Ratnagiri Tourism And Travel Guide

Ratnagiri is a port township on the Konkan regions of the western coast of India, located in the state of Maharashtra. The Konkan sections is known to be one of the most luxuriantly green regions of India and are some of the best touristy places that are the ideal holiday destinations of people from over the world.

Ratnagiri is blessed with greenery all around, what with the Arabian Sea lapping at the shores of desolate beaches, lush coconut and cashew fringed shores, and wild waterfalls that are a feast to the eyes. There are pristine streams that flow down the Sahyadri mountain ranges on the east and cross the little town to join the Arabian Sea, there are temples and seaside forts as ancient as history, and entwined with mythological stories of the Pandava princes. Museums like the Tilak Ali Museum established at the ancestral home of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Shivashruthi that eulogizes the Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are places worthy of a visit.

Far away from the flurry of life in the cities, Ratnagiri is bound to immerse you in the charms of unspoiled nature.
If you are planning a trip to Ratnagiri, our travel and tourism guide should help you plan a good trip!

Ratnagiri on the lovely Konkan coast has easy accessibility by air, road or rail. The Konkan railway that passes through some of the most beautiful rail routes is probably one of the best ways to reach the beach town.

By Air:

The nearest airport is the newly launched domestic airport at Ratnagiri that connects flights to certain cities in Maharashtra. You could also book a domestic flight to Kolhapur and travel by road to Ratnagiri. The nearest International airport is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai.

By Rail:

Ratnagiri Railway Station on the Konkan railway line has good connectivity with most cities across the western rail line. A travel by train to Ratnagiri past luscious landscapes is a beautiful experience.

By Road:

There are MSRTC buses as well as private buses that run to Ratnagiri from most cities of Goa and Maharashtra. Tourists would also love a weekend drive along the lovely coastal routes to Ratnagiri.

Getting Around:

There are cabs, shared jeeps and auto rickshaws that can be hired for sightseeing. There are local state and private buses as well as two wheelers that can be hired either in Ganpatipule or Ratnagiri. 

Ratnagiri has a humid tropical atmosphere with hot summers, rainy monsoon months and pleasant winters. The most ideal months to visit the town on a holiday are the winter months from October to February.

Summer (March – May):

Summers are hot and humid by the coasts and are considered off season for tourism and travel. The advantages of summer are the scrumptious Alphonso mangoes and jackfruit you can never resist a bite into, and kokum sherbet, of course.

Monsoon (June – September):

Heavy rains and occasional thunder showers are what make up the monsoon months of Ratnagiri. The landscape turns utmost charming with the rains, but travel and sightseeing might be a problem.

Winter (October – February):

Winters are pleasant and breezy and the most ideal time to go trekking up the verdant slopes of the Western Ghats or indulge in adventure tourism by the waters of the Arabian Sea.

Trekking up the Sahyadris:

The rugged mountain slopes of the Sahyadri ranges near Ratnagiri have some of the most delightful trekking trails, complete with cascading waterfalls, trickling mountain streams and grassy footpaths that are any trekker’s passion.

Cascades:

The regions around Ratnagiri have some of the best waterfalls of the Konkan. The frothy white waters cascading down the rocky slopes are the music of the still woods!

Adventure Tourism:

Right from exploring the dark, basalt caves to kayaking on the Arabian Sea, there are many a number of adventure activities you can spend your time on, while on a trip to Ratnagiri.

Birds Aplenty:

One of the favorite pastimes of any traveler to Ratnagiri would be to get off on a bird watching tour, for the regions of the Konkan coast seems to abound with a plethora of vibrant colored resident and migratory bird species.

Museum Visits:

You can spend an evening visiting the museums of Ratnagiri, like the Marine Museum, the open air Prachim Konkan Museum at Ganpatipule or the Shivashruti museum dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Natural hot water Springs:

Set in lush sylvan surroundings, Ratnagiri’s natural hot water springs beckon to locals and tourists for a dip in the waters that are said to bring relief from ailments.

Beaches Galore:

The 167 km long coastline of Ratnagiri offers some of the most amazing beaches. Some of them have charming temples and forts on the shore and most of them have ample choices of beach activities and adventure sports.

Camping at a Sanctuary:

The Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary, known for its number of Indian bison as well as other animals offers attractive trekking, camping and safari rides.

A Tryst with Nature:

One of the most amazing places you could visit is the spectacular Khorninko dam near Ratnagiri. If you are visiting Ratnagiri during the monsoons, the dam should be on your bucket list.

Marleshwar Cave Temple:

A little town known for its temples, hills and wild cascades, Sangameshwar is just a beautiful place to visit, especially during the monsoons.

Treat yourself to the Konkani cuisine that comprises the diet of a large part of coastal Maharashtra. You get ample choices of the finest seafood including spicy Malvan Chicken curries, Bangda, surmai ambat, masala pomphret or fried prawns. Malvani cuisines of sea food cooked with coconut gravy and spices are a must try. Winter evenings are a good time of the day to finish off a hectic sightseeing trip with delicious hot vada pav, Ratnagiri’s own special ragda cones, crisp cones filled with veggies and spiced chutneys and finish off with a customary appetizer called solkadhi.

Some of the good vegetarian dishes you could try are thalipeeth, loni dosas, thandai peetha bhakri or puris with aamras. Some of the best traditional desserts you could have are ukdiche modak, puran poli or fruitkhand.

Some of the edible stuff you can shop for are mangoes, jackfruit, cashews, kokum and a variety of spices. Ambapoli and phanaspoli, dried and preserved slabs of mangoes and jackfruit and kokum sherbet are must buys. Handicrafts and trinkets made of seas shells are some of the best buys round the Konkan region. And you would find plenty of beachside shacks selling wall hangings, lamps or key chains made of conches and sea shells. Exquisitely crafted clay figurines of Ganapati are a special buy of Ratnagiri.

You could visit the Prachin Konkan Museum that’s about 2 km from the Ganpatipule temple. The museum is a treat to the eyes, what with its well-manicured gardens of flowering trees and lifelike sculptures depicting the history and culture of Konkan. Here you could buy wooden handicrafts from the souvenir shop.