We’d been thinking about a weekend getaway to some hill station or a beach resort for some time and my wife had been doing some search. She read about the beach at Ganpatipule and the swayambhu temple there. Since our fourth wedding anniversary was approaching, it was a good occasion to plan the trip to Ganpatipule. We agreed on the destinaation and the date.
I insisted on taking our car but we were sceptical about the safety on the road with just the two of us. Since our anniversary fell on a Wednesday so I couldn’t expect any of my friends to join us with their family. My In-laws had bought a new car just few months ago and my wife proposed if they can join in our trip and that we can take the new car. I immediately agreed as it served our purpose of having more people on the trip with an extra male, my Father-In-Law and also I was excited about the prospect of taking the new car out on a long drive.
Meanwhile I was reading all the reviews about Ganpatipule and the driving route and staying facilities there. Thanks to all the MSians whose reviews helped and inspired to take this tour up. So based on all the reviews we decided to stay at the MTDC resort and I made the boooking for the family at the resort much in advance as the rooms were fasting filling. We made the bookings almost 3 weeks in advance but still had very few choices left. We couldn’t get both the rooms of the same size/type.
So early booking is recommended. We decided to book the rooms for 2 days as we planned to reach there the previous evening and then check out the 3rd morning. I’d downloaded the driving route from maps.google.co.in
The drive was wonderful. We took the NH17 via Mahad, Mangaon, Chiplun. We had our break fast at the Vithal Kamath restaurant at Mahad(i think) and then Lunch at "The Pagoda Retreat" just before Chiplun. It’s on a turn on the right side, so have to be wathful not to miss it. We liked the food there so, on our way back too we decided to have our lunch at the same restaurant.
The NH17 is smooth to drive but watch out for on coming vehicles as it’s just a 2 lane road without any divider so while trying to overtake look for vehicles on your back as well as the one’s coming in front. From Pen it’s mostly the NH17 and just 23 KMs before Ratnagiri and a couple of KM before Hathkumbhe take a right(SH106) to Ganpatipule. The SH106 is again a 30 KM stretch.
The car had left Borivli at 6:00 a.m. with my sister-in-Law driving it till Chembur, where we live and left Chembur at 7:30. We reached the MTDC resort at around 5:30 after around 8 and half hours of drive if you exclude the breaks. I was tired driving the whole day on a new car, which had a different ergonomics than my car and moreover this was the longest in terms of time that I’d driven continuously. The view of the beach from the room was very tempting and relaxing so all the tiredness was gone. It was getting dark and started raining so we thought of resting and going to the beach the next day. Since it was a Tuesday we decided to freshen up and visit the temple. After the darshan we had early dinner. The resort has a restrauant which is privately run and you get descent chinese and non veg food.
The next day was our anniversary, so we went to the temple, took the pradikshina which takes around 15-20 mins. They have made nice arrangements for the pradikshina, so even though it’s a mountain around which you are taking the pradikshina, the path is levelled and tiled and steps built to ensure safety.For a change we decided to have some local breakfast at the roadside restaurants just next to the temple, so had misal pav at a shabby restaurant. That reminded me of my college days and the tapri.
It was early June and was too hot to think of venturing into the waters. Also the beach just outside the temple is crowded and shabby. Garbage from the eateries and coconut shells all over, so we decided to have a walk along the beach and reach the resort. The beach outside the resort is much better and less crowded. We decided to have our lunch and after rest get into the beach. Again for a change we decided to take lunch at the nearby resort restaurant.
The food was good but it took 45 minutes to serve, so that was a dampener. After lunch we went to the Prachin Konkan museum made by the locals, a recommended visit. In the evening we took a dip in the waters and enjoyed the waves till dark. I wanted to stay there for ever but then slowly the sun disappeared and my wife was coaxing me to come out so had to end it there.
We had planned to leave the next day after breakfast and visit some nearby places, I’d Sangameshwar and the Jaigarh fort in mind but then we again decided to venture into the sea, it was that tempting but just tool some stroll on the beach with the waves hitting you occasionally. This time even my Father-In-Law got into the waters who had resisted the previous evening. Since we had to check out before 9:00, we left the beach, had a quick darshan of the Bappa(3rd in 3 days), had a pathetic breakfast at the resort restaurant and left the resort.
Since it was June we found some local people selling Mangoes near the temple. We saw few nice ones with an old lady. We bargained for almost the whole lot that she had. I had tough time bringing the container to the car’s boot at the resort but those were the best mangoes I had in the season. Just in case you are anywhere near Ratnagiri during May-June don’t forget to get those world famous Alphonsos.
On our return journey we were told that there’s a short cut to Chiplun via Abloli. I think we saved on few kilometers but the road tested the car’s suspensions. If you have a SUV then u take it otherwise avoid this shortcut. Also we lost our way a couple of time with the villagers misguiding us on both occasions. May be the villagers wanted us to visit their homes ;).
The car, a Maruti Swift Dzire VXI gave a good fuel economy of around 14 KMPH considering so may steep climbs over the ghat having to drive in the 2nd gear with 5 people and baggaes weighing more than 400 KGs. We’d filled the tank from Mumbai itself to avoid having to fill at any remote pump. On our way back too found a descent pump and got it filled again.
On our way back it started raining quite heavily between near Chiplun and had to follow the caravan of trucks and tankers that were moving at 20KMPH. Since the visibility had deteriorated, I didn’t dare to overtake them as there hardly was any place for a car in between them and since it’s only a 2 lane
road better be content with that speed with your dear one’s in the car. As mentioned earlier we had our Lunch at the Pagoda Retreat by when the rain had subsided but it had delayed us by atleast a hour and we got stuck in the Thursday evening traffic at Panvel.
Overall it was a good trip and my family was happy which made it even more satisfying. We still recount some of the moments spent on the trip and everytime we look at those photos on Orkut and Facebook, we are inspired to take up one more such trip with family.