Ratnagiri district रत्नागिरी जिल्हा
Location of Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra
State	Maharashtra, India
Administrative division	Konkan Division
Headquarters	Ratnagiri
Area	8,208 km2 (3,169 sq mi)
Population	1,696,777 (2001)
Population density	206.72 /km2 (535.4 /sq mi)
Literacy	65.13%
Tehsils	1. Mandangad, 2. Dapoli, 3. Khed, 4. Chiplun, 5. Guhagar, 6. Sangameshwar, 7. Ratnagiri, 8. Lanja, 9. Rajapur
Lok Sabha constituencies	1. Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg (shared with Sindhudurg district), 2. Raigad (shared with Raigad district) (Based on Election Commission website)
Assembly seats	5
Major highways	NH-17, NH-204
Official website

Ratnagiri district (Marathi: रत्नागिरी जिल्हा) is one of the 35 districts of Maharashtra state in western India. Ratnagiri (city) is the district headquarters of the district. The district is 11.33% urban.^[1] The district is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Sindhudurg district to the south, Raigad district to the north and Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts to the east. This district is part of Konkan division.

History[link]

The district is in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. This region was under the rule of the Mauryas, the Nalas, the Silaharas, the Chalukyas, the Kadambas, the Portuguese, the Marathas and subsequently the British. In 1948 the independent princely state of Sawantwadi was merged with the Indian union and in 1956 with Bombay Province, thus becoming part of Ratnagiri district. In 1960 with the creation of Maharashtra, Ratnagiri became a district of that state. In 1981 Ratnagiri district was bifurcated and the new district of Sindhudurg was created. Ratnagiri has nine tehsils and eight towns. Ratna in Marathi Means-Jewel And Giri Means Mountains. Litrally Ratnagiri Means Mountain Of Jewels as this District has produced jewels like Dr. Ambedkar, Lokmanya Tilak, V.D. Sawarkar, Baba Phatak, Sane Guruji, Hutatma Anant Kanhere and many more.

Divisions[link]

There are nine talukas within the Ratnagiri district: Mandangad, Dapoli, Khed, Chiplun, Guhagar, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Lanja and Rajapur.

There are 5 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha constituencies in this district. These are Rajapur, Ratnagiri, Guhagar, Chiplun and Dapoli. There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in which the district is partly represented. One, comprising the southern part of Ratnagiri district, namely, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Rajapur constituencies and combined with entire Sindhudurg District forms Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency. The other one, comprising the northern part of the district, namely, Guhagar and Dapoli constituencies and part of the neighbouring Raigad district forms Raigad lok Sabha constituency.

Geography[link]

Ratnagiri district is of the six districts of the Konkan region of Maharashtra state. It is situated at latitude 17°N and longitude 73°19'E. The chief rivers in Ratnagiri district are the Shastri, Bor, Muchkundi, Kajali, Savitri and Vashishti river.

Ratnagiri is the district headquarters. It is the birth place of Lokmanya Tilak. Also in the city are Ratnadurg fort, Lighthouse, Gitabhavan, an aquarium, a college of pisciculture, Thiba palace, an aerodrome, a radio station, and a television transmission center. Nearby at Mirjole there is an industrial estate. Another unique feature are the two beaches on either side of the Ratnadurg fort, one of pure white sand and other of black sand.

Prime Attractions[link]

Parashuram Temple near Chiplun, Ganapatipule and Pavas draw many visitors. Caves in the Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol, Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum and Vade Padel are also worth visiting. The Buddhist legend in the Papanch, Sudan and Srath Appakasini record the conversion of Konkan to Buddhism as early as the lifetime of Gautama (BC 560-481). Chiplun, Kol, and Pabol caves indicate that the Sarthawalas or Caravan-men donated some of them. Shivsamarth gad at sawarde near chipalun is also worth visiting with all sculptures from Shivaji Maharaj era. The Agricultural University also a prime attraction which is located in Dapoli Taluka. The university is famous for research, extension and education by the name Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli.

