Rajapur is a city and a municipal council in Ratnagiri district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is 385 km away from Mumbai.
Geography
Rajapur has an average elevation of 72 meters (236 feet).
Demographics
As of 2011 India census,[2] Rajapur had a population of 9,753. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Rajapur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 74%. In Rajapur, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
During the days of the Bijapur Sultanate, Rajapur was an important maritime trade center due to a navigable creek that connects it to the Arabian sea. It became an access point to the rich cities of Deccan for those involved in Arabia-India commerce.
Places of interest
Rajapur is a hub for business activity for the surrounding many small villages. Rajapur is famous for mangoes called Alphanso or locally called “Hapus”.
Aryadurga Devi, Devihasol
Aryadurga devi, Devihasol : Shri Aryadurga devi temple is famous in Rajapur (Ratnagiri) Many devotees come to visit this temple. It is 24 km from Rajapur. The fair of Aryadurga devi is famous in Rajapur.[citation needed]
Rajapurchi Ganga: At a distance of 2 km from Rajapur, a holy place “Rajapurchi Ganga” i.e. Holy Ganges of Rajapur is wonder of nature. It is situated at a height 25 metres above height of Rajapur. This place is usually dry. However, all of a sudden water starts flowing in ponds. Barring exceptions, usually it happens once in three years. Small tanks are built for storing water and facilitating bathing. Surprisingly water temperature in these tanks is different from each other, though they are at a distance of 1 meter from each other. Approximately after three months, water disappears or stops streaming. There is a local lore how & why Holy Ganges appeared at this place. Scientifically it could be a long siphon from Sahyadri range. Millions of people visit the Ganges for bathing. One of the bigger tanks, ‘Kashikund’ delivers clean water like glass and people believe that bathing in this water will relieve them of sins.
Hot Water Spring: At one-kilometer distance from Jawahar Chouk, Rajapur, there is Hot Spring. This place is called “Sinhala”. The hot water of this spring is rich with sulfur and thought to cure skin diseases.
Dhoot Papeshwar Temple: Very old Lord Shiva Temple is situated at 1.5 kilometres Rajapur. There is a waterfall close to Dhootpapeshwar.
Pangare Budruk Dam – A dam built on the lake with a waterfront in Chinchwadi Pangare Budruk. At the far end of it are the Pandava Kalin caves.
Ekveera Devi Temple: the goddess Ekveera’s temple is situated at Kotapur Village, It is an old temple.
Hazrat Mehdi Peer Refai Dargah: The place is also called Mehndi Nagar. Urs Mubarak is celebrated on the 14,15 and 16th of Muharram according to the Urdu calendar.