Places to visit in Ratnagiri

Ratnagiri is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast which is located in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The port is also a part of the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Here we have given a detailed information about the place, how to get there, when to visit, places to visit in Ratnagiri, and some must try food.

HOW TO GET THERE?

AIR

Ratnagiri has a public airport located in Mirjole, Ratnagiri district. There are no scheduled air services as of now, it is expected to begin by 2022

RAIL

Ratnagiri railway station is a train station that serves the city of Ratnagiri in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is one of the main railway stations of the Konkan Railway. 

ROAD

Ratnagiri also has a bus depo that connects different parts of Maharashtra.

When To Visit

Ratnagiri is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, therefore, summers here are really hot and humid. You can come here in the summers if you are a beach lover. However, the best time to visit this place is during the winter, i.e, from November to February. During this time the temperature is very pleasant and is perfect for sightseeing. If you want to experience, the waterfall, flora, and fauna of this place, then monsoon season will be a better choice to visit. The monsoon season begins in June and continues till September.

Tourist Attractions:

Some of the best places to visit in Ratnagiri are:

Bhatye Beach

Bhatye beach is located 3 km from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand. It is one of the crowded places to visit in Ratnagiri. The beach is very much famous for its panoramic views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges that cover the background. One of the unique features of this beach is the creek that separates Mandvi beach from Bhatye Beach. One can experience a spectacular view of the blue water, silver sands, and casuarina trees along the beach during the sunset. You can also indulge in activities like horse and camel riding when you visit this place. Also, you can get delicious seafood, chats, and coconut water along the beach.

Mandavi Beach

Mandavi Beach is located next to the Bhatye beach and is only 2 km away from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand. This beach is located along the Konkan coastline. Mandavi Beach offers a beautiful and smooth beach where one can come and unwind. This beach is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on its south, Gateway Of Ratnagiri on the east, and the west of the beach is the RatnadurgFort. It is often referred to as the Black sea because of the black sand.

Thiba Palace/Thibaw Palace

Thiba Palace is one of the major tourist attractions in Ratnagiri. This is a historical building which is situated 2 Km from the Ratnagiri Bus Stand on a small hill. This building has an interesting history attached to King Thibaw of Myanmar (Burma) was sent to exile in Ratnagiri by the British in the early 1900s. For this, the British built this house in 1910, where the King could be kept under house arrest. 

Timings: The palace is open to tourists from 9 am to 6 PM

The Gateway of Ratnagiri

The Gateway of Ratnagiri is well equipped with a Jetty. This jetty is known as the Ratnagiri jetty. The Bastion is also equipped with a sloped roof. This amazing gateway was built by Pratinidhi Dhondu Bhaskar and is one of the most beautiful places in Ratnagiri. The design of this gateway is beautiful and one can enjoy a stroll during the dusk and enjoy the cool breeze of the sea. 

Marine Aquarium & Museum

It is one of the major attractions of Ratnagiri Town. This museum is located next to Mandavi Beach. In 1985, Marine Biological Research Station of Ratnagiri created this beautiful Marine Museum. This museum cum aquarium shelters some of the rare species of marine animals.

Timing: 10 AM to 5 PM every day.

Ratnadurg Fort

The Ratnadurg Fort is located on the coastline of the mighty Arabian Sea. This fort is situated 4 km from the Ratnagiri bus stand and is one of the major tourist attractions in this place. This fort is also one of the most famous forts in Maharashtra because of the mind thrilling story behind it. Built in the 16th century, the fort was one of the monuments built by Bahamani Sultans. In 1670 AD, Chhatrapati Shivaji and Adilshah captured the fort. It was controlled by Kanhoji Angre and was later presented to the Peshwas. At the end of 1818 AD, the British seized this fort from the Peshwas.

The fort symbolizes strength and pride as it was built in such a way that it can withstand the force of the waves of the Arabian Sea. Till today the walls are still intact, thereby, showing how strong the design of the fort is. The presence of a Bhagawati Goddess’s idol inside the fort makes it called Bhagwati Fort. 

Must try food

Samosa Cone/ Ragada Cone At Thiba Garden

This savory snack is a must-try in Ratnagiri. This snac consists of a cone filled with boiled potato and white peas filling. It also has a sweet and tangy taste and is garnished with sev. It would mostly cost around 20-30 Rs. Thiba point is 3 km away from Ratnagiri bus depo.

Seafood Thali At Masala Kitchen

Located at Mandvi Beach, this hotel serves different kinds of seafood which are very fresh, and their perfect use of spices makes it even more tasty and surprisingly vegetarian food is also good here. We had tried chicken thali and Bangda fish thali.

Maharaja Thali At Aamantran  

Another must-try hotel is amantran. Their wide range of thalis is one of the popular dishes in Ratnagiri. The taste is beyond amazing. They also have maharaja seafood thali and maharaja chicken thali.

Address: Boarding Road, Juna Malnaka, Ratnagiri Ho, Ratnagiri – 415612 (Opposite Gandhi Petrol Pump)

Ratnagiri Khaugalli 

One should also visit Khaugalli here. You” ll find different varieties of food. Some of the popular foods are pav bhaji, chicken Frankie, ragada cone, Manchurian, and many more. 

Address: Narhar Colony, Abhyudhya Nagar, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra 415612 Khaugalli Timing – 6.00 PM To 10.00 PM Open All Days.

Stay

The hotels that I would recommend are

1.     Hotel Sea Fans

It is located in Mandvi Beach. It has different types of rooms that are standard room, executive room, deluxe room, and super deluxe room. The hotel also has an attached restaurant.

Address: Mandvi Beach near Gate Way Of Ratnagiri, Maharashtra 415612

2.     The Mango Villa

This hotel also has an amazing room view and amenities. The rooms are quite big and clean with all the basic facilities. The common dining provides a good garden view along with some books to read. 

Address: The Mango Villas, 624 B/5, Nachane Rd, opposite M.S.E.B Office, Balkrishna Nagar, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra 412639

3. The Blue View Villas

Of all the 4 Star hotels in Ratnagiri, The Blue View By Timber is very much popular among the tourists. A smooth check-in/check-out process, flexible policies and friendly management garner great customer satisfaction for this property. 

Address: Ratnagiri pawas, Road, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra 415612

Conclusion: 

Ratnagiri is a place where you can enjoy nature as well known about the history of the place. There are many places to visit in Ratnagiri and is perfect for a family vacation. The numerous beaches also provide a place to unwind and destress yourself. So, if you are tired of your mundane life, then visit Ratnagiri to charge up your dried-up batteries.

Also, let me know in the comments where are you planning your next trip.