The Most Spectacular Guide to Ratnagiri Beach

Last Updated on April 28, 2021 by Mrunal & Jiten

Ratnagiri beach is a port city in Konkan. It is famous for its serene beaches and diverse tourist spots. It is an art and culture hotspot and equally famous for luscious Alphonso Mangoes, Aam Panna, and Cashews. The flea markets around the beaches offer local handicrafts and horticulture fruits.

Ratnagiri Beach is less crowded and polluted than other beaches in Konkan. It is also blessed with a long coastline. Some tourist spots you should not miss in and around Ratnagiri are…

1. Ratnadurg fort

Also called Bhagawati fort or Ratnagiri Fort, this magnificent fort was built by Bahmani dynasty. Later it was won from Adil Shah of Bijapur by Chatrapathi Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler.

This is a prominent landmark in Ratnagiri beach, spread over 120 acres area in the shape of a horseshoe. It is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. There is a much-visited Bhagawati temple inside the premises. One amazing fact of this fort is that even though the salty seawater surrounds it on three sides, water near the temple is potable. The timings to visit this fort are between 8 am to 7 pm.

• Ratnagiri lighthouse

When you visit the Ratnagiri beach, do not miss out on an opportunity to visit this lighthouse. Very near the Fort, this monument is open to the public between 4 – 5 pm only; hence make sure you schedule your itinerary accordingly.

Also, note that it is better to take a bike rather than a car to the top because there is one single concrete path leading to the entrance of the lighthouse and it is quite slippery

It is fun to climb the winding steps of the light house. Once on top, you can have a 360 degree view of Ratnagiri.

• Thiba palace

This 3-storyed palace was built in 1920 at a cost of one lakh 70 thousand rupees. The king of Bramhadesh(Myanmar) was kept in exile here during the British rule in India.

This is a well-maintained place; the woodwork in the windows and flooring look new even today. From the top of this palace, you can have glorious views of the blue waters of the Sindhu Sagar.

• Ganpatipule beach

Ganpatipule is a small town in Ratnagiri district and is a place famous for the 400-year-old Swayambhu(self-originated) statue of Lord Ganpati statue. This Ratnagiri beach has clean and white sands. However, the currents are strong and there are lots of rocks that hinder swimming.

• Guhagar beach

Guhagar is a city in the Ratnagiri beach district. The 6kms long beach here is clean and safe. There is a lot of play area for kids. There also lots of food stalls to enjoy local food and coconut water.. Do not miss the 2.5 km jetty ride on Jaigad creek.

• Bhatye beach

This beach with black sand is 1.5kms away from Ratnagiri, Its glorious sunrise and sunsets at the backdrop of exquisite Sahayadri hills is a must-see event. Kohinoor point is the perfect spot on this Ratnagiri beach to view Nature’s grand morning and evening show.

Many locals and tourists come here to enjoy picnics, play football or collect lovely shells.

Water Sports in Ratnagiri

There are facilities all water sports facilities such as Banana boats, bumper rides, water scooters, jet-skiing wave surfing, donut rides, wakeboarding that you and your companions can enjoy. Though they maintain international standards, the prices are surprisingly affordable.

Hotels in Ratnagiri

There are plenty of options for staying in Ratnagiri – Villas, Beach hotels, Resorts all options are available to make your stay comfortable. It is a good idea to pre-book your stay.

Kohinoor Samudra is a spectacular beach resort with one side facing the breathtaking waters of the sea and the other side faces the backwaters. Coconut and Suru trees abound here.

The resort has 67 rooms with modern amenities are available in all the like air conditioning, room service, TV, Wi-Fi, and more. Other features here include Gym, swimming pool, baby pool, joggers track, landscaped gardens, play area for both children and adults with facilities for playing amateur sports such as Table tennis, cricket, and volleyball.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Ratnagiri is in the winter months of November to February. The temperature is pleasant and perfect for enjoying the panoramic views. But if you are a flora lover just drop in during the monsoon between June to September and see nature in a truly colorful avatar.

Getting there

Rail: Trains are connected to this place from all major cities of India like New Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Pune.

Road: There are frequent local and city buses plying between this city and cities like Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Satara, Kota etc

Air: There is an airport in the city itself about 12 kms from the city centre.

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