History

In 1731 Ratnagiri came under the control of Satara kings; in 1818 it was surrendered to the british. A fort was built during the Bijapur dynasty and strengthened in 1670 by the Maratha king Shivaji, which is located on a headland near the harbour. It is one of the ports of the konkan coast. It has a palace where the last king of Burma, Thibaw and later Veer Savarkar were confined.

It is also believed that the Pandavas having performed their pilgrimage on the 13th year had settled in the adjourning territory of the Ratnagiri district and when the Pandavas and the Kauravas had the famous war at Kuruskshetra, the king of this region Veeravat Ray had accompanied them there.