RATNAGIRI

The town Ratnagiri is the administrative head quarter of Ratnagiri district located in the southwestern part of the State of Maharashtra on the Arabian Sea coast. The Bijapur rulers had made it their administrative capital owing to its strategic geographical situation. It is a part of the greater tract known as Konkan. Total area under Ratnagiri is 8,249 sq km.

Ratnagiri's surrounding area is encompassed by the Sahyadri Hills on the West. Thus, this area receives heavy rainfall which results into highly eroded landscape in the coastal region, but fertile alluvial valleys in the region produce abundant rice, coconuts, cashew nuts, and fruits, delicious "Hāpus" (Alphonso) mangoes being one of the main fruits. Fishing is an important industry in Ratnagiri.Also during rainy season whole of Ratnagiri is covered with black clouds and hills are fully covered with greenary.Ratnagiri is soo beautiful(you will know when you will visit 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 Kehav Karve, an eminent social reformer and educationist; and Wrangler Raghunath Purushottam Paranjpe, a mathematician and educationist, were born in Ratnagiri or its vicinity.

Major tourist attractions in and around Ratnagiri are:Thiba Palace, Thiba Point(Rajmata Jijamata Udyan), Kurli, Kasop, Aare-Ware,Bhatye beach,Mandavi,Ganeshgule, Ganpatipule, Pawas, Rajapur, Adivare, Parshuram, Velneshwar, Marleshwar, Hedvi, Panhale kaji, Ratnagiri Fort(Bhagwati mandir) And many more places to see.

Facts & Figures

Area	8,249 sq km
Latitude	16°59’ N and 18°05’ N
Longitude	73°05’ E and 10°90’ E
Temperature	Max.: 35 °C; Min.: 18 °C
Average Rainfall	3225 mm
Population	1,696,482 (2001 census)
Population Density	207 per sq. kms.
Literacy Rate	75.35%
Sex Ratio	1135/1000
No. of Tehsil	9
STD Code	02352

How to Reach

Air: The nearest airport is situated at Ratnagiri itself. It is about 50 kms away. Other airport nearer to Ratnagiri is Kolhapur (129 kms). Mumbai (356 kms) and Pune (323 kms) are the other airports close by.

Rail: Connected by rail (broad gauge line), with a station at Ratnagiri.

Road: National highway No 17 passes through the district. State highways and roads link district headquarters at Ratnagiri to all 9 tehsils (sub-districts) and towns.

Mumbai - Ratnagiri -> 356Kms

Pune - Ratnagiri -> 365Kms

Goa - Ratnagiri -> 240Kms

Kolhapur - Ratnagiri -> 130Kms