Ganpatipule

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Ganpatipule is some 375 kms from Panvel and you can reach it very easily by taking the
Jan shatabdi which deparats Panvel at 6.40Am and reaches Ratnagiri at 10.40AM (usually 30minutes late). Ratnagiri station is relatively clean and cool (since it is at an elevation).
We took a private vehicle to Ratnavally beach resort which is some 26 Kms from the station. We had rented a villa and a cottage for the 7 of us. The beauty of this resort is that it has a private beach all of it's own. The service and food at the resort is basic and nothing to talk about.


On thursday we bummed around eating drinking and hammocking:-) We were the only family on the beach.
On Friday we rented a Qualis and went to see the Ganapati temple 2 Kms from the resort and the jaigad fort.
The temple is close to the the beach and one can do a 'parikrama" a circular trek outside the temple. My niece Antara the junior most member of the family went on a camel ride.

We purchased laddoos at the temple as prasad and then after a refreshing coconut drink proceeded towards Jaigad fort. There is nothing impressive the fort, so we warily climbed the steps and to our delight found a spectacular panoramic view of the sea. And as we took in the sights, Mala my brother's wife spotted dolphins and there was mad scramble for the binoculars to view them. They were a little too distant for us to catch a good glimpse. But we could definitely see them jumping and diving.
We were lucky to sight them at our own beach on Sunday morning and the second time we could see them more clearly though the binoculars. It's time a get a good SLR with a telephoto to capture wild life was the thought running through my mind as my brain saved the memories of these wild dolphins.

We also saw a variety of birds around the resort and at jaigad fort.
It was indeed a truly refreshing break.