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Ratnagiri
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Ratnagiri ( is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.
The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri on its west. 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, delicious "Hapus" (Alphonso) mangoes being one of the main fruits.
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Encyclopedia
Ratnagiri ( is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.
The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri on its west. 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, delicious "Hapus" (Alphonso) mangoes being one of the main fruits. Fishing is an important industry in Ratnagiri.
A few illustrious Indians, including "Lokmanya" Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prime leader in the nation's freedom movement in the British Raj days; Bharat Ratna "Maharshi" Dhondo Keshav Karve, an eminent social reformer and educationist; and Wrangler Raghunath Purushottam Paranjpe, a mathematician and educationist, were born in Ratnagiri or its vicinity.
Geography
Ratnagiri is located at . It has an average elevation of 11 meters (36 feet). The region's climate is tropical.
Demographics
According to 2006 census of India, Ratnagiri had a population of 70,335, males and females constituting 53% and 47%, respectively, of the population. 84% of males and 86% of females were literate. 11% of Ratnagiri's population was under 6 years of age.
- Language: Mainly Marathi,Urdu
- 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
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 harbor 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 Ray, had subsequently fought on their side against Kauravas during the Mahabharata war at Kuruskshetra.
Ratnagiri Municipality
Ratnagiri Municipality was established in 1876, the incumbent president is Madhukar Ghosale of the Shiv Sena.
Industries in and around Ratnagiri
- Finolex Pipes Limited
- Gadre Marine Export Private Limited
- J K Files Limited
- Narmada Cement Limited
- Gadre Marine Export Private Limited
- There are two MIDCs in the close proximity of Ratnagiri, one at Mirjole and the other at Zadgao.
Marine Biological Research Station
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.
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.
Prime Attractions
Rajapur Ganga: The site of Rajapur Ganga is three km from nearby Rajapur. According to a theory by some geologists, the Ganga is a rare phenomenon of a large natural siphon from a nearby mountain. There are fourteen blackstone "kunda" (pools), each about 2.25 feet 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.
Thebaw Palace: The Thebaw 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 Thebaw palace, for a few years, it has subsequently shifted to its own premises.
Malgund: The famous Marathi poet, Keshavsut, was born in the village of Malgund. His house has recently been renovated and converted into a students' dormitory. The "Marathi Sahitya Parishad" (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a monument called "Keshavsut Smarak" in Malgund.
Jay Gad: This 17th century fort is nestled on a cliff at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river, and it offers a spectacular view of the sea. Jay Gad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay.
Pawas: Pawas has its natural beauty. It achieved prominence after Swami Swaroopanand, a rcent influential religious leader in Maharashtra, settled in this town. His residence has now been converted into an "ashram".
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 picturesque temple of Goddess Bhagwati is located inside the fort.
Ganpatipule: Ganpatipule has clean beaches. It is 21 kilometers from Ratnagiri on the way to "Purna Gad". It has a well-known Ganesh temple.
Parashuram 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.
Gallery
External links
http://maharshikarvefamily.blogspot.com/
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