An Indian Bureaucrat's Diary

Travel India Ratnagiri

the land of the Golden Haapus                
or Alphonso Mangoes
                              
Ratnagiri is a small idyllic coastal town – 330 kilometres south of Mumbai.
It is famous for golden Haapus or Alfonso mangoes and for the horse shoe shaped fort.

Haapus or Alphonso Mangoes

Haapus is grown mainly in western India in and around Ratnagiri.
In terms of sweetness, flavour and rosy colour, Haapus mangoes are considered to be the best Indian mangoes.
And they are certainly the costliest mangoes.
Unfortunately, Haapus have a very short shelf life.Haapus and other mangos are also used to make sweets, candies, milkshake, lassi, jelly, jam and a variety of non aerated mango drinks.

Origin of the name Alphonso

The species has been named Alfonso after Dom Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portugese Navy Commander, who established the Portuguese colonial empire in the Indian Ocean. He used to carry Haapus mangoes from Goa to Portugal.
The people in the U.S. could not taste Indian Mangoes for 18 long years because U.S. had banned their import. The ban was lifted in April 2007.
Japan had imposed similar ban in 1986. This was lifted after 20 years – in 2006.

Mythology

According to mythology, after performing their pilgrimage on the 13th year, the Pandavas settled down near Ratnagiri.
When the Pandavas left the place for the Kurukshetra war, King Veeravat Ray of this region also accompanied them.

What to see

Ratnagiri Fort (also called Ratna Durg or Bhagwati Durg)

This historical fort was built by the Bahamani rulers between 1350 AD and 1500 AD.
In 1670, Shivaji conquered the fort from Bijapur ruler Adil Shah.
In 1731, the fort came under the control of Satara kings.
In 1818, it was surrendered to the British.The fort is 1300 meters long and 1000 meters wide.
It is in the shape of a horseshoe, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. One of the fort’s bastions, “Siddha Buruj”, has a lighthouse which was built in 1867. The old lighthouse was rebuilt in 1962.
There is a temple of Goddess Bhagwati inside the fort.

Ratnagiri Port (previously known as Mandvi)                                 

The Ratnagiri Port, about 2 kms from Ratnagiri, was built to welcome the Queen of England.
On its west is the Ratna Durg Port. The sea is to the South. It is the finest beach of Ratnagiri.
This place is also known as ‘Black Sea’ due to the shining black sand along its shore.

Fishery Research Center  

There is a Fisheries Research Center at Mandvi.
The aquarium here is worth visiting.

Rajapur Ganga

The Rajapur Ganga, three kms from nearby Rajapur, is a rare geological phenomenon. It is a large natural siphon from a nearby mountain.There are fourteen black stone ‘kunda’ (pools), each about 2.25 feet deep, about three feet apart.
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.

Thebaw Palace

The Thebaw Palace was built in 1910-11 for the stay of the exiled last King and the Queen of Burma (Myanmar). They stayed here during 1911-16. You can see their tombs.

Mālgund

The famous Marathi poet, Keshavsut, was born in the village of Malgund.

Jaigad Fort

This 17th century fort nestling on a cliff at the entrance of the Sangameshwar River offers a spectacular view of the sea.

Pawas

Swami Swaroopānand, an influential religious leader of Maharashtra, settled down in this town. His residence has been converted into an “āshram”.

Ganpatipule

Ganpatipule, 21 kilometers from Ratnagiri, has clean and unpolluted beaches.
It also has a well-known Ganesh temple.

Parashurām Temple (near Chiplun)

This temple was built by Maharshi Brahmendra in 1685.

Caves

Some caves in Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol, Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum and Vade Padel are worth visiting.
Some Konkanese were converted to Buddhism here during the lifetime of Gautama (BC 560-481)

Reaching there

Air
Ratnagiri has an airport. But there are no commercial flights at present. Rail
Ratnagiri has a important railway station.

Road
Ratnagiri is well connected by road with important towns such as Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, etc.
The road is very good and the drive is enjoyable.

Accommodation

There are plenty of good and affordable hotels in Ratnagiri and neighbouring places.

Recommendation

The beach here is lovely and there are plenty of places to see around.
You can spend a week end or a few more days here.