Pune to Ratnagiri trip Day 2: Ratnadurg Fort, Bhagwati temple, Bhatye beach

After spending half of our day 2 at Jaigadfort and at an unknown beach, we wrapped up and headed to the most beautiful and awaited road which connects Ganapatipule area to main Ratnagiri city. This is some 22 KM stretch and the entire road is accompanied by hills on left side and sea on right side. One can easily imagine the beauty even before I start.

Upon reaching Ratnagiri we, scared by last day, quickly searched for room and luckily, situation here was not that nasty and we found room pretty fast.  Had some snacks and went for Ratnadurg fort, which was built in 16^th century. This fort has famous Bhagwati temple inside fort complex. Visiting temple doesn’t take much time as there was very less crowd.

This fort too as expected, had nothing much to offer.

But one google picture of jaigad fort’s one spot had made us rest less. We were searching for that spot when we were in Jaigad fort and didn’t get. But we found that spot here in Ratnadurg fort and now we were in hurry to finish fort and go there.

So after fort we inquired about that place and one auto-rickshaw driver guided us. From behind the fort there is some 15 minute trekking down in the forest, which would eventually take us down the hill to that place. It was a good walk as it almost looks like deserted place and we were feeling like we were discovering some hidden spot and were not considering ourselves less than Vasco da gama :).

That path lead us to a ghetto, where fishing related work was on full swing. Fishes were being packed in a pile of ice and new fishing net was being made on roads. On the contrary to the path, that spot was pretty disappointing. From up the fort, it looked like some extended part of fort itself, while it turned out to be some man made thing, which fishermen uses to load, unload the fishes. One more similar structure was under construction.

After loitering there for some 15-20 mins, we returned back.  For returning we dreaded the same path which we cherished some 30 mins before as it had some steep slopes. My husband offered to go alone up to the parking lot and brought car from some different route. After some discussion, we all started back. But when we started, we covered the same path in around 10 mins (which we were expecting to complete in 40-45 mins).

As the day was still left, we left for Bhatye beach, which was some 6 KM from Ratnadurg fort, to spend the evening. As I said beaches, which are famous, I find them less pleasant because of the crowd they attract. So is for Bhatye beach. We simply sat there and had tea and snacks from nearby counters. 

At that moment I noticed one thing. There was a group of some 4-5 young girls (in their early 20s and in super fancy cloths) and a boy.  Boy had a huge camera and continuous clicking pictures of those girls. Earlier I thought they were in group. But my husband corrected me “Professional photographer hai, Ladkiyan sath leke ayi hai”. Yesss, he was right. Girls’ sole purpose was to get pictures clicked. I found it little strange. They were not at all doing anything except giving poses, some times in group and sometimes solo and sometime selfie. How can one come to a tourist place and not enjoy own time just for the sake of clicking pictures which you can see later on (and may be post on social networking sites). But there it was.

We came to hotel only after dark and after dinner planned for the next day. My husband was complaining “This trip doesn’t look like Ratnagiri trip”. I thought it might be because we faced hard time finding accommodation on first day. Anyways, for next day we aimed for Kurli beach, Mandvi beach, Marine Aquarium and Museum, Thiba Palace and birth place of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. List was long and time was less for we had to leave for Pune next day.

Happy Ghumakkadi :)