September 19, 2015

My TripAdvisor Review No.122: Ganpatipule Temple, District Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

“Sentinel God of the West.”
5 of 5 starsReviewed 18 September 2015NEW
This 400 year old temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha is beautifully located at the edge of the Arabian Sea at the temple town by the same name. Lord Ganesha is also lovingly known as ‘Ganpati’, and ‘pule’ is the local word for sand dunes, so the temple and the village where it is located have acquired the name ‘Ganpatipule’.

The Ganesha idol here has been formed by nature, hence it is also known as a ‘Swayambhu’ Ganpati. The idol faces west towards the sea, so the local people refer to it as the ‘Paschim Dwar Devta’ or the Sentinel God of the West.

The temple is wedged in between a hill and a lovely beach, and is beautifully decorated with wall carvings of the gods. As you enter you will be greeted by two brightly painted elephants and a brass mouse. The mouse is the ‘mushak-vahan’ or the riding companion of Lord Ganesha. After a darshan people generally do a ‘parikrama’ or circumambulation of the temple structure.

The road leading to the temple is lined with shops where you can buy offerings to the Lord. There are some restaurants serving the local cuisine. One can also walk directly on to the beach from the temple and enjoy a walk on the beach.

Ganpatipule temple is one of the most beautiful Ganesha temples in the Konkan.
Visited August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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