I Sea, I Drove (Malgund and Surroundings)

The idea was to cover the Jaigad Fort and the Jaigad Lighthouse on the previous day. Given that we spent more them than expected at the Dolphin point and ran short on time we had to reschedule the this day to cover the Ganpatipule temple and Jaidgad

Ganpatipule (Gaṇpatīpuḷē) is a small town located in the Ratnagiri district on the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. A 400-year-old Ganpati idol at Ganpatipule is said to have sprung up from the soil. This deity faces the west, so as to guard the western gates, unlike deities in other Indian temples who face the east. The temple is at the base of a hill, and pilgrims walk around (pradakshina) the hill as a mark of respect.

Jaigad Fort (Also transliterated as Zyghur in old British records) is a coastal fortification that is located at the tip of a peninsula in Ratnagiri District at a distance of 14 km from the temple town of Ganpatipule. Nestled on a cliff, it overlooks a bay formed where the Shastri river enters the Arabian Sea. It has a commanding view of the bay, the nearby power plant and the open sea. There is a jetty port Angrey, and a lighthouse located nearby. Although in ruins, most of the fort’s outer wall and ramparts still stand, a deep moat surrounds the fort side not facing the cliff edge. In the middle of the 13 acre fort lies the palace of Kanhoji Angre, a Ganpati temple and wells to store water. 

Jaigarh Lighthouse is situated on the South-West point of Jaigad head land (flat cliff) and Southern side of Jaigad Creek. Sangmeshwar river flows into the Jaigad Creek forming a well sheltered Harbour. A light is exhibited from a bastion of Jaigad fort and another from near the custom house whenever vessels call on during the night. This was a regular port of call for the Bombay-Goa passenger ferry service in the past. Jaigad village is about 3 km East of the Lighthouse

On the last day of the trip we wanted to visit the Pavankhind. This was the place where the famous Battle of PavanKhind took place back in 1660. Given the drive back to Mumbai was long we eventually decided to skip and directly travel home; AND Thus ended the heart-whelming experience of  Coastal Drive. 🙂

The Route