Ratnagiri District
Encyclopedia
Ratnagiri district is one of the 35 districts
of Maharashtra
state in western India
. Ratnagiri
(city) is the district headquarters of the district. The district is 11.33% urban. The district is bounded by the Arabian Sea
to the west, Sindhudurg district
to the south, Raigad district
to the north and Satara
, Sangli
and Kolhapur
districts to the east. This district is part of Konkan division
.
, the Portuguese, the Marathas and subsequently the British
. In 1948 the independent princely state of Sawantwadi was merged with the Indian union and in 1956 with Bombay Province, thus becoming part of Ratnagiri district. In 1960 with the creation of Maharashtra, Ratnagiri became a district of that state. In 1981 Ratnagiri district was bifurcated and the new district of Sindhudurg was created. Ratnagiri has nine tehsils and eight towns. Ratna in Marathi Means-Jewel And Giri Means Mountains. Litrally Ratnagiri Means Mountain Of Jewels as this District has produced jewels like Dr. Ambedkar,Lokmanya Tilak,V.D.Sawarkar,Baba Phatak, Sane Guruji, Hutatma Anant Kanhere and many more.
, Dapoli
, Khed
, Chiplun
, Guhagar
, Sangameshwar
, Ratnagiri
, Lanja
and Rajapur.
There are 5 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha
constituencies in this district. These are Rajapur
, Ratnagiri
, Guhagar
, Chiplun and Dapoli
. There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in which the district is partly represented. One, comprising the southern part of Ratnagiri district, namely, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Rajapur constituencies and combined with entire Sindhudurg District
forms Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency
. The other one, comprising the northern part of the district, namely, Guhagar and Dapoli constituencies and part of the neighbouring Raigad district forms Raigad lok Sabha constituency
.
region of Maharashtra state. It is situated at latitude 17°N
and longitude 73°19'E. The chief rivers in Ratnagiri district are the Shastri, Bor, Muchkundi, Kajali, Savitri and Vashishti river.
Ratnagiri is the district headquarters. It is the birth place of Lokmanya Tilak. Also in the city are Ratnadurg fort, Lighthouse, Gitabhavan, an aquarium, a college of pisciculture, Thiba palace, an aerodrome, a radio station, and a television transmission center. Nearby at Mirjole there is an industrial estate. Another unique feature are the two beaches on either side of the Ratnadurg fort, one of pure white sand and other of black sand.
, Dapoli.
The "Ganga of Rajapur" is a natural phenomenon believed by many locals to be a miracle. Nearly every 3 years the well forms 14 small pools of water of different temperatures about 3 ft apart. It is believed that the holy Ganga Mata
appears to the devotees there. Geologists have theorized that this is a rare case of a large natural syphon from a nearby mountain.
Thebaw Palace : Constructed in 1910-1l, the Thebaw Palace was built for the exiled king and queen of Burma (now Myanmar). They lived in this palace from 1911 till their death in 1916. The five years of their stay are now immortalised in stone with their tombs. In future, this palace might be converted into a regional museum or a heritage hotel.
Malgund : Birthplace of the famous Marathi poet, Keshavsoot. Itis a small peaceful village about 1 km away from Ganapatipule. The poet's house was recently renovated and converted into a students' hostel. The Marathi Sahitya Parishad (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a beautiful monument called Keshavsoot Smarak in memory of him.
Jaigad Fort
: Nestled on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river and 35 km from Ganapatipule is the Jaigad Fort. This 17th-century fort offers a commanding view of the sea. Jaigad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay. Its beach is small and safe.
Pawas : Besides its natural beauty and serenity, Pawas achieved prominence when Swami Swaroopanand (a spiritual leader who influenced an entire generation of Maharashtrians) had made it his abode. The place where he used to reside is now converted into an ashram. A visit there is still like a journey through time.
Velneshwar : 170 km from Ratnagiri is the sleepy, village of Velneshwar. Its adjoining beach is clean and natural and is lined with coconut trees. It is possible to swim there as the beach is free from rocks. There is an old Shiva temple near Velneshwar which is frequently visited by pilgrims; a haven for those in search of quiet mysticism in the ethereal presence of the master mystic - Lord Shiva.
Ratna Durg: Built during the Bahamani rule. Later to become the property of Adilshah. In 1670, Shivaji conquered the fort. 1761 saw the fort fall into the hands of a man impersonating Sadashivrao Bhau. In 1790, Dhondu Bhaskar Pratinidhi rebuilt the fort and strengthened its ramparts. The fort never was witness to any decisive, or historically magnificent battles.
