"SAPPHIRE ON THE ARABIAN SEA" a Ratnagiri Travel Page by pravdr

dream up a seaside port with pristine beaches.a long history of political importance.good harbours.fertile land with tropical produce.fresh marine food.a palace of an exiled oriental king. a fort with a long history.birthplace to many illustrious sons of soil.rugged landscape.a lighthouse on a cliff adding to the mystery of the place.well you cannot have enough of ratnagiri.
situated on the arabian sea coast like a jewel(ratna)giri(town)its truly a sapphire.
beautiful throughout the season. even the summers are cool provided you stay in a traditional house surrounded by mango orchards.beautiful in the rains in fact indescribable in the rains and salubrious during other months.
the pace of the town will hit a city dweeler like a soothing mantra destressing him within days.ratnagiri moves at its own pace but it matches with that of your heart.

the beautiful terracotta tiled houses are obvious everywhere.in rainy season they drain water and in summer they absorb much of the heat.the houses are made of red laterite stone whch is obvious in construction all over. this porous rock absorbs temperature and dew and keeps th houses cool even during peak summer season.the roads are winding and tedious.beautiful culverts laced with views of seashore.
driving down to ratnagiri is such a pleasure on NH 17 the black ribbon of road cuts thro the rugged landscape of konkan with dramatic twists and turns.making it difficult but exhilarating experience.the start of konkan railway a decade ago has changed the way of life in this region making access easier.but it still remains unspoilt and beautiful just as the people of the local area are.
In 1731 it came under the control of Satara kings; in 1818 it was surrendered to the British. A fort was built during the Bijapur dynasty and strengthened in 1670 by the Maratha king Shivaji, which is located on a headland near the harbour. It is one of the ports of the Konkan coast. It has a palace where the last king of Burma, Thibaw, and later Veer Savarkar, were confined.
It is also believed that the Pandavas having performed their pilgrimage on the 13th year had settled in the adjoining territory of the Ratnagiri district and when the Pandavas and the Kauravas had the famous war at Kuruskshetra, the king of this region Veeravat Ray had accompanied then there.

innumerable temples family deities festivals and religious fervour make the sons of soil who have made it successful in big cities maintain their links with thier old homes and villages.
the beauty can be compared to california in USA amalfi coast in italy and crimea in ukraine.
increased connectivity has led to increased tourism and awareness of this area as a tourist hotspot next only to goa.
a walk up the cliff to watch the ocean in its play with the coast is a must in all seasons.