Ganpatipule
| Ganpatipule गणपतीपुळे | |
|---|---|
| city | |
|
Ganapatipule beach | |
  Ganpatipule Location in Maharashtra, India | |
| Coordinates: 17°08′41″N 73°16′00″E / 17.1448°N 73.2666°ECoordinates: 17°08′41″N 73°16′00″E / 17.1448°N 73.2666°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Maharashtra |
| District | Ratnagiri |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Language | |
| • Official | Marathi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 415 622 |
| Vehicle registration | MH-08 |
Ganapatipulé is a small town located in Ratnagiri district on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. The town of Chiplun is to its north.
Origin of name
According to a local folk lore, the Hindu god, Ganapati, taking umbrage at a remark made by a native lady, moved to Pulé पुळे (a few km ahead of 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, having 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 Dwardevta (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.
Village
There are many villages in Ganapatipule which are full of greenery. The main occupation of the villagers is agriculture. Rice & coconut are chiefly found here.
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 35 °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.
Government Body
Ganapatipule is governed by Grampanchayat. The development here is done by Ganapatipule Grampanchayat.
Schools / College
There are Marathi Medium Schools run by Ganpatiphule Grampanchayat / Ratnagiri. There is no college in Ganpatipule. One has to go to Malgund for college.
Tourism
With the development of tourism, a number of resorts and hotels opened in this small town, the most significant of which is the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation resort near the beach. Abhishek Beach Resort and Spa is a very good mid range option having a spectacular view of the Arabian sea from all its rooms. Areopagus Spa at the resort is one of the best spas in the Konkan belt. The resort also has a multicuisine restaurant and a bar. The Blue Ocean resort and spa is 5 star luxury option in Ganpatipule, 4 km from the heart of the town near Malgund is also near the beach. There are also a few smaller hotels in this town.
Culture
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, believed to be the birth date of Lord Ganapati).
Nearby places
Velneshwar
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 fari, 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.Statue back into the waters, again the statue landed back into his net. Angry, he banged the statue on a stone, but the statue started bleeding.After that fisherman had picked up the statue and place it in a small temple. The temple later grew today's Velneshwar Shiva Temple.
Ratnagiri
About 24 km away from Ganapatipule lies the district headquarters town, Ratnagiri. The region has a long illustrious past and is even mentioned in Indian mythology.
Malgund
Malgund, a small village, 1 km away, is known as the birthplace of famous Marathi poet Keshavasuta, who was born here 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 you can find information on most of the modern day poets of Marathi language. The memorial is a real treat for people who are interested in Marathi literature. Malgund also houses Nirmal Nagari of Her Holiness Mrs. Nirmala Shrivastava of Sahaja Yoga fame.
Jaigad Fort
Resting on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river just 35 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. Take the back road from Ganpatipule via Malgund to Jaigad. This is about 15 km, but is extremely scenic.
Pawas
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 Maharshtrians). A visit to this place is truly a journey through time. The distance from Ratnagiri to Pawas is approximately 20 km.
Light House
The panoramic view from the Light House is just breath taking. It was completed in 1932 and is still completely operational and serving on the coast. To see the Light House from inside, one needs to visit it between 4.00 pm and 5.30 pm. It is around 6–7 km from Jaigad Fort.
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 directly approach Ratnagiri without coming to Nivali and going through Hatkhamba. The direct road is full of turns and little narrow compared to NH-17. But the journey is full of natural beauty and sea view. 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.[1] 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 here.
By Bus
There are frequent buses from the MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) to Ganapatipule via Ratnagiri Railway Station, Nevade Road & MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) to Ganapatipule via Ratnagiri Railway Station, Nevade Road, Malgund. But if you want to reach Ganapatipule faster, then take the MSRTC City Bus from Ratnagiri Railway Station to MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) & then change over the bus there. Then take another bus i.e. MSRTC Bus Station (Ratnagiri) 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.