The fort is horseshoe shaped, with a length of 1300 metres and width of 1000 metres. Surrounded by sea on three sides, with land touching it on the fourth side. On one of the sea facing sides, part of the cliff has collapsed to reveal a cave. One of the fort's bastions, the 'Siddha Buruj', still has a lighthouse, that has stood here for years. A picturesque temple of The Goddess Bhagwati is one of the important places of worship in the area of the fort. A well near the temple has steps leading down.
Marleshwar temple- This is the temple of lord shiva situated in sayadri hill. Th main attraction is waterfall of Marleshwar. This is near to Maral village, 16 km from Deorukh village
Ratnagiri district has a population
of 1,612,672, roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau
or the US state of Idaho
. This gives it a ranking of 311th in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 196 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was -4.96 %. Ratnagiri has a sex ratio
of 1123 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 82.43 %.
The major languages spoken in this district are Marathi
and Daldi
.
awardees, namely Maharishi Karve
, Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane
and Dr.B.R. Ambedkar
.
Districts of Maharashtra
The Indian state of Maharashtra came into existence on May 1, 1960 , initially with 28 districts. 7 new districts have been created since then and currently the number of districts in the state is 35...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state in western India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri 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 to the east...
(city) is the district headquarters of the district. The district is 11.33% urban. The district is bounded by the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
to the west, Sindhudurg district
Sindhudurg district
Sindhudurg is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India, which was carved out of the erstwhile Ratnagiri District. The district headquarters are located at Oros . The district occupies an area of 5207 km² and has a population of 868,825 of which 9.47% were urban...
to the south, Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
to the north and Satara
Satara district
Satara District is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km² and a population of 2,808,994 of which 14.17% were urban . Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Koyananagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar...
, Sangli
Sangli district
Sangli district is a district of Maharashtra state in west-central India. Sangli city is the district headquarters. The district is 24.51% urban. Sangli and Miraj are the largest cities. The industrial town of Kirloskarwadi is also located in the Sangli District...
and Kolhapur
Kolhapur District
Kolhapur district is located in Maharashtra state. The city of Kolhapur is the district headquarters. The district had a population of 3,523,162 of which 29.81% were urban as of 2001...
districts to the east. This district is part of Konkan division
Konkan Division
Konkan division is one of the six administrative divisions of Maharashtra state in India. It comprises the Konkan region, which occupies the entire west coast of Maharashtra...
.
History
The district is in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. This region was under the rule of the Mauryas, the Nalas, the Silaharas, the Chalukyas, the KadambasKadambas
The Kadamba Dynasty was an ancient royal family of Karnataka that ruled from Banavasi in present day Uttara Kannada district. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires for over five hundred years during which time they...
, the Portuguese, the Marathas and subsequently the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1948 the independent princely state of Sawantwadi was merged with the Indian union and in 1956 with Bombay Province, thus becoming part of Ratnagiri district. In 1960 with the creation of Maharashtra, Ratnagiri became a district of that state. In 1981 Ratnagiri district was bifurcated and the new district of Sindhudurg was created. Ratnagiri has nine tehsils and eight towns. Ratna in Marathi Means-Jewel And Giri Means Mountains. Litrally Ratnagiri Means Mountain Of Jewels as this District has produced jewels like Dr. Ambedkar,Lokmanya Tilak,V.D.Sawarkar,Baba Phatak, Sane Guruji, Hutatma Anant Kanhere and many more.
Divisions
There are nine talukas within the Ratnagiri district: MandangadMandangad
Mandangad is the northmost taluka in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India.-Description:Mandangad is the taluka headquarters in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state in India. The heart of Mandangad is valota.The village is situated at the extreme north of Ratnagiri District...
, Dapoli
Dapoli
Dapoli is a small town in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in India.-Geography:Dapoli is 215 KM away from Mumbai.It is also called the "Mini Mahabaleshwar" because of its cool climate throughout the year.dapoli is also the city which gave birth to many historic idols like Lokmanya Tilak, Sane...
, Khed
Khed
Khed is an industrial city with a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is surrounded by a number of villages, including Khopi, Savnas, Bahirwali, Furus, Karji, Tise, Rajawel, Panhalje, Lote, Kondivali, Shiv, Mani, Nandgaon, Ashti, Shirgaon, Sakhroli,...
, Chiplun
Chiplun
Chiplun is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the state of Maharashtra, India. Located on the Mumbai–Goa highway in western India. The city is about 320 km south of Mumbai in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is a fast developing city in Konkan with a strong cultural...
