About Rajapur Ganga
Rajapur Ganga is a sacred natural spring complex located in Unhale village near Rajapur, Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. It features 14 basalt kunds that mysteriously fill with warm water approximately once every two to three years, typically during summer months, before disappearing again. The site is considered geologically unique due to its unpredictable flow and varying water temperatures across adjacent tanks. It holds significant religious importance as a tirthasthan believed to be as holy as the original River Ganga.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect to see 14 ancient basalt water tanks (kunds) situated on a hilltop 25 meters above Rajapur town. When active, the springs fill the kunds with warm sulphurous water at varying temperatures, flowing through a gomukh spout beneath an old banyan tree. Visitors may bathe in the Kashi Kund or other designated tanks during the flow period. The site includes a small shrine and remains dry and desolate when the spring is inactive. A perennial hot water spring called Ushnodak Tirth is located nearby at the base of the hill.
Key highlights
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14 ancient basalt kunds filled by mysterious seasonal spring flow
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Water appears unpredictably every 2-3 years, typically in April or May
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Each kund has distinct water temperature despite close proximity
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Historical records of the phenomenon date back to 1191 CE
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Associated with legends of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and King Prataprudra
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Considered as sacred as the original River Ganga for ritual bathing
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Adjacent perennial Ushnodak Tirth hot spring with medicinal properties
History of Rajapur Ganga
The earliest recorded reference to the spring's appearance dates to 1191 CE on a copper plate. King Prataprudra Gandaraditya is credited with constructing the 14 basalt kunds after witnessing the sudden water flow. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited and bathed in the Ganga in 1661 and 1664. The poet Moropant composed verses here in 1789, and Ahilyabai Holkar made donations in the 18th century. British officers documented the geological siphon theory in the Ratnagiri Gazetteer.
Culture & Context
Rajapur Ganga is revered as a tirthasthan equal in sanctity to the original Ganga at Varanasi. Devotees believe bathing in the kunds washes away sins and grants salvation. The appearance of water is celebrated with Ganga Utsav featuring deep stambhas and local fairs. Ritual tradition involves bathing first at Ushnodak Tirth, then at Rajapur Ganga, followed by carrying water to Dhootpapeshwar Temple for abhishek. The site serves as a vital water source for locals during summer droughts.