular beaches in Maharashtra and also one of the top places to visit in Alibaug.

Varsoli Beach is located on the outskirts of Alibaug at Varsoli, which is a small hamlet. The beach is 2 km long and is more beautiful than Alibaug Beach. It is clean and less crowded beach in Alibaug region. Though this beach serves as a naval base, tourists can enjoy the white sand and clean water. Moreover, the beach is dotted with numerous coconut and casuarina trees.

Varsoli Beach is a popular tourist spot for those who want a quiet and serene atmosphere. At this wonderful beach, there are many water sports available both for adults .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Akshi Beach, 8.5 km from Alibaug and 12 km from Revdanda Fort, Nagaon Beach is a scenic beach situated at a small hamlet of Nagaon in Raigad district of Maharashtra. It is the best places to visit in Alibaug and also one of the popular weekend getaways from Mumbai and Pune.

Nagaon Beach is a 3 km long flat beach with soft fine mixture of white and black sand. The beach is mainly a sandy beach unlike most other beaches in Alibaug and is lined with Casurina trees which give romantic atmosphere to the beach. Nagaon Beach is a quiet and secluded beach compared to Alibaug and Kashid Beach.

Nagaon is the hub of water sports in Alibaug with the highest number of water sport operators functioning at the beach who also offer parasailing in the Sea. Visitors will find parasailing, jet skies, motor boat rides, banana rides and .....