A summer weekend on a silvery-white sand beach, sipping on a coconut and listening to the waves, we are travelling to Ganpatipule Beach along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. One of the many gems of Maharashtra, this place is simply wonderful. 

Offer your prayers to lord Ganesha at the 400-year-old Swayambhu Ganpati temple, hop on an ATV or banana boat on the beach or just drive around the market to sample the delicious Konkan cuisine, Ganpatipule is our perfect weekend getaway this summer. 

Here’s a little back story of the place. According to legend, the elephant god Ganesha took offence to a remark made by a local lady and decided to move to Pule from his original abode. And so, around 1600 years ago, a Ganpati idol in the form of a rock emerged from the ground into a self-manifested monolith. The Swayambhu Ganpati temple was built around it. To this day, thousands of devotees make visit Ganpatipule as pilgrims and also enjoy this idyllic getaway.

Besides the temple, there are many fun activities and experiences to enjoy in this Konkan town. It just happens to be one of our favourite summer weekend getaways.

Here is a list to help you plan your weekend getaway to Ganpatipule.

• Enjoy various watersports activities on Ganpatipule Beach like ATV biking, boating, parasailing and so on. 
• Offer your prayers to the Ganesh monolith in the 400-year-old Swayambhu Ganpati Temple that bang on the beach.
• Picnic and relax on the silvery-white sand of Ganpatipule Beach. Enjoy the waves as they roll in and out of the shore.
• Visit the Jaigad Fort that’s nestled on a cliff overlooking the bay formed by the Sangameshwar River as it flows into the Arabian Sea. 
• The Jaigad Lighthouse is but a short drive from the fort. One must go to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy the 360-degree view it offers. 
• You can visit the quaint little village of Malgund, the birthplace of Kavi Keshavasuta. He was a famous Marathi poet whose work heralded a new age in Marathi poetry. This is a lovely place, the peace and calm are sure to inspire anyone who visits. 
• One can also visit Pawas which is known as Swami Swaroopanad’s Ashram. 
• Fancy visiting another beach? Check out Valneshwar. 35 kms away from Ganpatipule, you can enjoy the serene rock-free beach and its sun-shimmering waters.
• The best part of visiting during the summers is the Alphonso mangos. Since Ganpatipule is in the state of Ratnagiri, you can visit any one of the several Hapus Mango orchards. Sample and buy the famous, yummy and super delicious Ratnagiri Hapus. Yum Yum!
• Visit the local markets and restaurants to get a taste of the Konan cuisine. And sip the refreshing kokum sharbat, we just couldn’t have enough ourselves.

If you are looking for a longer vacation, you can club your trip with a planned visit to Ratnagiri. 

Ganpatipule is a must-visit if you want to make a pilgrimage. Or if you want to enjoy coconut-tree fringed beaches that are really clean and enjoy the coastal wonders of Maharashtra.