BEST OF KOLHAPUR & GANPATIPULE (FROM PUNE)

At a distance of 2.5 km from Kolhapur Railway Station, Sri Mahalakshmi Temple is a prominent Hindu temple situated in the city of Kolhapur, Maharashtra. It is one of the popular places of pilgrimage in India, and among the must include places in Kolhapur Tour Packages.

Sri Mahalakshmi Temple is dedicated to the goddess of wealth, Sri Mahalakshmi, also known as Goddess Ambabai, the guardian deity of Kolhapur who killed demon Kolhasura. Also known as Dakshin Kashi, Shri Mahalakshmi Temple is one of the six abodes of 'Shakti' (Goddess of Power) from where one can attain fulfillment and salvation of desires. The temple was built in the 7th century by Chalukya ruler Karandev. King Gandaraditya of the Shilahara dynasty, built the circumambulation path along with two sanctum sanctorums for Goddess Mahakali and Mahasaraswati in the 11th century CE. It is one of the prominent places to visit in Kolhapur.

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At a distance of 2.5 km from Kolhapur Railway Station, Bhavani Mandap is a historical building nestled inside the walled city of Kolhapur. Located near the famous Mahalaxmi Temple, it is one of the popular places of heritage in Maharashtra, and among the top places to visit in Kolhapur.

Bhavani Mandap is one of the biggest and oldest structures in Kolhapur. It was built during the period 1785 to 1800 by then the ruler of Kolhapur, Shivaji Maharaj II. It was constructed according to the architectural style of the British Empire with 14 squares. In about 1813, the Muslim ruler Saadat Khan invaded the palace and a part of it was burnt. After repair, 7 squares survived. Bhavani Mandap used to be the court and palace of Chhatrapati Maharaja in the yesteryears. The king conducted important meetings, litigations, and celebrations inside this building. The place also had living quarters for many of its court officials. As per history, Bhavani Mandap is the very place where Shambhu alias Abasaheb .....

At a distance of 1 km from Mahalakshmi Ambabai Temple, and 2 km from Kolhapur Railway Station, Town Hall Museum is a museum situated at Shaniwar Peth, Kolhapur. It is one of the interesting places to visit in Kolhapur.

The Town Hall Museum is situated in a heritage building with elements of neo-Gothic architecture. The building served as an administrative office during the British period and later became home to the diwan of the local monarch, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj. The structure was built along with a bandstand during 1872-76 under the supervision of a British engineer, Charles Mant, and required an investment of 80,000 from the royal treasury. The museum was inaugurated in the year 1945.

The museum was established to preserve the items obtained from excavations at the Brahmapuri Hills in the 1940s that belonged to the Satavahana, and Shilahara-Bahmani periods. Later paintings of renowned local artists were added to the collection in 1953. The collection of the museum .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Kolhapur Railway Station, and 3 km from Sri Mahalakshmi Ambabai Temple, New Palace Museum is a heritage museum located on Kasaba Bawada Road in Kolhapur. Also known as Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Museum, it is one of the popular museums in Maharashtra, and among must-visit tourist places in Kolhapur.

The New Palace was constructed in 1877-84 and has been the residence of Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj. It is one of the most famous places to visit as part of Kolhapur packages. The beautiful palace is built in black polished stone and is a marvelous architectural feat. The whole building is eight-angled and has a tower in the middle. The principal south facade presents a double-storeyed range, with Neo-Mughal lobed arches beneath and temple-like columns and brackets above. This scheme is interrupted by trefoil arches capped with curving .....

At a distance of 2 km from Sri Mahalakshmi Ambabai Temple, and 4 km from Kolhapur Railway Station, Rankala Lake is a picturesque lake in Kolhapur. Marked by the natural beauty and serene environment, make it one of the must-visit places as part of Kolhapur Tour Packages.

The Rankala Lake was constructed by late Maharajah, Shri Shahu Chhatrapati. It is believed to be linked directly to a well in Panhala Fort which Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is believed to have crossed.

The lake has a circumference of 4.5 miles and a depth of 35 ft. The water of the lake is used mainly for irrigation, and the water is let through a sluice gate in the bound. This gate was operated from a minor type of beautiful structure called 'Rankala Tower'. Near the tower is the Rajghat, a flight of board steps leading to the water. On the northern bank of the lake stands the regal Shalini Palace and on the eastern side & slightly in the lake stands the 'Sandhya-Math'. It is a structure of stone columns .....

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 600 m from Ganpatipule Bus Stand and 1 km from Ganpatipule Beach, Prachin Kokan is an open air museum situated in Ganpatipule. It is one of the top places to visit in Ganpatipule.

Spread over an area of 3 acres, the museum has several exhibits depicting the traditional Konkan way of life. The museum was constructed in 2004 by Vaibhav Sardesai who succeeded in not only providing interesting information about Konkan to the tourists but also employment opportunities for the locals. One can get the glimpses of local rural life including the local deities, the lifestyle, barter trade of the olden days, various professions of the people, etc. inside the museum.

The museum showcases the ingenuity of the Kokan with sculptures of the Maratha hero Shivaji maharaj depicting historical moments, and models of the amazing sea forts in the Kokan region. Prachin Konkan has a counter for exhibiting .....

At a distance of 6 km from Ganpatipule Bus Stand, and 25 km from Ratnagiri, Kajirbhati Beach is a scenic beach situated at Nevare village. Situated between Ganpatipule & Ratnagiri, it is one of the pristine beaches on the Konkan Coast, and among the top places to visit as part of the Ganpatipule tour packages.

Also known as Nevare Beach, Kajirbhati Beach is a beautiful, serene beach located on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra, India. The beach is lined with casuarina trees and the views are breathtaking. This secluded beach is less crowded and is an ideal spot for those who are seeking a peaceful and tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The beach is clean and well-maintained, and the water is crystal clear. The small rocky area on the side adds to the beauty. One will also be able to see small crabs on the beach.

The white sandy shoreline is a great place to relax and soak up the sun while enjoying .....

At a distance of 9 km from Ganpatipule Bus Stand and 14 km from Ratnagiri, Aare Ware Beach is a beautiful secluded beach situated near Nevare village in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. This is one of the best beaches on the Konkan coast and also one of the famous places to visit in Ganpatipule.

Actually, Aare and Ware are two beaches with clean blue water and are a delight to watch. Aare Beach is one of the lesser-known beaches of the Ratnagiri district. This is a very long beach having a length of approximately 3 km and is mostly an untouched beach. A beautiful and dense plantation of Suru dotted the seashore. This quite long beach is an isolated one covered with smooth sand and offers a breathtaking view of the sunset. The beach is still unspoiled and virgin, making it one of the best place for travelers seeking sheer solitude and tranquility as part of Ganpatipule tour packages.

Aare .....

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 .....