Ganpatipule
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Ganapatipulé (गणपती पुळे in Marathi) is a small town located in the district of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. The town of Chiplun is to its north.
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[edit] History
According to local folklore, the Hindu god - Ganapati गणपती, taking umbrage by a remark made by a native lady, moved to Pulé पुळे (a few km ahead of the town) from his original abode of Gulé. Thus the region was named Ganpati-pulé.
[edit] Reaching there
The town is easily accessible from the port city of Ratnagiri, which has a railway station and airport.
By Road: While moving towards Ratnagiri, on Mumbai Goa National Highway No. 17 (NH-17), after Sangameshwar a small village placed on this highway is Nivali. From Nivali one has to take right turn for Ganapatipule. The roads are just excellent. Nivali to Ganapatipule is 32 km. Nivali to Ratnagiti is around 20 km. Nivali to Hatkhamba is around 4 km. From Hatkhamba, one has to take right turn for Ratnagiri, which is 16 km from here. Sangameshwar to Nivali is around 25 km. Chiplun Sangameshwar distance is 45 km. From Ganapatipule one can directly approach Ratnagiri without coming to Nivali and going through Hatkhamba. The direct road is full of turns and little narrow compared to NH-17. But the journey is full of natural beauty and sea view. That distance is around 30 km.
By Rail: There is no train station at Ganapatipule. One has to get down either at Ratnagiri station or at Karbude. All the express and local trains stops at Ratnagiri, being a city. Karbude is a small village and only "passenger" train will stop.
By public transport: Ample number of State Transport buses are available from Ratnagiri bus depot. Frequency is good for fast journeys. Ganapatipule is also connected with other cities by state transport buses.
The Ganapatipule is very popular for weekend tourists from Mumbai and Pune.
[edit] Places of interests
A clean and breathtaking clear-water beach is one of the main attractions for tourists, along with the Ganapati Temple. The Hindu temple is reconstructed in special Rajasthani style stones and look, and attracts thousands of devotees from all parts of Maharashtra, other states, and foreigners. The seashore is lined with a number of low budget cottages and frequented by many as a cheap getaway. Ganapatipule has a Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) resort as well along with other privately operated resorts and home stays. MTDC resort also offers bamboo house stay and tents and offers small boats for rides. Maharashtrian pickles, seafood, coconuts and mangoes are some of the gustatory delicacies in the town. A nearby place called Paawas is known for its spiritual importance.
