Places to Visit in Ganpatipule

Situated in one of the western bastions of the Jaigad Fort, the Jaigad Lighthouse is an ancient engineering marvel and a must-visit among the prominent tourist places in Ganpatipule. A British army officer named John Oswald constructed the tower in 1832.

Although it looks like a structure of brick and concrete, it is actually made of cast iron and steel. The casting and rivets are worth studying. A jetty port is located nearby and the lighthouse, newly fitted with LED lights, guards ships sailing between Ratnagiri and Dabhol.

The climb to the summit is worthwhile as the structure is built atop a hill and offers a gorgeous 360-degree view of the bay and the open sea. It is a quiet, peaceful place where the forceful sea wind caresses your face, making you feel revitalized.

Location: Jaigad Fort.

Timings: 4:00pm - 5:00pm, closed on Sundays.

Entry fee: Rs. 10/- per head.

Renowned as one of the best beaches of the Konkan coast, Aare and Ware are two separate beaches that are secluded and mostly untouched. If you are looking for solitude and peace, head out to this isolated area far away from industrialization.

There is no sewage or waste drainage in this part of the sea. Covered with smooth, golden sand, the beach offers magnificent views of the sunset over the azure waters of the Arabian Sea. You can enjoy an impressive view from the nearby Aare Ware point located on the peak of a hill.

Even the drive to the beach down Aare Ware road is fabulous because it is carved on the Western Ghats and runs along the sea. Thus, the journey provides an exotic panorama of the Konkan coastline as well as the majestic hills.

Location: 9 km from Ganpatipule Bus Stand, near Nevare village, Maharashtra.

Burrowed cosily in between two hillocks, Bhandarpule Beach is one of the most stunning places to visit in Ganpatipule. The hypnotic shoreline is dotted with Suru and casuarinas trees offering an arresting contrast of luscious green to the crystal-clear cerulean hues of the Arabian Sea. The sea here is choppy, unsuitable for swimming or any other water activity. Thus this beach is still not exploited by profit-oriented commercial activities.

Therefore, it is less crowded than the beach at Ganpatipule, and this sandy coast is ideal for people seeking serenity and calm. You will love to spend some laidback moments here soaking up the sun, allowing the cool waters to wash over your feet as you take a stroll over on the soft sand. You can also enjoy the regional delicacies like Konkani Thali with solkadi in the local restaurants.

Location: 3.5 km from Ganpatipule Bus Stand.

One of the longest beaches on the Konkan coast, Guhagar Beach stretches over 6 km and counts among the most attractive places to visit in Ganpatipule. The sands here are among the cleanest and least polluted among the shorelines of Maharashtra. You can approach Guhagar via Jaigad and enjoy a ferry ride over 2.5 km on Jaigad creek.

Although there are no opportunities for water sports or boating, the tranquil waters are perfect for swimming and the sun-kissed seashore is ideal for sunbathing. A large play area with swings, seesaws and slides as well as camel rides on the beach present excellent entertainment for the children. Numerous food stalls on the shoreline offer lip-smacking food and refreshing coconut water. The flea market on the beach provides regional handicrafts. It is the perfect picnic spot for a day out with your family.

Location: 79 km from Ganpatipule, 200 m from Guhagar Bus Stand.

Dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha, this temple is one of the newly constructed tourist places in Ganpatipule. Built in 2003 by JSW Energy Ltd. of the Jindal Group the temple is locally known as Jindal Ganpati. It is surrounded by an immaculately maintained flower garden and offers a peaceful and relaxing ambience for the visitors.

The construction reflects the Buddhist style and has a three-tiered pagoda-like architecture. A brass Ganesha sculpture is the principal idol, the serene expression on which invokes spiritual bliss. Inside the temple, there is a fishpond and a representation of Mushik considered as Lord Ganesha’s ‘vahana’ or vehicle. A bronze-coated majestic statue of Lord Hanuman stands 6-feet high inside the premises. This place of worship is brilliantly illuminated in the evening, creating a divine atmosphere.

Location: 13km from Ganpatipule, 13km from Jaigad Fort, near Kachare Village.

Timings: Daily 5:30am - 12:30 pm, 5:00pm - 9:50pm.

This exceptional Lakshmi-Ganesh temple is one of the unique places to visit in Ganpatipule because the principal deity is extremely uncommon. The 3-feet tall idol has ten arms and hence is named as ‘Dashbhuja Ganpati’, where ‘Das’ means ten and ‘Bhuj’ means hand. This symbolic representation of warrior Lord Ganesha is extremely rare.

According to local legends, the idol was constructed during the Peshwa dynasty with white marble brought from Kashmir. From Shukla Chaturthi to Shashthi during the month of Magh in the Hindu calendar, there is an outstanding celebration of the birth of Lord Ganesha, with a glorious procession.

About 3 km from the temple rests the incredible black sand bay in between the white sand beaches of Ganpatipule and Guahagar. This small stretch of shoreline is rocky and not fit for swimming.

Location: 31.5km from Ganpatipule, Hedvi Village, Velneshwar, Maharashtra.

Timing: Daily 6:00am - 12noon, 1:30pm - 7:00pm.