Weekend Travels: Ratnagiri

Guhagar, literally means cave house, is a temple town in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state and in all respects with many prominent temples in and around. The town is known for its virgin beach, coir items, coconuts, betel nuts and mainly Haapus (Alphanso) mangoes. The nearest city and railhead is Chiplun, about 44 kilometers (away. The economy of Guhagar boomed after the Dabhol Power Company, a few kilometers north was commissioned in the early 1990s. Hotels sprung up and residents were given well-paid jobs. Guhagar has a very beautiful beach. Also famous for Durga Devi temple and Vyadeshwar temple. This is 10 km away from Shringartali town which is centre place of Guhagar Taluqa. Velneshwar and Hedvi are the two places near Guhagar, famous for the natural beauty there and the temples. Soft sandy beach, eye catching sunset in the horizon and exquisite water sports facilities; Guhagar makes a perfect destination for secluded stay and adventurous sports activities.

Best time to visit is from mid October to May

For more photos see link below
https://www.facebook.com/Weekendtravels.in

Panorama View - Guhagar Beach

Guhagar Beach

For more photos see link below

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372905209493967.1073741852.359767254141096&type=1&l=35026391e1

Reaching Guhagar Beach from Pune :-

View Larger Map

Ratnadurga is only 4 kms from Ratnagiri bus stand. MSRTC has arranged a decent frequency of city buses from the bus stand up to the foot of the fort. It’s a journey of only 15 mins. Even visitors can travel by Auto rikshaw from the bus stand to fort.

The fort is surrounded by the Arebian Sea from three sides. The fort is having a shape of Horse Shoe and a length approximately 1300 m and width 1000m. It’s having strong fortifications from south-east to west side. Approximately at the center of the fortifications, there is a main entrance gate. There is a Lighthouse on one of the bastion. This bastion is called as “Siddha Bastion”. One small temple of Hanumanji is at the entrance of the fort. In front of this there is a beautiful temple of Goddess Bhagawati. Due to this Goddess, the fort is also named as “Bhagawati Durga”. This fort was constructed during the rule of Bahamanee. After that it was captured by Adilshah and from Adilshah Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (founder of Maratha Empire in India) took the charge of the fort in the year 1670. Ch. Sambhaji raje (son of Ch. Shivaji Maharaj) stayed at this fort in the year 1680. In subsequent time this fort was controlled by Karawir Chatrapati. Then the fort was hand over to Aangre family. During the war between the Aangre and Peshva, Peshva won this fort with the help of Britishers in the year 1753. But unfortunately in the year 1818, the fort was captured by the Britishers.

Best time to Visit:

August to April

What to see?

Bastian, Fortification, Water cisterns, Goddess Bhagawati Temple, Lighthouse, Temple of Hanumanji

Water and Food

Water is available on Fort but no food. There are stalls outside fort.

Stay / Accommodation

There is place to stay on fort but need to take permission or else accommodation is available in Ratnagiri city.

Places around

Aquarium in Ratnagiri, Ganpati Pule, Aare-Ware Beach, Ratnagiri

Approximate Distance from Ratnagiri Bus Stand

4 Kms