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How To Reach Ratnagiri From Mumbai By Road?
If you are excited to go on a short road trip and want to drive yourself and if you are staying in Mumbai, driving to Ratnagiri on old Mumbai Goa road would be a good treat. (NH 17 now NH66). This 350 km of road is full of scenic beauty and historical monuments. Which are part of many local and national events.
Best Time For A Road Trip To Ratnagiri
The best time to drive is at the end of the monsoon when the climate is cool. It’s Green everywhere and you can have scenic views of clouds coming down on mountains and multiple waterfalls.
Tourist Places On Mumbai -Goa Highway (NH-66)
To enjoy the ride, one has to start early from Mumbai cross Panvel latest by 6:30 in the morning.
Once you cross Panvel, there is a small village named Shirdon.
This is the hometown of one of the earlier freedom fighters Vasudeo Balwant Phadke.
After his unsuccessful fight, he was arrested by the British and deported to Yemen, where he was later executed.
1.Karnala Bird Sanctuary
Just 4 km from Shirdon is Karnala Bird sanctuary.
While passing through this sanctuary you can see many monkeys on the road. It is a great visual if you have kids with you.
With proper guidance, you can enjoy feeding these monkeys.
Please be careful and take care of your petty belongings as monkeys might flick them, in an attempt to feed them.
Good Breakfast Option-
You can stop for breakfast at Hotel Amantran at Vadkhal.
It serves good Maharashtrian snacks and has a good parking space.
2.Mahad
After Mangaon is the small town Mahad.
This town has played important role in history.
Just 30 km from this town is fort Raigad, which was the capital of the Maratha Empire during the rule of its first king Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The ruins of the fort still have the story of valor of many to share.
MTDC resort on the fort provides accommodation to stay. There is a facility of a ropeway.
However, you will miss important parts of history if u don’t climb by steps.
You would usually skip Mahad town as highway passes from out of the town.
However, if you wish to take the detour and drive from within the town, you will be able to see Chavadar Lake.
This is the same lake from where Dr. B R Ambedkar started his struggle against untouchability. The Statue of Dr. Ambedkar has been erected in the mid of the lake in his memory.
Breakfast Options @Mahad
In case you skipped breakfast at Vadkhal, you can have it in Mahad.
You will get a good breakfast in Kamat restaurant or Motel Visava located on the highway.
Please note post this point there are no good joints for snacks and breakfast.
After you cross Mahad and then Poladpur, you start climbing Kashedi ghat. The drive through this ghat or hilly terrain is almost for 1 hour to 90 minutes.
3.Kashedi Ghat
This hill road or ghat provides quite a lot of scenic views during the drive.
You would be tempted in some of the spots to stop for selfies or for some good clicks.
Post this ghat the whole road will have multiple hill roads as you pass through Sahyadri mountain ranges.
As suggested earlier if you are driving at the end of monsoon or during winter, then it would make you feel like driving through the gates of paradise.
Good Option For Lunch@NH-66-
Once you alight from the hill road, you enter the small town by the name Khed.
Just before entering Khed on the left side of the road is a small eatery Hotel Kalkai.
It serves one of the best nonvegetarian Konkani food.
“Vade Mutton” is a special recommendation if you happen to stop there.
In the case of a peak lunch hour, you might have to wait for some time.
4. Parshuram Temple
After having a good lunch, you can further start your journey.
Then you start climbing Parshuram Ghat.
On the top of the ghat, there is a temple of Lord Parshuram.
It is believed that Lord Parshuram stayed here for some time for meditation.
You get a good view of the river at the bottom of the hill from this temple.
Just before the temple is a small house restaurant, which serves good snacks.
Maharashtrian snack “Thalipeeth” is a good delicacy, which is served with homemade white butter.
5.Dervan
Dervan is a little bit inside from sawarde.
Here you can see the “shivshrushti ” life journey of Shivaji Maharaj.
6.Karneshwar Mandir
After u cross Chiplun, you will pass by the small village Sangmeshwar.
There is a famous Shiva temple “Karneshwar”.
As per the mythological belief, Pandavas had built this temple in the memory of their elder brother Karna, hence known as Karneshwar.
It is also believed that it was in this temple that Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second emperor of the Maratha kingdom was treacherously arrested by Aurangazeb.
This temple is built using Hemadpanti architecture, which does not use cement, but bar slot technique to joint the stones.
Now you are just 45 km away from Ratnagiri, which is a 1-hour drive
Nice info but one more thing ,if u want to visit rtn u can come in march for rangapanchami call shimga /holi .