Ganapatipule,Ratnagiri.

Ganapatipule is 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 great deity.According to a local folklore, the Hindu god, Ganapati, taking umbrage by 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.
Aside from its clean beach and clear waters, Ganapatipule is rich in flora, including mangroves and coconut palms.  Here, you can leave the hectic world behind as you laze around on golden sands or explore the many trails that lead from the beach.



In ancient literature like Mudgal - puran etc. this ' Siddhivinayaka's (Ganesh) temple is being referred as “Paschim Dwar- Devata “(Western Sentinal God) various myths are prevalent about the temples and deity in Konkan.
Ganpatipule is one of the" Ashta Dwar Devatas" (Eight Welcoming Dieties) of the subcontinent and is known as Western’s Sentinel God. 400 years old Ganpati image 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 .During the reign of Moguls (about 1600 years before), there was a' kevda' (Flower tree) Jungle at the foot of the hill where the temple of the 'Swayambhu' Ganapati is presently situated. Here lived Balbhatji Bhide, a brahmin, who was a renter of the village, during the moghul period. Bhide encountered a major personal problem. Bhide being a determined person, that he was, made up his mind to give up food and water till being relieved of the personal calamity. He stayed in the Kevda - Jungal for penance and to worship his tutelary direty' mangalmurti' (Lord Ganesh) during this period, Bhide had a vision about Lord Ganesh who said, “I have come to Aagargule (Ganesh Gule) to fulfill the wishes of my devotees. You worship and propitiate here, and will be relieved of all your difficulties”
During the same period, one of the cows of Bhide was not giving milk, for which reason, the cowherd kept a close watch on her. He was astonished to see that the milk was flowing from the cow's udder on the place where the idol of the God is placed at present. The cowherd narrated the incident to Bhide. After cleaning up the entire area Bhide found the idol of Lord Ganesh which he had seen in his vision He built a shrine here and started performing the rituals.
Ganapatipule derived its name from “Ganapati" or the Lord of "Ganas"(army) and Pule' which means sand dune.

The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around (pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect

Ganapatipule is approximately 375 km. south of Mumbai, along the Konkan Coast. Ganapatipule 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. Aside from its clean beach and clear waters, Ganapatipule is rich in flora, including mangroves and coconut palms.


Local Festivals: Many festivals are celebrated along the Konkan Coast.  Among the most significant are Gauri Ganapti and Magh Chaturthi (the fourth day of the lunar month of Magh, believed to be the birth date of Lord Ganapati).
Ganapatipule with a series of pristine beaches apart from the Ganapatipule beach itself makes Ganapatipule an ideal holiday destination for a beach lover. The twin beaches of Aare - Ware and the Malgund beach flanks either sides of the Ganapatipule beach.



Prachin Konkan

Prachin Konkan is a life size museum in Ganapatipule depicting life in yester years in Konkan. Prachin Konkan, is the brain child of Mr. Sardesai. A guided tour takes you through various aspects of life in Konkan in the past. There is a small garden with trees worshiped depending on a persons sunsign in the premises.



HOw to reach 

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By sky

he nearest airport is the Ratnagiri airport (50 km) which needs a taxi fare of Rs 200 to get there. Other airport is at Belgaum(265km) /kolhapur.(188km)

By Road

Ganapatipule is 32 km from Nivali, a small village on Mumbai Goa Road (NH 17).
From Nivali, one has to take right turn for Ganapatipule. Nivali to Ratnagiri is around 20 km. Nivali to Hatkhamba is around 4 km. From Hatkhamba one has to take right turn for Ratnagiri, which is 16 km from here. Sangameshwar is about 25 km from Nivali and from Chiplun, it is 45 km. 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. 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 Karbude. All the express and local trains stops at Ratnagiri, being a city. Karbude is a small village and only passenger trains will stop. Bus services are available from Sangameshwar Railway station. Nearest rail junctions are: Pune Junction (Central Railway), Miraj Junction (Central Railway) and Madgaon Junction (Konkan Railway).

where to stay 

MTDC Holiday Resort Self-contained A/C / Non-A/C rooms & Konkani House A/C / Non-A/C rooms.
Check- out time 9.00 am
Reservation Online booking is available or you can also book at Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa Pune, Kolhapur, Ganapatipule and other MTDC Reservation Offices.
(Besides the MTDC Holiday Resort, there are many hotels, resort and guesthouses in Ganapatipule offering various accommodation facilities.)


Hotel Durvankur,Shivsagar Palace

Nearby places

• Velneshwar
• The beautiful village of Veineshwar, 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.
• Ratnagiri
• About 24  km away from Ganapatipule lies the district headquarter 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 away 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.
• 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 the same between 4.00pm - 5.30pm. It is around 6–7 km from Jaigad Fort.