Kolhapur and Ratnagiri-both big cities in the Maharashtra state of India have lots in wraps for history. Kolhapur had been a throne to many Maratha empires for decades and centuries, whereas Ratnagiri-the birthplace of unforgettable freedom fighter-Lokmanya Tilak. However, Kolhapur has a freshening vibe with less soaring temperatures and a beautiful lake view in late evenings with palaces and street food apparent. Ratnagiri is an excellent place to scuba dive, plus had great beaches to visit -beaches are mostly clean and less populated!

Reasons why you must visit Kolhapur and Ratnagiri:

• Panhala Fort is one of Kolhapur’s most popular attractions consisting of structures like the Teen Darwaza, Konkan Darwaja, Andhra Bavai and the Kalavanticha Mahal.

• Rankala Lake is at the heart of Kolhapur and is an excellent place to chill out in the evenings with many food stalls and the hustle and bustle of a humongous crowd. There are several gardens around this lake where you can take some rest and have some merry picnic time as well. In the evenings, this is the place you should be in Kolhapur.
• Ratnapura Fort is a 1300 m long fort overlooking the Arabian sea and jetties and is located on a hilltop in Ratnagiri, surrounded by the Arabian Sea on three sides. A lighthouse is also situated in the fort, which guides the ships and vessels. This is a beautiful place to view the ships and boats passing by, with a cool breeze across the Arabian Sea. Another fort, the Jaigad Fort, is a historical fort built in the 17th century.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s birthplace is at 10 min walk from the bus stand of Ratnagiri. Visit this converted museum for sure!
• Thibaw point is located on a small hill in Ratnagiri, from where you can get a panoramic view of Bhatye beach, the Arabian sea and Someshwar creek. At a short distance from Thibaw point is Thibaw Palace which was built in 1910-11.
• Ratnagiri is famous for Alphonso’s mangoes. So grab some at a lesser price right here.

Location  : Ratnagiri and Kolhapur are about 350 kms south from Mumbai and about 300 kms south from Pune .

Tourist Attraction on the spot:

In Ratnagiri-Jaigad Fort, Ganapatipule Beach, Thibaw palace, Ratnadurg fort, Bhatye Beach, Gateway, Mandavi Beach, Marine Museum, Aare Beach, Lokmanya Tilak Birthplace

In Kolhapur-Rankala Lake, New Place, Mahalaxmi Ambabai Temple, Shalini Palace, Shree Jotiba Devasthan

Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:

You can visit Kaas Pathar, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Doodhsagar Falls and even Goa from hereon.

Distance Charts:(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

• Mumbai(375 | 330 km)
• Kolhapur(0 | 130 km)
• Hyderabad(530 | 665 km)
• Panaji-Goa(200 | 240 km)
• Cochin(1060 | 230 km)
• Ahmedabad(885 | 840 km)
• Chennai(970 | 1100 km)
• Bangalore(620 | 750 km)
• Kanyakumari(1300 | 1420 km)
• Delhi(1700 | 1770 km)

How to Reach Kolhapur-Ratnagiri:

Road Routes:

Mumbai-Pune-Satara-Kohlapur-Ratnagiri

An important note from my experience:

1)Ratnagiri is best just after the monsoons when it doesn’t rain much and is pleasant enough. Summers are very humid and warm. The best time is between November to January, when the climate is pleasant.

2)Kolhapur local sightseeing can be done by shared transport and autos, whereas in Ratnagiri, most places need a private auto, so it is better to make a deal and visit prominent places or fix spot basis rates.

3)If Scuba diving is your love, spend an extra day at Ratnagiri and learn some scuba diving from experts. There’s a dedicated institute to serve this purpose.

4)Food is not an issue at both these places. But do have water and an umbrella, especially in Ratnagiri, as you tend to dehydrate owing to the coastal region,

RAIL:Both the places are well connected by railways.

AIR: Pune or Hubli can be nearest ones.

ROAD: The Mumbai-Bangalore highway will cover most of the portion of Kolhalpur journey .For Ratnagiri, you’ll need public transport (MSRTC bus transport) to reach from Kolhapur through thick forested Western Ghats.

Map:

Time to Visit:

October to March will be good time to be here

Spend Time With:

Friends,Groups,Solo,Family,Couple

Food and Lodging:

Cheap and best Hotels are available at both these tourist spots .No bookings needed and no worries. For food local food at these places will suffice.

Expense:

A 2 day trip costs:(start from Mumbai late night to reach Kolhapur next day morning)

Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X2

Transport: For Kolhapur, most places can be covered by public buses and autorickshaws, whereas for Ratnagiri, you may need private auto booking and ferries to reach a few places. A total cost of INR 800 is considered for local site seeing.

Lodging: INR 700/day X 1 

Entry Fees include various places (varies): INR 200 is an approximate fee per person.

Camel stares sweet!!!

Total: 2300 INR

Total: 2300 INR

Nearby Attractions(Kolhapur | Ratnagiri)

• Panaji-Goa(200 | 240 km)
• Bangalore(620 | 750 km)
• Mahabaleshwar(190 | 260 km)
• Matheran(350 | 320 km)
• Gokarna(320 | 390 km)
• Jog Falls(360 | 490 km)
• Aihole(240 | 370 km)

• Mumbai(375 | 330 km)
• Kolhapur(0 | 130 km)
• Hyderabad(530 | 665 km)
• Amboli(120 | 205 km)
• Bhandardara(400 | 470 km)
• Lonavla(290 | 360 km)