Ratnagiri

Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी)
	Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी)
	— city —
	Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी) Location of Ratnagiri (रत्‍नागिरी); in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°ECoordinates: 16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°E
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Ratnagiri
Population	70,335 (2001)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area; • Elevation	; • 11 metres (36 ft)
• Pincode	• 415639
• Telephone	• +02352
• Vehicle	• MH08

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This article is about the municipality in Maharashtra, India. For its namesake district, see Ratnagiri district. For the ancient Buddhist monastery, see Ratnagiri (Orissa).

Ratnāgiri (Marathi: रत्‍नागिरी) is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast in Ratnagiri district^[1] in the southwestern part of Maharashtra, India. The district is a part of Konkan.

The Sahyadri mountains border Ratnagiri to the east. 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, "Hāpus" (Alphonso) mangoes being one of the main fruits. Fishing is an important industry in 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 Keshav Karve, a social reformer and educationist; and Wrangler Raghunath Purushottam Paranjpe, a mathematician and educationist, were born in Ratnagiri or its vicinity.

Ratnagiri has also been featured in Amitav Ghosh's novel, 'The Glass Palace.' The Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project is located in the district.

[edit] Geography

Ratnagiri is located at 16°59′N 73°18′E / 16.98°N 73.3°E / 16.98; 73.3.^[2] It has an average elevation of 11 meters (36 feet).

[edit] Climate

Climate data for Ratnagiri
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	37 (99)	37 (99)	39 (102)	41 (106)	42 (108)	40 (104)	38 (100)	37 (99)	38 (100)	41 (106)	38 (100)	37 (99)	42 (108)
Average high °C (°F)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	31 (88)	32 (90)	29 (84)	27 (81)	27 (81)	28 (82)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	30 (86)
Average low °C (°F)	20 (68)	21 (70)	23 (73)	25 (77)	27 (81)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	21 (70)	23 (73)
Record low °C (°F)	12 (54)	10 (50)	12 (54)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	22 (72)	22 (72)	21 (70)	18 (64)	15 (59)	13 (55)	10 (50)
Precipitation mm (inches)	1 (0.04)	2 (0.08)	3 (0.12)	4 (0.16)	17 (0.67)	588 (23.15)	882 (34.72)	591 (23.27)	308 (12.13)	80 (3.15)	17 (0.67)	3 (0.12)	2,496 (98.27)
Source: Weatherbase ^[3]

[edit] Demographics

According to 2008 census of India,^[4] Ratnagiri Town had a population of 100,000, males and females constituting 55% and 45%, respectively, of the population. 86% of males and 87% of females were literate. 11% of Ratnagiri's population was under 6 years of age.

Language: [Marathi, Konkani].
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.

[edit] 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 harbour 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 Rāy, had subsequently fought on their side against Kauravas during the Mahabharata war at Kuruskshetra. 70 % people in Ratnagiri are Hindus and around 20% are Muslims. Other religions are Buddhist, Christians.

[edit] Ratnagiri Municipality

Ratnagiri Municipality was established in 1876,^[5] the incumbent president is Mrs. Rajeshwari Shetye of the Nationalist Congress.

[edit] Education institutes

GGPS (Gangadhar Govind Patwardhan English Medium School)
Phatak High School
R. B. Shirke High School
Patwardhan High School
Sacred Heart Convent High School (Udyamnagar)
Sacred Heart Convent High School (Dhanjinaka)
Mistry High School.
B. A. D. Naik High School.
M. S. Naik High School.
S.B. Keer Law College
Gogte Joglekar College.
Nav Nirmaan College.
Fisheries College, Shirgaon.
Computer Application College For Girls, Shirgaon.
Finolex Academy of Management and Technology (An engineering college affiliated to 'University of Mumbai')
Government Polytechnic, Ratnagiri.
Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Ratnagiri.
Iqra English Medium School, Near Airport, Ratnagiri

[edit] Industries in and around Ratnagiri

Bharati Shipyard Limited.
Finolex Industries.
JSW Energy Limited.
JSW Jaigarh Port Limited.
Gadre Marine Export Private Limited.
J K Files & Tools Limited.
Narmada Cement Limited.
UltraTech Cement.
There are two MIDCs in the close proximity of Ratnagiri, one at Mirjole and the other at Zadgaon.
Sea Fabrics Limited
The Bharat Aluminium company Ltd. (Balco)^[6]
Raymond
Henkel ltd.

