Places to Visit - Ganapatipule

Jaigad Fort

The Jaigad Fort is a sea fort which is located at the tip of a peninsula in the district of Ratnagiri. The Fort is cuddled on a cliff which overlooks a bay. The bay is formed where the Shastri river enters the Arabian Sea. The Fort is 35 km from Ganapatipule.

Jaigad, a port on Konkon coastline is famous as a natural and safe port. It is situated on the mouth of river Shastri. The fort Jaigad is magnificent. The lighthouse and the jaigad creek is spectacular. Inside the walls of the fort on the right is a monument of Jaiba Mahar. The story about Jaiba is splendid. When the construction of the fort was in progress, the arch over the main gate collapsed for number of times. The remedy suggested was Narbali (sacrifice of a human being). This Jaiba Mahar was ready to be the victim, on the condition that the fort be named after him, so it is Jaigad. The king of vijapur built this fort having twenty outwardly curved construction (Buruj). The fort was in the custody of Kanhoji Angre commender in chief of Chattrapati Shivaji's naval armada. In 1818 English army took over the fort. Near the main gate of the fort, Ganesh temple is there. The fort is Situated 35 to 40 km from Ratnagiri town. The temple of Mahamai Sonsakhli, the village deity is situated in the dense forest near village Tavsal.

Jaigad Lighthouse

The Jaigad light house was built in the year 1832. The Jaigad Lighthouse is situated in one of the bastion. This bastion is known as Siddha Buruj. A lighthouse and a jetty port is situated near the fort. Even though the fort is in ruins, the exterior wall and the bulwarks can still be seen. A deep fosse fences the fort side which is not facing the cliff edge. But no fortification on the east side is visible.

Ganapatipule Beach

The Ganapatipule Beach is clean with fine silvery white sand. The beach is not safe for swimming because it contains stretches of rocks. There is also a lagoon. The adventurous tourists can try their hands at balancing a kayak. The place is fit for the entire family to enjoy a holiday or a vacation.

Swayambhu Ganpati Temple

The idol of Ganapati at the Swayambhu Ganpati Temple is built of pule which is nothing but white sand and is believed to be self originated - it is not man made. Another idol of Ganapati which is made of copper is placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum. It depicts the Lord astride on a lion. The idol is so set that at sunrise and sunset, the golden light of the sun penetrates and lights the idol.

The Swayambhu Ganpati Temple is about 20 km from the town of Ratnagiri. The rhythmic beat of the nagaras is heard in the early morning. The chaughadas rhythms can be heard in the evenings when the clothes on the idol is changed.

Thebaw Palace

The Thebaw Palace was the home of the exiled king and queen of erstwhile Burma for nearly five years. Some of the selective stone tombs and belongings are still preserved in the palace.