Ganpatipule is in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra State. It is on the west coast of Maharashtra blessed with a serene, tranquil blue sea shore. Unlike the beaches of Bombay and Goa it is less crowded, and it is a clean beach. Apart from the beach the place is known for a 400 years old Ganpati idol. The idol is said to have emerged on its own from the ground (Swayambhu) and the idol faces westward. So, you have two attractions to visit Ganpatipule.
Ganpatipule can be reached via Mumbai (375km), Pune (about 331km) or from Ratnagiri (43km). It is well connected by road. If you are travelling by train then get down at Pune, Ratnagiri or at Manmad station and take a private taxi. Frequent buses are there from Pune and Mumbai. Mumbai is the nearest international airport and Kolhapur (144km) is the nearest domestic airport. Marathi is the spoken language here. It is a small hamlet near Chiplun.
There is beachside resort set up by the MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism) for your convenience. Stay there to watch the sunset and the sunrise at your leisure. If you are not content with one beach at Ganpatipule, then go to Malgund beach which is just two km away. There are two more beaches secluded from the crowd nearby: they are Are and Ware beach. These twin beaches are just about 8 km away from Ganpatipule beach. If you like to visit some nearby places then here are some options: Ratnagiri: This is the headquarters of the district. The place is known for Alphanso Mangoes and is a well known city historically. You can reach Ratnagiri directly by a shortcut which is hardly 25 km drive. Velneshwar beach: This place has an old Shiva temple and has a tranquil beach too. Malgund: This is the birthplace of the famous Marathi poet Keshavasuta and there is a memorial constructed for him. Jaigad Fort: It is situated near Sangameshwar River (35km from Ganpatipule). This was built around the 17th century. Pawas: It is known for the Ashram of swami Swaroopanand. You would cherish the journey towards Pawas due to the beautiful landscape.