The "Ganga of Rajapur" is a natural phenomenon believed by many locals to be a miracle. Nearly every 3 years the well forms 14 small pools of water of different temperatures about 3 ft apart. It is believed that the holy Ganga Mata appears to the devotees there. Geologists have theorized that this is a rare case of a large natural syphon from a nearby mountain.

Thebaw Palace : Constructed in 1910-1l, the Thebaw Palace was built for the exiled king and queen of Burma (now Myanmar). They lived in this palace from 1911 till their death in 1916. The five years of their stay are now immortalised in stone with their tombs. In future, this palace might be converted into a regional museum or a heritage hotel.

Malgund : Birthplace of the famous Marathi poet, Keshavsoot. Itis a small peaceful village about 1 km away from Ganapatipule. The poet's house was recently renovated and converted into a students' hostel. The Marathi Sahitya Parishad (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a beautiful monument called Keshavsoot Smarak in memory of him.

Jaigad Fort : Nestled on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river and 35 km from Ganapatipule is the Jaigad Fort. This 17th-century fort offers a commanding view of the sea. Jaigad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay. Its beach is small and safe.

Pawas : Besides its natural beauty and serenity, Pawas achieved prominence when Swami Swaroopanand (a spiritual leader who influenced an entire generation of Maharashtrians) had made it his abode. The place where he used to reside is now converted into an ashram. A visit there is still like a journey through time.

Velneshwar : 170 km from Ratnagiri is the sleepy, village of Velneshwar. Its adjoining beach is clean and natural and is lined with coconut trees. It is possible to swim there as the beach is free from rocks. There is an old Shiva temple near Velneshwar which is frequently visited by pilgrims; a haven for those in search of quiet mysticism in the ethereal presence of the master mystic - Lord Shiva.

Ratna Durg: Built during the Bahamani rule. Later to become the property of Adilshah. In 1670, Shivaji conquered the fort. 1761 saw the fort fall into the hands of a man impersonating Sadashivrao Bhau. In 1790, Dhondu Bhaskar Pratinidhi rebuilt the fort and strengthened its ramparts. The fort never was witness to any decisive, or historically magnificent battles.

The fort is horseshoe-shaped, with a length of 1300 metres and width of 1000 metres. Surrounded by sea on three sides, with land touching it on the fourth side. On one of the sea-facing sides, part of the cliff has collapsed to reveal a cave. One of the fort's bastions, the 'Siddha Buruj', still has a lighthouse, that has stood here for years. A picturesque temple of The Goddess Bhagwati is one of the important places of worship in the area of the fort. A well near the temple has steps leading down.

Marleshwar temple- This is the temple of Lord Shiva situated in sayadri hill. The main attraction is the waterfall of Marleshwar. This is near to Maral village, 16 km from Deorukh village. Ratnagiri is well known for education purpose. We see in Ratnagiri there are various points just like beautiful scenes and various colleges in Ratnagiri or in Chiplun there are big big colleges. Ratnagiri is under the Kokan area. Ratnagiri is well known for its beauty, and there are various points and scenes to see in Ratnagiri.

Demographics[link]

According to the 2011 census Ratnagiri district has a population of 1,612,672,^[2] roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau^[3] or the US state of Idaho.^[4] This gives it a ranking of 311th in India (out of a total of 640).^[2] The district has a population density of 196 inhabitants per square kilometre (510 /sq mi) .^[2] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was -4.96 %.^[2] Ratnagiri has a sex ratio of 1123 females for every 1000 males,^[2] and a literacy rate of 82.43 %.^[2]

The major languages spoken in this district are Marathi and Daldi.

Notable personalities[link]

Ratnagiri has the distinction of being the native place of three Bharat Ratna awardees, namely Maharishi Karve, Lokmanya Tilak,Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane and Dr.B.R. Ambedkar.

See also[link]

• Malvani

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ratnagiri district official website

		Raigad district	Satara district
	Arabian Sea		Sangli district
		Ratnagiri district    East
		Sindhudurg district	Kolhapur district

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Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी)
—  city  —
Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी) Location of Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी) in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°E / 16.98; 73.3Coordinates: 16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°E / 16.98; 73.3
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Ratnagiri
Population	70,335 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 11 metres (36 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 415639 • Telephone • +02352 • Vehicle • MH08

Ratnāgiri (Marathi: रत्‍नागिरी) is a beautiful port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district^[1] in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.

