Thiba Palace of Ratnagiri
Credit: iStock Photo
Ratnagiri: The majestic Thiba Palace of Ratnagiri - which was once used to house the exiled Burmese King Thibaw and his queen - now tells the story of Konkan’s Bharat Ratnas and legends.
Designed for the king’s confinement, this three-story Thiba Palace, also known as the Thibaw Palace, is a red-coloured structure built by the British in 1910 for confinement of the King after the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885.
The palace houses a museum.
An idol of Lord Buddha is installed at the back side of the palace. This idol was brought to India by King Thibaw.
One can have a mesmerising view of Someshwar creek, Bhatye Bridge and Arabian Sea from this point. This place is also famous for the beautiful Sunset.
The idea of a story telling through a light and sound snow came from veteran politician and state Industries and Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant, who is also the guardian minister of the Ratnagiri district.
“This is very unique and people are liking it,” Samant said after a light and sound show, which he enjoyed with the people of Ratnagiri and tourists.
"Konkan has its rich history, heritage and geography. It has played a key role in the social reforms movement and development of Maharashtra and India," he said.
The light and sound show starts with paying tributes to legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who had a deep influence in the coastal Konkan region and rest of Maharashtra.
The six Bharat Ratnas from Konkan are - legendary social reformer Dhondo Keshav Karve, popularly known as Maharishi Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962), academic, historian, lawyer and Indologist Pandurang Vaman Kane (7 May 1880 – 18 April 1972), Vinayak Narahar Bhave, popularly known as Acharya Vinoba Bhave (11 September 1895 – 15 November 1982), politician, thinker and Chairman of drafting committee of Constitution of India Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), melody queen Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) and former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (born 24 April 1973).
Besides, it also showcases revolutionary freedom fighter and Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar (28 May 1883 – 26 February 1966).
The light and sound show also describes the landscape of Konkan region - with Arabian Sea on one side and Sahyadri Ranges on the other.