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Ganpatipule Temple

Temple · Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri

Ganpatipule Temple
Photo: Dmpendse (talk) (Uploads), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

A famous Ganpati temple right on the beach, with a self-formed (swayambhu) idol and a walk around the hill behind it.

Ganpatipule is one of the best-known pilgrimage places of the Konkan. The temple stands at the foot of a hill right next to the sea, and devotees believe the deity here is swayambhu, self-formed in the rock. Families from all over Maharashtra come here for darshan, especially on Sankashti Chaturthi and during Ganeshotsav.

Devotees walk the pradakshina path around the hill behind the temple, which takes about half an hour at an easy pace. The beach in front of the temple is wide and lively, with stalls selling modak, kokum sharbat and flowers.

Queues can be long on holidays and festival days, so come early in the morning if you can. Dress modestly for the temple, and leave footwear at the stands outside.

Best time to visit

All year for the temple; October to May for the beach. Early mornings are quietest.

How to reach

About 25 km north of Ratnagiri. Nearest Konkan Railway station: Ratnagiri (or Bhoke), then by bus or car.

Places nearby

Facts: Wikidata (CC0) and OpenStreetMap; map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.