The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east. Heavy rainfall results in highly eroded landscape in the coastal region, but fertile alluvial valleys in the region produce abundant rice, coconuts, cashew nuts, and fruits, "Hāpus" (Alphonso) mangoes being one of the main fruits. Fishing is an important industry in Ratnagiri.

A few illustrious Indians, including "Lokmānya" Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prime leader in the nation's freedom movement in the British Raj days; Bharat Ratna "Maharshi" Dhondo Keshav Karve, a social reformer and educationist; and Wrangler Raghunath Purushottam Paranjpe, a mathematician and educationist, were born in Ratnagiri or its vicinity.

Ratnagiri has also been featured in Amitav Ghosh's novel, 'The Glass Palace.' The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is located in the district.

Geography[link]

Ratnagiri is located at 16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°E / 16.98; 73.3.^[2] It has an average elevation of 11 meters (36 feet).

Climate[link]

Demographics[link]

According to 2008 census of India,^[3] Ratnagiri Town had a population of 100,000, males and females constituting 55% and 45%, respectively, of the population. 86% of males and 87% of females were literate. 11% of Ratnagiri's population was under 6 years of age.

• Language: [Marathi, Konkani].
• Food: Staple diet comprising rice, fish, and wheat.
• Clothing: Made mostly out of cotton.
• STD code: 02352
• Pin Code: 415612 Ratnagiri City.
• Pin Code: 415639 Ratnagiri MIDC.

History[link]

In 1731, Ratnagiri came under the control of Satara kings; subsequently, the British gained control in 1818.

Earlier, one of the Bijapur rulers Potu Sri Chenna Reddy had built a fort on a headland near the harbour of Ratnagiri, and Maratha king Shivaji had strengthened it in 1670.

Ratnagiri has a palace, where the last king of Burma (Myanmar), Thibaw, and, later, "Veer" V. D. Savarkar, a freedom fighter in the British Raj days, had been confined by the ruling British.

According to a legend, after their twelve-year exile, Pandavas of the Mahabharata epic had settled for a while in the vicinity of Ratnagiri during their pilgrimage in the thirteenth year, and the then king of the region, Veeravrat Rāy, had subsequently fought on their side against Kauravas during the Mahabharata war at Kuruskshetra. 70 % people in Ratnagiri are Hindus and around 20% are Muslims. Other religions are Buddhist, Christians.

Ratnagiri Municipality[link]

Ratnagiri Municipality was established in 1876,^[4] the incumbent president is Mr. Milind Keer of Shiv Sena.

Education institutes[link]

• Maratha Mandir A.K. Desai High School.
• GGPS (Gangadhar Govind Patwardhan English Medium School)
• Phatak High School
• R. B. Shirke High School
• Patwardhan High School
• Sacred Heart Convent High School (Udyamnagar)
• Sacred Heart Convent High School (Dhanjinaka)
• Mistry High School.
• B. A. D. Naik High School.
• M. S. Naik High School.
• S.B. Keer Law College
• Gogte Joglekar College.
• Nav Nirmaan College.
• Fisheries College, Shirgaon.
• Computer Application College For Girls, Shirgaon.
• Finolex Academy of Management and Technology (An engineering college affiliated to 'University of Mumbai')
• Government Polytechnic, Ratnagiri.
• Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Ratnagiri.
• Iqra English Medium School, Near Airport, Ratnagiri

Industries in and around Ratnagiri[link]

• Bharati Shipyard Limited.
• Finolex Industries.
• JSW Energy Limited.
• JSW Jaigarh Port Limited.
• Gadre Marine Export Private Limited.
• J K Files & Tools Limited.
• Narmada Cement Limited.
• UltraTech Cement.
• There are two MIDCs in the close proximity of Ratnagiri, one at Mirjole and the other at Zadgaon.
• Sea Fabrics Limited
• The Bharat Aluminium company Ltd. (Balco)^[5]
• Raymond
• Henkel ltd.

