About Ratnagiri
Destinations
Ratnagiri …. Land of gems …. Land of beaches, mountains, plateaus, and forests, abode rich with diversity in environment, culture, food, art, and heritage. Here you find solace in the silence of the sea with white sand beaches and color-splattered evening sky. Here you find peace in the foothills of Sahyadries with breezy winds, dancing springs, and the fragrance of the forest. Here you find adventure in heavy rains, pouring waterfalls, and roaring waves of the Arabian Sea. Ratnagiri offers every kind of place to visit for every kind of traveler … Nature and wildlife lovers, history and heritage explorers, pilgrims, and fun tourists.
Culture
A rich diversity of terrain and environment cause diversity in culture, art, and living, and the Ratnagiri district is full of this diversity. Variety of arts, dances, dresses, makeup, languages, literature, folklore, festivals, and celebrations … a colorful spectrum of cultural bonanza is displayed by our beloved Ratnagiri District. Soft-spoken, decent, and straightforward natives are helpful, welcoming and yet proud of their land and heritage. Ratnagiri is and has been the birth place or the work place of many notable personalities from different fields like politics, law, mathematics, poetry, film, and education. Dances like Jakhadi, Dhanagari, or Palkhi, colorful uniforms for these art forms, and local folk songs create visual and musical feast on different festivals and celebrations. Yes, Ratnagiri is definitely heaven for travelers looking for the cultural feat.Â
Festivals
Echoes of laughter everywhere, Pretty ladies and handsome gentlemen dressed up for the occasion traditionally, and the faint scents of coconut-based delicacies mark the beginning of every festival in Ratnagiri. Every festival like Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi or popularly known as Shimga, Diwali, etc is celebrated with heartfelt joy and devotion. Festivals in Ratnagiri district are never complete without Palkhi’s or Khelye or such kinds of dances. These festivals are colorful, and musical, yet close to nature. In different villages, nature deities are equally worshiped and respected during traditional festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratra, or Id.
Food
Ratnagiri showcase a plethora of cuisines for both vegetarian and non-vegetarians. Coconut milk is the base for many dishes and these dishes are mainly prepared with local spices. Rice is another ingredient used extravagantly in both spicy and sweet dishes. Being close to Sea and Creeks, fishes, crabs, shrimps, and such aquatic ingredients are commonly used by peasants. Local recipes are simple, yet rich with nutritious ingredients, tasty, and easy to prepare. Modak, Ras Shevai or Pangi are some signature vegetarian dishes, while Fish fry, Fish Curry, and Kombdi Vade display the spicy route. Every tahasil of Ratnagiri District has a distinct flavor to offer. Curry prepared with a Sangameshwari recipe will taste delicious yet different from the tasty Bhandari style preparation of Dapoli tahasil. Using the same spices, these locals create so much variety and ecstasy for taste buds
Bio-diversity
Ratnagiri is a literal heaven for all the nature and animal lovers out there. Due to its geographical location and varying landforms ranging from salty waters to the mountain peaks it has a rich diversity of plants, animals, insects, birds, fishes, and amphibians, etc. Alphanso mangoes are famous, but Ratnagiri also offers other varieties like Raival and Payari, local varieties with mouthwatering tastes. Thickets of Karvand, a local berry, are another seasonal to search for. Local fruits like Jambhul, Kokam, Star fruit, and Phanas (Jackfruit) are natures offering, not to miss. These forests are rich with the fragrance of different flowers like Bakul, Chapha or mesmerizing with the colors of Palas, Pangara, or Bahava. It is musical with winds murmuring through Pimpal leaves or whistling through Bamboo thicket.Â
This variety of terrain houses many animal species like barking deer, bonnet monkey, panther, Nilgai, fox, wild dogs, wild boar, etc. Blue skies and a thick canopy of trees offer abode to a variety of birds, and insects. Freshwater ponds, rivers, creeks, mangroves, and such aquatic ecosystems support a variety of fish, amphibians, and invertebrate species.
History & Heritage
Ratnagiri is an old and famous place, described in historical literature, enriched with Temples, Mosques, Churches, Buddh Caves, Vihars, and a huge number of places dedicated to nature deities. Locals worship nature deities equally and had built beautiful temples, caves, or carvings for them. Many temples, mosques, churches, and buddha vihar were built in different eras, offering a variety of architectural wonders.
Ratnagiri, Jaigad, Rajapur, Dabhol, Harnai, and Bankot are some of the well-known ports, which were used for trade with many countries. These are still maintained and can be an attraction for tourists. Being famous for foreign trade, many sentient Jaldurg (water forts) were built around these forts, and these forts are wonders of architecture, and they are facing the brute force of nature and yet standing with full pride and strength.Â
On other hand, in ranges of the Western Ghats, Giri Durgs (Hill Fort), were built to keep eye on trade routes from famous Ports to famous trading cities like Paithan, Kolhapur, or Satara. Some of these are situated in Ratnagiri District covered with thick forest, standing tall and inviting daring tourists.Â
There are many old, typically built Wada, houses, and monuments, reciting old stories and lore, helping us to understand our roots.Â
There are modern marvels to observe like bridges or tunnels on the Konkan Railway route or dams or buildings.Â