Places of Interest in Ganpatipule
Thebaw Palace:
Constructed in 1910-11, the Thebaw Palace was built for the exiled king and
queen of Burma( now Mayanmar ). They lived in this palace from 1911 till their
death in 1916. The five years of their stay are now immortalised in stone ;
their tombs. In future, this palace might be converted into a regional museum
or a heritage hotel.
Malgund:
Birthjplace of the famous Maraathi poet, Keshavsoot. It is a small peaceful
village about 1km away from Ganapatiphule. The poet's house was recently renovated
and converted into a students hostel. The Marathi sahitya parishad (Marathi
litreture society) has constructed a beautiful monument called Keshavesoot Smarak
in the memory of the great son of the soil.
Jaigarh fort:
Nestled on a cliff, at the entrance of the sangameshwar river and 35kms from
Ganapatiphule is the jaigarh fort. This 17th century fort offers a commanding
view of the sea. Jaigarh'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 kms from ratnagiri is the sleepy villlage of Velneshwar. Its adjoining beach
is clean and natural and is lined with coconut trees. Swimming and other water
sports are possible there as the beach is free from rocks. There is an old shiva
temple near Velneshwar which is frequently visited by piligrims ; a heaven for
those in search of quiet mysticism in the ethereal presence of the master mystic-
Lord Shiva.
