Murud is a village in the
Ratnagiri district
Ratnagiri district (Marathi pronunciation: ¾É™t̪n̪aËÉ¡iɾiË is a district in the state of Maharashtra, India. The administrative headquarter of the district is located in the town of Ratnagiri. The district is 11.34% urban. The district ...
of
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
, India. It is 420.92
hectare
The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
s in size.
It is located in the
Dapoli
Dapoli is a Village and taluka in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India. It lies south of the state capital of Mumbai. The town is also known as Camp Dapoli, as the British had set their camps here. Many high-ranking British officers' g ...
sub-district (''
taluka
A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...
'') of Ratnagiri district. Murud is commonly called Murud-Harnai to distinguish it from
Murud-Janjira
Murud-Janjira () is the local name of a famous fort and tourist spot situated on an island just off the coastal town of Murud, Raigad, Murud, in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. Malik Ambar is credited with the construction of the Jan ...
(near
Alibag
Alibag, also known as Alibaug (Pronunciation: ™libaËÉ¡, is a coastal city and a municipal council in Raigad district of Maharashtra, India. It is the headquarters of the Raigad district and is south of the city of Mumbai. Alibag is part of the ...
).
Murud is a growing tourist spot famous for its scenic beaches, ancient temples and medieval sea fort.
The social reformer Maharshi
Dhondo Keshav Karve
Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962) (), popularly known as Maharshi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. He advocated widow remarriage, and he himself remarried a widow as a widower. Karve ...
,
Bharat Ratna
The Bharat Ratna (; ) is the highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distin ...
was born here in 1858.
Tourist attractions
Durga Devi Mandir and Murud Beach are the most famous landmarks in Murud.
Durga Devi Mandir's pillars and roof are carved out of wood with intricate figures and is delightfully painted in pastel shades. All pillars are different from each other. A huge metal bell, supposedly brought from the
Vasai fort
Fort Vasai (''Vasai killa'' in Marathi, ''Fortaleza de São Sebastião de Baçaim'' in Portuguese, ''Fort Bassein'' in English) is a ruined fort of the town of Vasai (Bassein), Konkan Division, Maharashtra, India. The structure was formally ch ...
by
Chimaji Appa
Chimaji Balaji Bhat (c. 1707 – 17 December 1740), born as Antaji more commonly known as Chimaji Appa, was a military commander and statesman of the Maratha Empire. As the younger brother of Peshwa Bajirao I and the son of Peshwa Balaji Vishw ...
is also on display.
Murud beach is made of very soft sand and is safe for swimming. Activities like parasailing, dune buggy rides, camel rides, horse-cart rides and water scooters are available. Dolphin watching boats leave early in the morning to take tourists out into the sea to watch dolphins.
A museum housing rare photographs and articles used by Maharshi Karve is maintained by Vaze family.
Keshavraj Mandir in nearby Asud and Kadyavarcha Ganpati
in nearby
Anjarle
Anjarle is a village in Dapoli taluka, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra India. It is a small port located near the mouth of Jog river, about south of Aade and north of Suvarnadurga. The nearest railway station is Khed, to the southeast.
...
are both worth a visit.
Accommodations
MTDC resort and numerous private resorts are available within walking distance of the beach. Many bed-and-breakfast accommodations are also available under the MTDC scheme.
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite web , url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2732_PART_B_DCHB_RATNAGIRI.pdf , title=District Census Handbook , publisher=]Census of India
The decennial census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011. While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first complete census was taken in 1872. Post 1949, it has been conducted by the R ...
, accessdate=16 April 2016
Villages in Ratnagiri district