Showrooms For Vehicles: There are many Showrooms availables in Ratnagiri.

1. Gandhi Automobiles for Hero-Honda Location Mirjole, M.I.D.C. 2. Bafna Motors for Tata Vehicles, M.I.D.C. 3. NAIK AUTOMOBILES for Bajaj Vehicles. 4. Honda - Malnaka 5. Yamaha - Malnaka, Salvistop.

[edit] 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.^[7]

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.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Road

Ratnagiri is connected by road to Mumbai, Mangaluru, Madgaon, Karwar, Udupi and Cochin by National Highway number 17 (NH-17). The Konkan railway also connects to these places by train along with Delhi and Jaipur. Ratnagiri has a small sea port also. There is an airport which is not functional.

Ratnagiri-Nagpur National Highway NH-204 connects Ratnagiri to important cities like Kolhapur, Sangli, Solapur, Nanded, Nagpur and eastern parts of India.

MSRTC runs intercity bus service from Ratnagiri to Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur and Goa.

[edit] Railways

Ratnagiri station lies on the Konkan Railway. It is one of the most important stations on Konkan Railway. The nearest railway junctions are Pune and Kolhapur on the central railway. The Ratnagiri railway station is situated at a distance of 6 km from Ratnagiri city on NH-204. Nearly every train running on Konkan Railway has a stop at Ratnagiri Station. The MSRTC has introduced many bus services from the station to city. The other important stations in Ratnagiri District are Chiplun, Khed and Vithalwadi. While booking a train ticket to Ratnagiri, you should book your ticket a month early because most of the month the trains are full.

[edit] Prime attractions

Rajapur Ganga: The site of Rajapur Ganga is three km from nearby Rajapur. According to a theory by some geologists, the Ganges is a rare phenomenon of a large natural siphon from a nearby mountain. There are fourteen blackstone "kunda" (pools), each about 2.25 feet (0.69 m) 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.

Marleshwar: this is a holy place for Hindus where the temple of Lord Shiva is located 70 km away from Ratnagiri. The temple is actually inside a cave. A waterfall is located nearby. Hindus believe that Lord Shiva moved from Maral village to Marleshwar when the Mughal emperor attacked the Konkan region and was threatening to destroy Hindu temples.

Thiba Palace: The Thiba 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 Thiba palace, for a few years, it has subsequently shifted to its own premises.

Mandavi and Bhatye Beach: Mandavi Beach is also known as the Gate Way of Ratnagiri. Bhatye Beach is famous for its Suru Ban. The Kohinoor Hotel is situated just above the Bhatye Beach.

Mirkarwada Beach: It is the coastal station for marine professionals; all the fishing boats and trawlers land here. It is the major trading spot in Ratnagiri for marine industry. Most of the fishes from here are exported to other city markets such as Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bangaluru, and Mangalore.

Mālgund: The Marathi poet, Keshavsut, was born in the village of Malgund. His house has recently been renovated and converted into a students' dormitory. The "Marāthi Sāhitya Parishad" (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a monument called "Keshavsut Smārak" in Malgund.

Jaigad: This 17th century fort is located on a cliff at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river, and it offers a view of the sea. Jay Gad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay.

Pawas: Pawas achieved prominence after Swami Swaroopānand, a recent influential religious leader in Maharashtra, settled in this town. His residence has now been converted into an "āshram".

Atulit Bal Dham: Atulit Bal Dham is a holy place. This sacred Dham is managed by Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Upasana Trust, Mumbai. It is located at TRP, near petrol pump, just 1 km off the main road in Ratnagiri city. Panchamukhi Hanuman is the deity in this Dham. Devotees believe they get incredible Bal (physical, mental and spiritual power) after visiting this Dham. The total area is of around 2 acres (8,100 m²).

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 temple of Goddess Bhagwati is located inside the fort.

Ganpatipule: Ganapatipule is 21 kilometres from Ratnagiri on the way to "Purna Gad". It has a well-known Ganesha temple. It also has a beautiful beach. MTDC resorts are right beside the beach to stay. Parashurām 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.

[edit] See also

Ratnagiri (RN)
Next 'Small' station towards Mumbai: Bhoke	Konkan Railway : Railway (India)	Next 'Small' station from Mumbai: Nivasar
	Distance from Mumbai (CST) = 0431 KM
Next 'Main' station towards Mumbai: Chiplun	Konkan Railway : Railway (India)	Next 'Main' station from Mumbai: Kudal