, Guhagar
Guhagar
Guhagar is a census town in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.For more information visit official Guhagar website guhagardotcom. The town is known for its virgin beach, coir items, coconuts, betel nuts and mainly Haapus Alphanso mangoes. The nearest city and railhead is...
, Sangameshwar
Sangameshwar
Sangameshwar is a tehsil in Ratnagiri subdivision of Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Sangmeshwar is situated at the confluence of the two rivers Sonavi and Shastri. In fact, the very meaning of Sangama in Marathi is confluence, and so the name Sangmeshwar...
, Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri
Ratnāgiri 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 to the east...
, Lanja
Lanja
Lanja is a census town in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:Lanja is located at . It has an average elevation of 166 metres ....
and Rajapur.
There are 5 Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha
Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha
The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha or the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated in the Nariman Point area of South Mumbai in the capital Mumbai...
constituencies in this district. These are Rajapur
Rajapur (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Rajapur Vidhan Sabha constituency is one of the 288 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India.-Overview:Rajapur constituency is one of the five Vidhan Sabha constituencies located in Ratnagiri district...
, Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Ratnagiri is one of the 288 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in Western India.-Members of Assembly:* 1995: Shivaji Gotad, Bharatiya Janata Party* 1999: Bal Mane, Bharatiya Janata Party...
, Guhagar
Guhagar (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Guhagar Vidhan Sabha constituency is one of the 288 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India.-Overview:Guhagar constituency is one of the five Vidhan Sabha constituencies located in Ratnagiri district....
, Chiplun and Dapoli
Dapoli (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
Dapoli Vidhan Sabha constituency is one of the 288 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India.-Overview:Dapoli constituency is one of the five Vidhan Sabha constituencies located in Ratnagiri district....
. There are two Lok Sabha constituencies in which the district is partly represented. One, comprising the southern part of Ratnagiri district, namely, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Rajapur constituencies and combined with entire Sindhudurg District
Sindhudurg district
Sindhudurg is an administrative district in the state of Maharashtra in India, which was carved out of the erstwhile Ratnagiri District. The district headquarters are located at Oros . The district occupies an area of 5207 km² and has a population of 868,825 of which 9.47% were urban...
forms Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency
Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg (Lok Sabha constituency)
Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India. This constituency came into existence in 2008 as a part of the implementation of the Presidential notification on delimitation of parliamentary constituencies, based on the...
. The other one, comprising the northern part of the district, namely, Guhagar and Dapoli constituencies and part of the neighbouring Raigad district forms Raigad lok Sabha constituency
Raigad (Lok Sabha constituency)
Raigad Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra state in western India. It is a new constituency, created in 2008 as a part of the implementation of the delimitation of the parliamentary constituencies based on the recommendations of the Delimitation...
.
Geography
Ratnagiri district is of the six districts of the KonkanKonkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
region of Maharashtra state. It is situated at latitude 17°N
17th parallel north
The 17th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 17 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Africa, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, Central America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean....
and longitude 73°19'E. The chief rivers in Ratnagiri district are the Shastri, Bor, Muchkundi, Kajali, Savitri and Vashishti river.
Ratnagiri is the district headquarters. It is the birth place of Lokmanya Tilak. Also in the city are Ratnadurg fort, Lighthouse, Gitabhavan, an aquarium, a college of pisciculture, Thiba palace, an aerodrome, a radio station, and a television transmission center. Nearby at Mirjole there is an industrial estate. Another unique feature are the two beaches on either side of the Ratnadurg fort, one of pure white sand and other of black sand.
Prime Attractions
Parashuram Temple near Chiplun, Ganapatipule and Pavas draw many visitors. Caves in the Chiplun, Khed, Dabhol, Sangameshwar, Gauhani Velgaum and Vade Padel are also worth visiting. The Buddhist legend in the Papanch, Sudan and Srath Appakasini record the conversion of Konkan to Buddhism as early as the lifetime of Gautama (BC 560-481). Chiplun, Kol, and Pabol caves indicate that the Sarthawalas or Caravan-men donated some of them. Shivsamarth gad at sawarde near chipalun is also worth visiting with all sculptures from Shivaji Maharaj era. The Agricultural University also a prime attraction which is located in Dapoli Taluka. The university is famous for research, extension and education by the name Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi VidyapeethDr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth
Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth is an agricultural university at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was established on May 18, 1972 as Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, and got its present name on February 12, 2001. Its research centre at Karjat has developed...
, Dapoli.