Showrooms For Vehicles: There are many Showrooms availables in Ratnagiri.

• Gandhi Automobiles for Hero Motors Location Mirjole, M.I.D.C.
• Bafna Motors for Tata Vehicles, M.I.D.C.
• NAIK AUTOMOBILES for Bajaj Vehicles.
• Honda - Malnaka
• Yamaha - Malnaka, Salvistop.

Marine Biological Research Station[link]

The Government of Maharashtra under the Department of Fisheries established the Marine Biological Research Station (MBRS) in 1958 at Ratnagiri, which is presently attached with Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist.: Ratnagiri. The research station has a 10 hectare area as field facility including a three storied building at main campus, a well equipped ‘Aquarium and Museum’, a modernized brackish water fish farm, a Mechanized Fishing and Research Vessel, Seed Production facilities and various laboratories at its disposal.

The Marine Biological Research Station, Ratnagiri is one of the premier institutes, especially in the South Konkan Coastal Fisheries Zone, having a mandate for development of fish production technologies, transferring the technologies to fish culturists, entrepreneurs and the industry, and generating professionally trained manpower in fish culture.^[6]

A project for seed production of Tiger Shrimp is located at Wadamirya, Ratnagiri. This is located on 57 hectares of Mirya creek. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, has provided financial assistance to this project.

Transport[link]

Road[link]

Ratnagiri is connected by road to Mumbai, Mangaluru, Madgaon, Karwar, Udupi and Cochin by National Highway number 17 (NH-17). The Konkan railway also connects to these places by train along with Delhi and Jaipur.

Ratnagiri-Nagpur National Highway NH-204 connects Ratnagiri to important cities like Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Nanded, Nagpur and eastern parts of India.

MSRTC runs intercity bus service from Ratnagiri to Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur and Goa.

Railways[link]

Ratnagiri station lies on the Konkan Railway. It is one of the most important stations on Konkan Railway. The nearest railway junctions are Pune and Kolhapur on the central railway. The Ratnagiri railway station is situated at a distance of 6 km from Ratnagiri city on NH-204. Nearly every train running on Konkan Railway has a stop at Ratnagiri Station. The MSRTC has introduced many bus services from the station to city. The other important stations in Ratnagiri District are Chiplun, Khed and Vithalwadi. While booking a train ticket to Ratnagiri, you should book your ticket a month early because most of the month the trains are full.

Ratnagiri also has a small sea port. Ratnagiri Airport currently has no scheduled services.

Prime attractions[link]

Pir Babarshekh Urus at Hatis near Village Tonade: There is a Urus of Pir Babarshekh at Hatis every year, a small village situated near village Tonade near the bank of Kajali river. Thousands of people visit here on Magh Pornima to take blessings.

Rajapur Ganga: The site of Rajapur Ganga is three km from nearby Rajapur. According to a theory by some geologists, the Ganges is a rare phenomenon of a large natural siphon from a nearby mountain. There are fourteen blackstone "kunda" (pools), each about 2.25 feet (0.69 m) deep, mutually about three feet apart in the region. Fragrant waters of Rajapur Ganga appear once about every three years in great force from one of the pools, and stay for about two months. The temperature of water is different in the fourteen pools.

Marleshwar: this is a holy place for Hindus where the temple of Lord Shiva is located 70 km away from Ratnagiri. The temple is actually inside a cave. A waterfall is located nearby. Hindus believe that Lord Shiva moved from Maral village to Marleshwar when the Mughal emperor attacked the Konkan region and was threatening to destroy Hindu temples.

Thiba Palace: The Thiba Palace was built in 1910-11 for the 1911-16 stay there in exile of the king and the queen of Burma (Myanmar). The place has tombs of the royal couple. The Government Polytechnic Ratnagiri functioned from Thiba palace, for a few years, it has subsequently shifted to its own premises.

Mandavi and Bhatye Beach: Mandavi Beach is also known as the Gate Way of Ratnagiri. Bhatye Beach is famous for its Suru Ban. The Kohinoor Hotel is situated just above the Bhatye Beach.

