Ganpatipule Tourism And Travel Guide

Ganpatipule is a cozy little beach town on the Konkan coast of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. Renowned for its beach side temple for Ganapati, its numerous beaches and its proximity to more seaside towns of the Konkan, Ganpatipule is one of the most sought after weekend destinations of the people of Maharashtra.

The temples, ancient forts that sit facing the sea, with the waves washing over its ramparts and the most charming beaches, that offer ample solitude for those that love a quiet holiday by the waters, orchards of the popular Ratnagiri mangoes, coconut and kokum trees and a delicious array of the rich Malvani cuisine are what make a trip to Ganpatipule a memorable holiday to remember.

If you would love a visit to Ganpatipule, our tourism and travel guide should help you plan a good trip.

Ganpatipule has good access by air, rail or road to other parts of the country. But the easiest and preferred route is by road.

By Air:

With domestic flights to Ratnagiri in the offing, you can soon reach Ratnagiri, from where you can proceed to Ganpatipule by car by covering the road of 30 km. At present the nearest airport is the Chhatrapati International Airport at Mumbai.

By Rail:

The nearest railway station is the Ratnagiri railway station that serves a number of trains that connect Ratnagiri to the rest of the country. From the Ratnagiri rail station, you can easily get a cab to Ganpatipule.

By Road:

There are regular and air conditioned private and government buses to Ganpatipule from across the state. Driving to Ganpatipule is a much preferred option though.

Getting Around:

There are auto rickshaws and cabs that can be hired for a trip around town. There are scooters, bicycles or motorbikes you can hire as well to go sightseeing.

Ganpatipule has a coastal season through the year and though all the seasons are enjoyable, the most ideal months to visit would be from November to February.

Summer (March - May):

Summers are hot and humid, but the beaches are lovely to relax on evenings when it’s cooler. Summer is the time of mangoes, kokum sherbet and jackfruit.

Monsoon (June - October):

There are moderate to heavy rains during the monsoon months that might create a problem when you’re travelling or would like to indulge in adventure sports on the high seas. Great months otherwise, to visit the waterfalls or go bird watching.

Winter (November - February):

Winters are pleasant months, with no seasonal troubles whatsoever. Go bird watching, celebrate Christmas and New Year by the seashore or go for long drives to the neighboring seaside towns.

Spend a day at the Beach:

Ganpatipule has some of the most beautiful beaches of the Konkan coast. Fringed by suru or coconut trees, the secluded beaches offer one of the best beach vacations ever. You can relax on the sand, read your favourite book, go paddle in the sea or try out the coconut water stands nearby. It shall all turn out awesome!

Adventure On the Waters:

If you are in for some adrenaline pumping activities on the seas, Ganpatipule has them and much more in store. Spend a day at the lovely, virgin beaches of the Konkan trying swimming, paragliding, paddle-boating or jet skiing.

Fun with the Family:

If you are looking for some excitement apart from the water sports at the beaches, take a trip to the Magic Garden at Ganpatipule. The Magic Garden provides ideal wholesome fun for the whole family.

Drive to Malgund:

A small beach town near Ganpatipule, Malgund has more beaches and small temples. The unspoilt beaches, the pristine waters and lesser crowds make Malgund’s beaches a must visit.

Velas Turtle Festival:

Visit Ratnagiri in March to participate in Velas Turtle Festival for conservation of Olive Ridley Turtles. Join in the local fun activities and relish the native cuisine of the Konkan.

Enjoy the Thermal hot springs:

Visit the natural hot springs of Tural and Rajawadi. Not many tourists know about the natural thermal hot springs and you could have a refreshing soak in the natural spring waters in solitude.

Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary:

Located at the southern edge of the Sahyadri Hills, the densely forested Dajipur or Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary could be a sharp contrast to the virgin landscape of Ganpatipule’s beaches!

See beautiful Cascades:

Monsoon is the best time to drive around Ganpatipule looking for waterfalls. Check out the enchanting Marleshwar waterfalls created by a multitude of tiny streams uphill and the tiny Shiva temple nearby.

You do come across a great choice of delicious cuisines while in Ganpatipule. The beach side shacks offer a variety of veggie snacks like bhelpuri, chaat, samosas and ice cream while down by the beaches of Malgund and Bandarpule you get seafood bites. In Ganpatipule you get delicious Konkani vegetarian food and you could get to binge on talipeeth, barli wangi, solkadi, kaju usal, kombade vade, tandalache vada and delightful ukdiche modak with sweet fillings.

If you would love non vegetarian food try Malvan fish curry, pomphret fry, fried prawns or crab lollipops. Desserts are never complete without juicy mangoes, jackfruits or kokum, saandhan (jackfruit with coconut or cow’s milk) or amla sherbet.

Ganpatipule is not much of a shopping hub, but you could buy small knick knacks, wooden toys and combs, sea shells and hand made shell crafts at the beaches. There are lovely Konkani food stuff to buy like mewa products, amla and kokum sherbet, mango pulp, jams and juices, saandan, slabs of dried mango and jackfruit, cashew-nuts, fresh jackfruit and mangoes during summer.

The Alphonso mangoes of Ratnagiri are said to be named after Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese general who set up Portuguese colonies in India. The Portuguese who are believed to have introduced exotic varieties of grafted fruits in India have the Alphonso mangoes of the Konkan named after the Portuguese general.