The "Ganga of Rajapur" is a natural phenomenon believed by many locals to be a miracle. Nearly every 3 years the well forms 14 small pools of water of different temperatures about 3 ft apart. It is believed that the holy Ganga Mata
Ganga in Hinduism
In Hinduism, the river Ganges - referred to as Gaṅgā in the Hindu context and India - is considered sacred. The river, personified as a goddess, is worshipped by Hindus, who believe that bathing in the river causes the remission of sins and facilitates liberation from the cycle of life and death...
appears to the devotees there. Geologists have theorized that this is a rare case of a large natural syphon from a nearby mountain.
Thebaw Palace : Constructed in 1910-1l, the Thebaw Palace was built for the exiled king and queen of Burma (now Myanmar). They lived in this palace from 1911 till their death in 1916. The five years of their stay are now immortalised in stone with their tombs. In future, this palace might be converted into a regional museum or a heritage hotel.
Malgund : Birthplace of the famous Marathi poet, Keshavsoot. Itis a small peaceful village about 1 km away from Ganapatipule. The poet's house was recently renovated and converted into a students' hostel. The Marathi Sahitya Parishad (Marathi Literature Society) has constructed a beautiful monument called Keshavsoot Smarak in memory of him.
Jaigad Fort
Jaigad Fort
Jaigad is sea fort that is located at the tip of a peninsula in Ratnagiri District, in the state of Maharashtra, India. Nestled on a cliff, it overlooks a bay formed where the Shastri river enters the Arabian Sea. It has a commanding view of the bay and the open sea. A jetty port, and a lighthouse...
: Nestled on a cliff, at the entrance of the Sangameshwar river and 35 km from Ganapatipule is the Jaigad Fort. This 17th-century fort offers a commanding view of the sea. Jaigad's sea fort is situated at a sheltered bay. Its beach is small and safe.
Pawas : Besides its natural beauty and serenity, Pawas achieved prominence when Swami Swaroopanand (a spiritual leader who influenced an entire generation of Maharashtrians) had made it his abode. The place where he used to reside is now converted into an ashram. A visit there is still like a journey through time.
Velneshwar : 170 km from Ratnagiri is the sleepy, village of Velneshwar. Its adjoining beach is clean and natural and is lined with coconut trees. It is possible to swim there as the beach is free from rocks. There is an old Shiva temple near Velneshwar which is frequently visited by pilgrims; a haven for those in search of quiet mysticism in the ethereal presence of the master mystic - Lord Shiva.
Ratna Durg: Built during the Bahamani rule. Later to become the property of Adilshah. In 1670, Shivaji conquered the fort. 1761 saw the fort fall into the hands of a man impersonating Sadashivrao Bhau. In 1790, Dhondu Bhaskar Pratinidhi rebuilt the fort and strengthened its ramparts. The fort never was witness to any decisive, or historically magnificent battles.
The fort is horseshoe shaped, with a length of 1300 metres and width of 1000 metres. Surrounded by sea on three sides, with land touching it on the fourth side. On one of the sea facing sides, part of the cliff has collapsed to reveal a cave. One of the fort's bastions, the 'Siddha Buruj', still has a lighthouse, that has stood here for years. A picturesque temple of The Goddess Bhagwati is one of the important places of worship in the area of the fort. A well near the temple has steps leading down.
Marleshwar temple- This is the temple of lord shiva situated in sayadri hill. Th main attraction is waterfall of Marleshwar. This is near to Maral village, 16 km from Deorukh village
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
Ratnagiri district has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 1,612,672, roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
or the US state of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. This gives it a ranking of 311th in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 196 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was -4.96 %. Ratnagiri has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 1123 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 82.43 %.
The major languages spoken in this district are Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
and Daldi
Konkani language
KonkaniKonkani is a name given to a group of several cognate dialects spoken along the narrow strip of land called Konkan, on the west coast of India. This is, however, somewhat an over-generalisation. Geographically, Konkan is defined roughly as the area between the river Damanganga to the north...
.
Notable personalities
Ratnagiri has the distinction of being the native place of three Bharat RatnaBharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna is the Republic of India's highest civilian award, awarded for the highest degrees of national service. This service includes artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as "recognition of public service of the highest order." Unlike knights, holders of the Bharat Ratna...
awardees, namely Maharishi Karve
Dhondo Keshav Karve
Maharshi Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. In honour of Karve, Queen's Road in Mumbai was renamed to Maharishi Karve Road...
, Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane
Pandurang Vaman Kane
Bharat Ratna Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane was a notable Indologist and Sanskrit scholar. He received India's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in 1963. He was born in a conservative Chitpavan Brahmin family in the Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra, India. Eminent Historian Professor R.S...
and Dr.B.R. Ambedkar
B. R. Ambedkar
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...
.