Ganpatipule is a small and sleepy village 375 km from Mumbai located on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. It is famous for the temple of Swayambhu (self originated) Ganesh. It gets the name from the words ‘Ganpati’ meaning Lord Ganesh and ‘Pule’ meaning Sand dunes. It is a religious place and is one of the Ashta (eight) Vinayaks (Ganeshas) in Maharashtra. It is also the birthplace of Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. The village also has a beautiful beach which is a tourist attraction.
Being on the coast, the climate is warm and humid. The temperature rises up to 38oC during March. But it is pollution free and pleasant. The rainy season is from June to September and is the best time to visit. Winter months from November to February is also a good time to visit as the temperature is low at night. Don't forget to carry sun block, sunglasses and swimwear
Endless stretches of beautiful beaches
Mud roads, roofed homes and red soil giving a cosy feeling of an Indian coastal village
Mango, jackfruit, banana, coconut and betel nut plantations
There are very few good hotels in Ganpatipule which accept international credit cards. There are no ATMs in the vicinity so it is best to carry cash to this place.
No permit is required to travel to Ganpatipule. Just a visa to India is all what is needed.
By Rail: A Kokan Railway train from Mumbai can drop tourists at Ratnagiri which is 45km from Ganpatipule. Another option is to travel by the luxury heritage train Deccan Odyssey which covers Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri, Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik.
By road: Overnight buses by MTDC connect Mumbai to Ganpatipule. Ganpatipule is 330 km from Pune by road.
By Air: Ratnagiri airport is the closest domestic airport to reach Ganpatipule. It is 50 km from Ganpatipule. But as no good airlines operate flights to this place,Mumbai is a better option. Mumbai Airport is 375 km from Ganpatipule. It is a major international airport with flights coming from all over the world.
The beautiful Ganpatipule beach
Temple of Swayambhu Ganesh
Water sports can be enjoyed at a lagoon near the MTDC resort in Ganpatipule
Keshavsoot Smarak at Malgund which is a kilometer away from Ganpatipule is the birthplace of great Marathi poet Keshavsoot.
Nearby excursions include:
Jaigad fort which is 35 km from Ganpatipule. It stands on a cliff with a magnificent sea view. It is at the entrance of Sangameshwar River.
Ratnagiri is a nice town 45 km away from Ganpatipule. Places like Thibaw Palace and Ratnadurg fort can be visited along with the seashore and Mandavi port.
Marleshwar which is 60 km from Ganpatipule has a nice waterfall and a Shiv Temple.
Maharashta Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has a beautiful resort on a sea facing hillock in Ganpatipule. It offers sea view cottages, tents and Konkani houses to stay. Other good hotels are Hotel Landmark and Abhishek Beach Resort.
Mumbai Airport is 375 km from Ganpatipule. It is a major international airport with flights coming from all over the world.