Mirkarwada Beach: It is the coastal station for marine professionals; all the fishing boats and trawlers land here. It is the major trading spot in Ratnagiri for marine industry. Most of the fishes from here are exported to other city markets such as Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangaluru, and Mangalore.

Mālgund: The Marathi poet, Keshavsut, was born in the village of Malgund. His house has recently been renovated and converted into a students' dormitory. The "Marāthi Sāhitya Parishad" (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a monument called "Keshavsut Smārak" in Malgund.

Jaigad: This 17th-century fort is located on a cliff at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river, and it offers a view of the sea. Jay Gad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay.

Pawas: Pawas achieved prominence after Swami Swaroopānand, a recent influential religious leader in Maharashtra, settled in this town. His residence has now been converted into an "āshram".

Atulit Bal Dham: Atulit Bal Dham is a holy place. This sacred Dham is managed by Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Upasana Trust, Mumbai. It is located at TRP, near petrol pump, just 1 km off the main road in Ratnagiri city. Panchamukhi Hanuman is the deity in this Dham. Devotees believe they get incredible Bal (physical, mental and spiritual power) after visiting this Dham. The total area is of around 2 acres (8,100 m²).

Velneshwar: Velneshwar is located 170 km from Ratnagiri. Its adjoining beach is clean and lined with coconut trees. It is possible to swim in the nearby sea because it is free of rocks. There is a well-known Shiva temple near Velneshwar.

Ratna Durg: This fort was built during the Bahamani rule. In 1670, Shivaji conquered the fort from Bijapur ruler Adil Shah. In 1790, one Dhondu Bhaskar Pratinidhi rebuilt the fort, and strengthened its ramparts. The fort has the shape of a horseshoe, with a length of 1,300 meters and a width of 1,000 meters. The Arabian Sea surrounds it on its three sides. One of the fort's bastions, "Siddha Buruj", has a lighthouse which was built many years ago in 1867 and rebuilt to its present form in 1962. A temple of Goddess Bhagwati is located inside the fort.

Ganpatipule: Ganapatipule is 21 kilometres from Ratnagiri on the way to "Purna Gad". It has a well-known Ganesha temple. It also has a beautiful beach. MTDC resorts are right beside the beach to stay. Parashurām Temple (near Chiplun): This temple was built in 1685 by Maharshi Brahmendra.

Shivasamarth Gad: (at Sawarde near Chiplun) Contains sculptures from Shivaji's times.

Caves in Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol, Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum, and Vade Padel: The Buddhist legend in the Papanch, Sudan, and Srath Appakasini records the conversion of Konkan residents to Buddhism during the lifetime of Gautama (BC 560-481). Caves in Chiplun, Kol, and Pabol indicate that the "sarthawalas" (caravan-men) rested in some of them.

See also[link]

• Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project

Gallery[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ratnagiri Travel Guide Blog
• Luxury Trains of India: Ratnagiri Travel Guide
• Ratnagiri District Homepage
• Harnai Beach Dapoli, IN

v t e  State of Maharashtra Capital: Mumbai Topics History Geography Economy Tourism Marathi language Culture Marathi people Marathi literature Marathi cinema Maharashtrian cuisine Regions Desh Khandesh Konkan Mumbai Metropolitan Region Marathwada Vidarbha Districts Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Aurangabad Beed Bhandara Buldhana Chandrapur Dhule Gadchiroli Gondia Hingoli Jalgaon Jalna Kolhapur Latur Mumbai (City) Mumbai (Suburban) Nagpur Nanded Nandurbar Nashik Osmanabad Parbhani Pune Raigad Ratnagiri Sangli Satara Sindhudurg Solapur Thane Wardha Washim Yavatmal Million-plus cities in Maharashtra Mumbai Pune Nagpur Thane Pimpri-Chinchwad Nashik Kalyan-Dombivali Navi Mumbai Aurangabad Other cities with municipal corporations Ahmednagar Akola Amravati Bhiwandi Chandrapur Dhule Jalgaon Kolhapur Latur Malegaon Mira-Bhayandar Nanded Parbhani Sangli Solapur Ulhasnagar Vasai-Virar Portal: Maharashtra