Ganapatipule

In a throbbing world

Far from pilgrims’ progress

Removed from Shrine

We had found a sliver of silence –

Endless sands and

Winter’s silky sunshine

 

Like a river of amber

Miles of forlorn sand

Just us, and a lonely sea

Lapping waves, arcing gulls

Ganapatipule – a different form

Peaceful, and so free

 

‘So far from the temple,

No wonder there’s peace,’

I think that’s what I said

But you corrected

‘But this is his temple too -

Perhaps we have already prayed’

 

The shrine had come to us that day

The Lord perhaps, was already there

You and I, pilgrims anew

Humming quietly

A wordless prayer

Golden sands, skies of blue…

 

10^th Feb, 2026

 

Ganapatipule is a serene coastal town on Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, known for its rare west-facing Swayambhu Ganapati Temple, where the naturally formed idol of Lord Ganesha looks toward the Arabian Sea and the setting sun, symbolising reflection and completion (rather than the conventional east). Just outside the temple lies Ganapatipule Beach, a broad, gently curving stretch of golden sand running for 6 kilometres - clean, calm, and largely untouched by heavy commercial activity. The easy flow from shrine to shoreline gives the place its distinctive character—visitors can move seamlessly from prayer to long beach walks, quiet sunsets, and the steady rhythm of waves—making Ganapatipule ideal for travellers seeking a blend of spiritual calm and coastal simplicity